How to Become A Patient Care Technician in Connecticut

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Connecticut employs approximately 21,380 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $44,790 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.35x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 204,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a patient care technician in Connecticut, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track patient care technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Actual patient care technician earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Patient Care Technician in Connecticut

How do I become a patient care technician in Connecticut? Connecticut does not require a state license for patient care technicians, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician). Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Connecticut? No state license is required, but certifications such as CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician) are expected by most employers.

What do patient care technicians earn in Connecticut? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in Connecticut is $44,790, with entry-level wages around $38,660 and experienced workers earning $53,870 or more 1.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Connecticut): $44,790 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1

Patient Care Technician Certification Options in Connecticut

Connecticut does not require a state license to work as a patient care technician. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for patient care technicians include:

  • CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician)

For more information, visit the NHA - National Healthcareer Association 3. Contact training programs in Connecticut for details on certification preparation courses.

Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Connecticut

Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Connecticut

Note: The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in Connecticut vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford7,990$44,340$44,740$38,490$52,350
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury4,500$45,560$46,060$38,660$53,960
New Haven3,840$45,030$46,790$39,520$59,770
Waterbury-Shelton2,190$43,010$44,780$38,840$50,810
Norwich-New London-Willimantic1,610$44,210$45,190$38,410$51,390

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Patient care technicians in Connecticut

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest patient care technician employment within Connecticut according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford7,990$44,340
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury4,500$45,560
New Haven3,840$45,030
Waterbury-Shelton2,190$43,010
Norwich-New London-Willimantic1,610$44,210

Explore More Trades in Connecticut

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in Connecticut? Connecticut employs approximately 21,380 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Connecticut? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Connecticut.

How much do patient care technicians earn in Connecticut compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in Connecticut is $44,790 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $5,260 above the national median of $39,530 according to BLS data 1.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. NHA - National Healthcareer Association: https://www.nhanow.com/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)