How to Become a Patient Care Technician in New Mexico (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 4,750 patient care technicians earning a median $39,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Nursing Assistants”). Training as a Patient Care Technician here means completing CNA or PCT training plus CPCT; many PCT roles also require a nurse-aide listing.

Compare Patient Care Technician Schools in New Mexico

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
154.6$2,256 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state$54,82732%Yes*89 mi
252.6$2,136 in-state / $4,272 out-of-state$54,87426%Yes*142 mi
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351.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*82 mi
449.2$1,372 in-state / $3,268 out-of-state$54,82729%Yes*63 mi
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546.6$1,592 in-state / $3,344 out-of-state$59,17134%Yes*139 mi
646.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*96 mi
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742.2$1,878 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state$59,81821%—71 mi
841.4$2,136 in-state / $5,136 out-of-state$59,81830%—146 mi
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938.7$2,616 in-state / $6,072 out-of-state$54,87414%Yes*94 mi
1038.2$1,176 in-state / $4,008 out-of-stateNot reported20%Yes*147 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Mexico employs approximately 4,750 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $39,390 1. 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 New Mexico, including licensing requirements, 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.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: PCT or CNA training (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: CNA or PCT training plus CPCT; many PCT roles also require a nurse-aide listing
  • Exam: CPCT and/or state CNA exam
  • Median wage (New Mexico): $39,390 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Patient Care Technician in New Mexico

How to become a Patient Care Technician in New Mexico? Complete CNA or PCT training plus CPCT; many PCT roles also require a nurse-aide listing. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish CNA or PCT training plus CPCT; many PCT roles also require a nurse-aide listing. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in New Mexico? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CPCT and/or state CNA exam. See the licensing section below.

What do patient care technicians earn in New Mexico? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in New Mexico is $39,390, with entry-level wages around $34,110 and experienced workers earning $48,340 or more 1.

How to Become a Patient Care Technician in New Mexico

  1. Complete CNA or PCT training. Many PCT jobs require a CNA listing plus extra modules (phlebotomy, EKG). This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Earn CPCT if the employer requires it. Pass CPCT and keep any required nurse-aide registry listing current.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Patient Care Technician License Requirements in New Mexico

Patient care technicians often need a CNA listing plus CPCT. Confirm New Mexico nurse-aide rules rather than inventing a separate PCT license.

Typical path

  1. Complete CNA or PCT training.

  2. Earn CPCT if required.

  3. Keep nurse-aide listing current if the state uses one.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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 ( OES data), nursing assistants wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque2,110$39,950$41,980$35,240$49,000
Santa Fe410$46,530$45,710$35,920$57,210
Las Cruces390$37,400$38,750$30,370$45,080
Farmington330$39,390$41,460$35,160$50,970

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in New Mexico? New Mexico employs approximately 4,750 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 New Mexico? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Mexico.

How much do patient care technicians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in New Mexico is $39,390 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $140 below the national median of $39,530 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

Top local programs

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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)