"How long does it take to become a patient care technician in New Mexico?"

"Most paths into the patient care technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do patient care technicians need a license in New Mexico?"

"No statewide license is required for patient care technicians in New Mexico. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician)."

"What apprenticeships are available for patient care technicians in New Mexico?"

"In New Mexico, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Patient Care Technician in New Mexico

Q: "How much do patient care technicians earn in New Mexico?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), patient care technicians in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,390 (using the related \"Nursing Assistants\" BLS category, since patient care technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.59 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in New Mexico?"

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 4,750 workers in the related \"Nursing Assistants\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico nursing assistants earn a median annual wage of $39,390 ($18.94/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,750 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.8% below the national median of $42,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,390 ($18.94/hr)
25th percentile: $37,310 per year
75th percentile: $45,410 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,340 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,110 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 4,750
Versus national median: -6.8% below the U.S. median of $42,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.59 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Mexico than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

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 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 New Mexico

How do I become a patient care technician in New Mexico? New Mexico 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 New Mexico? 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 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.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New Mexico): $39,390 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) ¹

Patient Care Technician Certification Options in New Mexico

New Mexico 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 New Mexico for details on certification preparation courses.

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 (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Albuquerque	2,110	$39,950	$41,980	$35,240	$49,000
Santa Fe	410	$46,530	$45,710	$35,920	$57,210
Las Cruces	390	$37,400	$38,750	$30,370	$45,080
Farmington	330	$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 2025.

Top Metros for Patient care technicians in New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Albuquerque	2,110	$39,950
Santa Fe	410	$46,530
Las Cruces	390	$37,400
Farmington	330	$39,390

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

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 apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.

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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)