How to Become A Patient Care Technician in New York
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York employs approximately 87,990 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $48,590 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 York, 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 York
How do I become a patient care technician in New York? New York requires credentials such as Certified Nurse Aide. The licensing authority is the NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
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 York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for patient care technicians. The NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do patient care technicians earn in New York? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in New York is $48,590, with entry-level wages around $38,450 and experienced workers earning $59,890 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance
- Median wage (New York): $48,590 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Patient Care Technician License Requirements in New York
The NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance oversees patient care technician licensing in New York 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certified Nurse Aide | Certified Nurse Aides provide more than 90% of the hands-on care received by nursing home residents. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in New York
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in New York
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 York vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 79,480 | $49,270 | $50,810 | $43,240 | $60,530 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | 5,230 | $39,790 | $41,710 | $37,150 | $48,120 |
| Rochester | 5,130 | $40,050 | $42,020 | $38,070 | $47,800 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 4,200 | $40,160 | $41,750 | $36,090 | $47,580 |
| Syracuse | 3,120 | $42,940 | $44,320 | $37,810 | $50,420 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | 2,380 | $45,730 | $46,940 | $39,460 | $55,700 |
| Utica-Rome | 1,590 | $43,560 | $42,460 | $37,470 | $46,940 |
| Binghamton | 1,310 | $44,410 | $43,180 | $33,870 | $47,860 |
| Kingston | 540 | $44,710 | $45,830 | $37,630 | $56,510 |
| Ithaca | 470 | $45,640 | $45,170 | $38,580 | $50,630 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | 470 | $38,320 | $39,620 | $36,470 | $43,870 |
| Elmira | 440 | $37,960 | $39,090 | $36,800 | $45,050 |
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 York
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest patient care technician employment within New York according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 79,480 | $49,270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | 5,230 | $39,790 |
| Rochester | 5,130 | $40,050 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 4,200 | $40,160 |
| Syracuse | 3,120 | $42,940 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in New York? New York employs approximately 87,990 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a patient care technician in New York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York.
How much do patient care technicians earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in New York is $48,590 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $9,060 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
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://www.health.ny.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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) |