How to Become A Patient Care Technician in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina employs approximately 64,010 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $38,460 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.39x 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina
How do I become a patient care technician in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Limited Volunteer License (Patient Care), Nurse Aide II, Nurse Aide I. The licensing authority is the NC Board of Dental Examiners 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,000 hours of experience (roughly 0.5 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for patient care technicians. The NC Board of Dental Examiners oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do patient care technicians earn in North Carolina? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in North Carolina is $38,460, with entry-level wages around $30,260 and experienced workers earning $47,080 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: NC Board of Dental Examiners
- Median wage (North Carolina): $38,460 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1
- Exam requirement: No exam required
Patient Care Technician License Requirements in North Carolina
The NC Board of Dental Examiners oversees patient care technician licensing in North Carolina 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Limited Volunteer License (Patient Care) | License to practice on voluntary basis; must have 1,000 hours of patient care per year for at least 5 years, must have 500 hours of patient care within the last 5 years outside of residency. |
| Nurse Aide II | Nurse Aides Work Under The Supervision Of Nursing And Medical Staff. They Respond To Patients’ Calls, Serve Meals, Make Beds, And Assist Patients In Eating, Dressing, And Bathing. |
| Nurse Aide I | A nurse aide is an unlicensed health care professional providing nursing or nursing-related services for monetary compensation under the direct supervision of a registered nurse to residents in a long… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Background check required
- Exam: No exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
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 North Carolina vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 13,580 | $39,430 | $41,410 | $33,730 | $49,050 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 8,110 | $38,990 | $40,420 | $31,210 | $47,440 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 6,420 | $39,710 | $40,460 | $30,660 | $47,740 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 5,280 | $38,260 | $38,650 | $29,600 | $45,920 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 4,830 | $40,560 | $42,540 | $36,830 | $49,320 |
| Winston-Salem | 4,450 | $38,660 | $39,270 | $32,510 | $45,630 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 2,780 | $37,430 | $37,960 | $31,240 | $44,860 |
| Asheville | 2,590 | $40,170 | $41,500 | $33,670 | $49,030 |
| Wilmington | 2,390 | $37,710 | $38,100 | $29,710 | $47,100 |
| Fayetteville | 2,130 | $37,530 | $37,600 | $28,660 | $44,990 |
| Greenville | 1,730 | $39,480 | $38,270 | $29,290 | $43,060 |
| Burlington | 1,020 | $39,090 | $39,150 | $30,480 | $45,650 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | 950 | $36,930 | $36,830 | $29,830 | $43,570 |
| Rocky Mount | 940 | $37,650 | $36,370 | $27,600 | $43,740 |
| Goldsboro | 600 | $38,540 | $37,860 | $29,920 | $46,580 |
| Jacksonville | 530 | $35,880 | $36,100 | $30,130 | $42,070 |
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 North Carolina
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest patient care technician employment within North Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 13,580 | $39,430 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 6,420 | $39,710 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 5,280 | $38,260 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 4,830 | $40,560 |
| Winston-Salem | 4,450 | $38,660 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in North Carolina? North Carolina employs approximately 64,010 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC Board of Dental Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in North Carolina.
How much do patient care technicians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in North Carolina is $38,460 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $1,070 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NC Board of Dental Examiners - Licensing Information: http://ncdentalboard.org/# ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |