"How long does it take to become a patient care technician in Rhode Island?"

"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 Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for patient care technicians, administered by the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for patient care technicians in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Q: "How much do patient care technicians earn in Rhode Island?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), patient care technicians in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,440 (using the related \"Nursing Assistants\" BLS category, since patient care technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 2.19 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in Rhode Island?"

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 10,220 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

Rhode Island nursing assistants earn a median annual wage of $46,440 ($22.33/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 10,220 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 9.9% above the national median of $42,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,440 ($22.33/hr)
25th percentile: $44,760 per year
75th percentile: $47,460 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $54,950 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,220 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 10,220
Versus national median: 9.9% above the U.S. median of $42,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.19 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island 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, Rhode Island employs approximately 10,220 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $46,440 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 2.19x 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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island

How do I become a patient care technician in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Nursing Assistant (Aide). The licensing authority is the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 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 Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for patient care technicians. The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do patient care technicians earn in Rhode Island? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in Rhode Island is $46,440, with entry-level wages around $39,220 and experienced workers earning $54,950 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: RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation
Median wage (Rhode Island): $46,440 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Patient Care Technician License Requirements in Rhode Island

The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees patient care technician licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Nursing Assistant (Aide)	Gives personal care and related health care and assistance to patients under the direction of nursing and medical staff.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	13,030	$46,330	$46,020	$39,220	$54,880

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 Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	13,030	$46,330

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in Rhode Island? Rhode Island employs approximately 10,220 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 Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do patient care technicians earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in Rhode Island is $46,440 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $6,910 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)