How to Write a Patient Care Technician Resume (+ Examples)

Within the healthcare industry, it is crucial to provide exceptional patient care service to ensure a relaxing environment and experience for the patient.

A patient care technician’s tasks (PCT) include:    

• Assisting the healthcare team (such as doctors, nurses, etc.) in monitoring, updating, and reporting patient records and activities.
• Sanitizing and preparing clean treatment rooms, bed sheets, pillows, blankets, etc. 
• Helping patients with basic daily needs and providing emotional support to ensure their comfort.

A medical assistant can oftentimes be confused as a PCT due to the strong similarities between the two healthcare roles. 

While both professions contribute to improving the patient’s experience, there are different focuses within their job duties. A medical assistant focuses on the medical aspects of the treatment the patient receives while a PCT concentrates on the patient's needs. 

Before you can start providing exceptional patient care, you will need to deliver a professional patient care technician resume for the healthcare facility employers.

To start your patient care technician resume, you will want to choose a structured format to work with by reviewing the pros and cons of the following resume formats.

• Chronological resume format:
  - PROS: shows your work experience in reverse chronological order
  - CONS: not suitable for people with limited work experience or who are switching careers
• Functional resume format:
  - PROS: underlines the skills in your patient care technician resume
  - CONS: not suitable for the majority of job applicants
• Combinational/Hybrid resume format:
  - PROS: emphasizes both your experience and skills
  - CONS: only suitable for people with extensive work experience and broad skills
  

In most cases, employers will prefer that you send in your patient care technician resume in a PDF format. While this is the preferred file format, you will want to consult the job description of the PCT role to see if there are format specifications. 

• Patient care tech resume in a PDF format:
  - PROS: The layout and formatting of your patient care technician resume stays exactly how you want them.
  - CONS: Some ATS might not be able to read PDF files.
• Patient care tech resume in a Word format 
  - PROS: Word files can be read by ATS.
  - CONS: The layout and formatting might look different on different devices.
  

If you are writing a patient care technician resume with no experience, here is some advice: 

✅ Advice 1:
Use the skills-based format.Having no experience does not mean that you do not qualify for the PCT position.

Make up for the lack of experience with your skills by choosing the functional resume format for your patient care technician resume. 

✅ Advice 2:
Include a career objective statement in your patient care technician resume.It is recommended for people applying for entry-level PCT jobs to write an objective statement in their resumes to provide the employer with a reason why they are applying for the PCT role. 

✅ Advice 3:
Focus on your educational background. Another way to make up for the lack of experience is to put emphasis on your PCT educational accomplishments or other training accreditations. 

1. Resume Profile (Personal Information)

Your patient care tech resume should contain the following personal information to let the employer know how to contact you. 

• Full name
• Professional title
• Email address
• Mobile number
• Address

2. Patient Care Technician Resume Headline

To create a memorable headline for your patient care technician resume, you will want to incorporate your most impressive credentials or one of your most notable achievements in the headline. 

3. Patient Care Technician Resume Summary

The summary statement for your patient care technician resume should provide a preview of your past achievements that relate to the role of a PCT.  

4. Patient Care Technician Resume Objective

When writing a PCT resume with no experience, you can compose an objective in your patient care technician resume and show the employer what you plan to accomplish as a PCT.

5. Patient Care Technician Resume Skills

While a patient care technician should have the needed background and knowledge, the healthcare facility will also want to know that you have the personality traits (or soft skills) to take on the role to assist patients on your resume. 

6.  Patient Care Technician Resume Work Experience 

Even if you are creating a patient care technician resume with no experience, try to incorporate at least two experience entries (volunteering, internships, etc.) to show the employer your involvement in the related field. 

7.  Patient Care Technician Resume Education

Show your dedication to assisting patients by listing your completed PCT education or training programs in your patient care technician resume. 

8. Additional Information for your Patient Care Tech Resume

As a job applicant hoping to work in the healthcare industry, you can benefit greatly by having additional credentials in your patient care technician resume, such as certifications.

These additional items provide the employer with further evidence of your professional knowledge. 

✏️ 1. Use keywords from the job description in your resume. 

To ensure that your patient care technician resume contains what the employer is looking for, you will want to double-check with the PCT job description.

Generally, most patient care technician positions are for general patient care assisting. In some cases, there are specific areas of focus for the role, such as dialysis.

For instance, if the PCT job description highlights dialysis knowledge, make sure that your dialysis patient care technician resume includes those skills. 

✏️ 2. Make your patient care technician resume concise. 

The hiring manager won’t have a lot of time for your resume, so keep it short and clear.

✏️ 3. Refer to an online PCT resume sample. 

Regardless of your job level, viewing PCT resume examples can direct you into creating a solid patient care technician resume for the position.   

✏️ 4. Keep the formatting of your patient care tech resume consistent. 

Check your patient care technician resume to see if the heading, the font, and the size are all consistent throughout the document.

✏️ 5. Create a strong patient care technician cover letter.  

Pairing a cover letter with your patient care technician resume can help provide employers with specific instances of how you have actively used the PCT knowledge or how you have previously assisted others. 

🖋 Should I use a resume template?

• Yes, because it can save time.
• No, because it might make my patient care technician resume look too generic.
  

🖋 What is the best template for a patient care technician resume?

• If you are inexperienced: a simple format with a focus on skills
• If you are experienced: a format with a focus on the experience section
  

🖋 Where can I create a free template for my patient care technician resume?

• CakeResume: if you want to fully customize your template
• Microsoft Word or Google Docs: if you want to make quick adjustments to pre-made templates