We recommend the following accrediting agencies for patient care technician programs and healthcare schools: COE (Council on Occupational Education), ACCSC (Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges), and ABHES(Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools). The sections below provide an overview of each agency and outline key considerations.
PCT Accreditation Basics
Our accreditation consulting package includes four milestones that will take your institution from Licensed to Accredited in 18 to 24 months, depending on the accreditation cycle and your school readiness:
Milestone 1 - Aligning with Accreditation Standards.
Milestone 2 - Implementing Annual Evaluations.
Milestone 3 - Issuing Your First Institutional Plan.
Milestone 4 - Preparing the Accreditation Documents.
This approach allows your institution to commit to one objective and one consulting fee at a time. You may cancel our services at any time without penalties. Each module focuses on one of the Licensed to Accredited Milestones, aligns with 2026 standards, and includes ten (10) live Zoom training sessions.
Recommended Accrediting Agencies
Interested in accreditation for your Patient Care Technician (PCT) school? Once achieved, institutional accreditation will open the door to multiple funding opportunities, including Federal Financial Aid and Veteran Benefits. We have assisted many institutions through this process and would be pleased to support you as well. Request your complimentary consultation today!
What Our Clients Say
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is a nationally recognized accrediting agency for institutions and programs focused on healthcare education. ABHES offers both institutional and programmatic accreditation.
ABHES ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Private sector licensed institution.
- Principal activity is education.
- Focus on healthcare education.
- Programs lead to employment.
- Located in the United States.
- Legally authorized to operate.
- Has graduate students.
- Continuous operation for two years.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Programs have active students for visits.
For the complete list of eligibility requirements, download our free ABHES Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your institution’s current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the initial application.
ABHES ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The initial ABHES accreditation process takes approximately 24 months and includes attending a workshop, submitting an application, a self-evaluation report, and hosting ABHES preliminary and full visits.
LEARN MORE
Visit our ABHES Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the ABHES initial applicant world, access free reference guides, and resources.
We invite you to visit our Google Business page to read reviews from our satisfied clients. You can also explore Ms. Nunez’s LinkedIn profile to learn more about her background, experience, and client endorsements as our Education Consultant.
PCT Patient Care School Accreditation Consulting
Need assistance? We are glad to help! We serve institutions nationwide. Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-2277, completing the free session request form, or emailing [email protected]. We are available to provide your patient care technician school with the accreditation consulting services to help you achieve this important milestone.
The Starting Point
Applying for Federal Financial Aid
Let us help you with your school accreditation process - moving from licensed to accredited in 4 milestones.
Serving Institutions Nationwide
Veteran Education Benefits
COE Accreditation Basics
Choosing an accreditor is a critical decision that should not be taken lightly. Accreditation requires a substantial investment of both financial and human resources. We recommend selecting an accreditor that aligns with your current goals while allowing room for your school’s future growth.
ACCSC ACCREDITATION
ACCSC is an ideal accreditor for vocational schools. Patient care technician (PCT) schools accredited by ACCSC have the flexibility to expand their training to any occupational sector and to offer degree programs, including associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
COE ACCREDITATION
COE accreditation is well-suited for vocational and trade schools offering diploma and certificate programs. COE-accredited patient care technician (PCT) schools have the opportunity to incorporate later on training programs for other occupational careers and offer occupational associate degrees.
ABHES ACCREDITATION
ABHES is an ideal accreditor for institutions offering predominantly allied health education programs from certificates and diplomas to master's degrees. ABHES also offers programmatic accreditation for the medical assisting, medical laboratory technology, and surgical technology programs.
PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT
Schools accredited by a general-scope agency—such as ACCSC or COE—are well-positioned for long-term growth. Broader accreditation gives owners the flexibility to scale beyond the healthcare sector and increases the school’s overall resale value.
Our Accreditation Consulting Services
Institutional accreditation is generally one of the eligibility requirements for schools to become VA training providers. Once approved, students may use their veteran benefits to pay for their program of study at your school.
Choosing Between ACCSC, COE, & ABHES
- We are subject matter experts.
- Help clients achieve goals on time.
- Provide mentoring and training.
- Implement industry best practices.
- Our services are scalable and cost-effective.
- We are BBB A+ Accredited.
Accreditation Terms & Concepts
ABHES Accreditation Basics
ACCSC Accreditation Basics
Six Reasons to Hire Our Services
We are readily available to assist you through the entire accreditation process and support you at every stage of your school’s journey.
- Accreditation - Initial & Renewals
- State License Applications
- Compliance & Best Practices
- SEVP Certification - International Students
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International Student Visas F1 & M1
Patient Care Techincian Schools apply for institutional accreditation, which means all programs licensed by your institution will be included in the accreditation process.
THE PCT PROGRAM
A patient care technician curriculum includes the following areas of instruction:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Infection Control
- Phlebotomy Procedures
- Electrocardiography Procedures
- Nursing Assistant Skills
- Patient Care - Foundations
- Patient Care - Clinical Procedures
- Legal and Ethical Standards
- Clinical Externship
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
As part of the accreditation process, patient care technician schools demonstrate that students successfully complete their programs and secure employment in the field. While the benchmark may vary slightly by accrediting agency and program length, the average minimum requirements are:
70% graduation rate
70% placement rate
Once institutional accreditation is achieved, schools may begin the Federal Financial Aid application process. Historically, Title IV funding has been limited to programs with 600+ clock hours duration. Regulatory revisions are expected to expand eligibility to shorter programs beginning July 1, 2026.
BAYSIDE PROJECTS
Licensed schools complete the SEVP certification process to enroll international students with M-1 or F-1 visas for on-campus or hybrid programs. Institutional accreditation is typically one of the eligibility requirements, except in certain scenarios where programs lead to a state-issued license.
Visit our Accreditation Terms & Concepts page for a review of the terms you will encounter as you learn about accreditation. Familiarity with these concepts will help you select the accrediting agency that best supports your school’s goals.
The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is a nationally recognized institutional accrediting agency overseeing 450+ institutions serving over 170,000 students across a wide range of occupational programs.
COE ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Instruction on career-technical education.
- Credentials no higher than applied AS.
- 25%+ of instruction delivered on campus.
- 900+ hours of instruction during previous year.
- Legally authorized to operate.
- Licensed for a minimum of a year.
- Has graduates from the longest program.
- Continuous operation for the previous year.
- Same ownership for the previous year.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Programs have active students for visits.
For the complete list of eligibility requirements, download our free COE Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your institution’s current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the candidate application.
COE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The initial COE accreditation process takes between 18 and 24 months, and includes submitting a candidate application, hosting a candidate visit, attending workshops, submitting a self-study and exhibits, hosting COE preliminary and final visit.
LEARN MORE
Visit our COE Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the COE initial applicant world, access free reference guides, and resources.
Licensed to Accredited in 4 Milestones
The Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is a national institutional accrediting agency serving more than 150,000 students annually across a wide range of occupational programs.
ACCSC ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Private postsecondary school.
- Programs with occupational-technical focus.
- Continuous operation for the last two years.
- Has graduates from the longest program.
- At least one program with 300+ hours duration.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Active students for all programs.
- Compliance with state & federal regulations.
- Workshop attendance by school personnel.
Download our free ACCSC Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the initial application.
ACCSC ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The ACCSC accreditation process takes approximately 24 months and includes attending a workshop, submitting applications part I and II, submitting a self-evaluation report (SER), attending an orientation, and hosting an ACCSC on-site visit
LEARN MORE
Visit our ACCSC Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the ACCSC initial applicant world, access free resources, and guides.