If you need help studying for the National Patient Care Technician (NCPCT) exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free Patient Care Technician practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 150 questions total, but only 125 question will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the Patient Care Technician exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. You can take a break any time you want, but the timer will not be stopped.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the Radiography exam.
1. Infection Prevention and Safety
25 scored questions
- Disinfecting reusable medical equipment
- Preventing healthcare-associated infections
- Using protective equipment like gloves and masks
- Following standard and transmission-based precautions
- Complying with safety standards for healthcare workers
- Handling and disposing of hazardous waste safely
- Taking action for medical follow-up after exposure incidents
- Ensuring patient safety by maintaining a safe environment
- Performing basic life support and emergency procedures
- Responding to workplace emergencies promptly
2. Patient Intake and Care
38 scored questions
- Following the correct procedures for identifying patients
- Obtaining patient permission before performing procedures
- Monitoring and recording patient vital signs
- Assisting with oxygen therapy and nebulizer treatments
- Inserting and removing peripheral IVs
- Providing care for patients with gastric and NG tubes
- Performing oral suctioning
- Visually inspecting patient specimens for abnormalities
- Identifying and reporting changes in skin integrity
- Providing wound care and dressing changes
- Assisting with restorative rehabilitation activities
- Documenting medically relevant aspects of patient care
3. Phlebotomy
26 scored questions
- Selecting appropriate venipuncture equipment for collection
- Selecting appropriate capillary equipment for collection
- Identifying additives and anticoagulants added to blood collection tubes
- Following guidelines for inversion and fill levels
- Anticipating pre-analytical errors and complications
- Determining appropriate site selection for blood collection
- Preparing the site for blood collection
- Identifying the recommended order of draw for blood samples
- Taking precautions for patients with special needs
- Performing venipuncture on patients of all ages
- Performing capillary punctures by fingerstick and heelstick
- Responding to complications of phlebotomy
- Performing post-phlebotomy care
4. ECG
21 scored questions
- Educating patients about the ECG procedure
- Preparing and positioning patients for testing
- Placing electrodes on patients appropriately for the test
- Adapting techniques for patients with special considerations
- Identifying and measuring waveform characteristics
- Recognizing atrial and ventricular abnormalities
- Distinguishing between regular and irregular rhythms
- Recognizing cardiac rhythm classifications and rates
- Accounting for patients with special considerations
- Identifying causes of artifact
- Identifying recording errors
- Correcting artifacts and recording errors
5. Law and Ethics
15 scored questions
- Adhering to the Patient’s Bill of Rights
- Demonstrating compliance with laws related to protected health information
- Recognizing legal responsibilities and the scope of practice for patient care technicians
- Complying with regulations governing reportable incidents
- Responding appropriately to observations of unethical or unlawful practices
- Reporting and documenting patient neglect and abuse
- Reporting and documenting negligence and incompetence
How to Register
To begin the registration process, you’ll need to create an NCCT account on their website and fill out the application and registration information.
You’ll also need to pay the $119 examination fee.
Patient Care Technician Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The Patient Care Technician exam is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 200 and 720. You will need a score of at least 575 to pass the test.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! After 30 days, you can take the test again.
Once you take the test for a third time, you’ll have to wait for a full year before taking it a fourth time. Your fourth attempt will be your final attempt.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Patient Care Technician exam?
There are 150 questions on the exam.
What is the time limit for the Patient Care Technician exam?
The test is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the Patient Care Technician exam?
You’ll need to score at least 575 to pass.