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PCT EXTERNSHIP

Patient Care Technician Externship in New Jersey

Your complete guide to arranging a self-managed 100-hour externship across The Garden State. Build clinical skills, employer connections, and a pathway to employment.

Patient Care Technician externship training in New Jersey

100

Hours Required

4-8

Weeks Typical

71

NJ Hospitals

2,800+

Annual Openings

Self

Managed

Who this training is for

Ideal for candidates with prior PCT clinical experience who need certification to validate their skills for New Jersey employers.

New to the field? If you have no prior experience, you must complete a Self-Managed 100-Hour Externship to build hands-on confidence needed to complete the program and prepare to challenge the AMCA PCTC.

Externship Disclaimer

EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. All externships are self-managed. You are responsible for identifying and securing your own externship site at a hospital or healthcare facility. EHired provides state-specific resources and guidance, but placement is not guaranteed.

What is a PCT Externship?

A Patient Care Technician externship is a 100-hour hands-on clinical experience where you apply classroom knowledge in real healthcare settings. During your externship in New Jersey, you'll work alongside experienced healthcare professionals in hospitals, dialysis centers, or long-term care facilities.

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Hospital Settings

Medical-surgical units, emergency departments, ICUs, and specialty floors at major New Jersey health systems.

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Dialysis Centers

DaVita and Fresenius operate dialysis centers across New Jersey, offering specialized renal care experience.

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Long-Term Care

Skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers throughout New Jersey provide extended patient care opportunities.

PCT Externship Sites in New Jersey

Explore potential externship locations across four regions of The Garden State

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Northern Jersey (Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson)

NYC-adjacent with highest wages. Hackensack Meridian and RWJBarnabas dominant.

Hospitals: Hackensack University Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel, Morristown Medical Center, Jersey City Medical Center, Valley Hospital

Dialysis: DaVita (25+ centers), Fresenius (20+ centers) Northern NJ

Long-Term Care: Northern NJ nursing facilities; CareOne, Genesis, major nursing home presence

💡 Tip: Bilingual Spanish highly valuable in urban North Jersey. NYC hospitals also accessible.

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Central Jersey (Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon)

RWJBarnabas stronghold with Rutgers medical campus. Academic medicine exposure.

Hospitals: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, St. Peter's University Hospital, Penn Medicine Princeton, Somerset Medical Center

Dialysis: DaVita and Fresenius Central Jersey locations

Long-Term Care: Central Jersey nursing facilities; Parker Health Group, Chelsea Senior Living

💡 Tip: Rutgers affiliation means academic teaching environment—great for career advancement.

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Jersey Shore (Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic)

Shore communities with seasonal volume. Growing retiree population drives demand.

Hospitals: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center, AtlantiCare, CentraState Medical Center

Dialysis: DaVita and Fresenius Shore locations

Long-Term Care: Shore nursing facilities; beach community assisted living

💡 Tip: Summer tourism increases volume. Shore facilities often more willing to take externs off-season.

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South Jersey (Camden, Burlington, Gloucester)

Philadelphia-oriented market with Virtua and Cooper. Lower competition than North Jersey.

Hospitals: Cooper University Hospital, Virtua Voorhees, Virtua Marlton, Jefferson Cherry Hill, Inspira Medical Centers

Dialysis: DaVita and Fresenius South Jersey locations

Long-Term Care: South Jersey nursing facilities; many patients cross to Pennsylvania

💡 Tip: Cooper is Level I trauma center—excellent learning environment. Philadelphia market accessible.

What You'll Learn During Your Externship

Clinical Skills

  • • Vital signs measurement and documentation
  • • Patient positioning and transfers
  • • Basic wound care and dressing changes
  • • Specimen collection procedures
  • • EKG electrode placement

Professional Development

  • • Healthcare team communication
  • • Electronic health records (EHR)
  • • HIPAA compliance in practice
  • • Infection control protocols
  • • Patient advocacy skills

Ready to Start Your PCT Career in New Jersey?

Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay only when you're ready to certify.

$0 To Enroll
100 Clinical Hours
AMCA Certification
Enroll Free Today

No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PCT externships in New Jersey:

Where can I find PCT externship sites in New Jersey?
New Jersey has 71 hospitals with RWJBarnabas Health (12 hospitals) and Hackensack Meridian Health (17 hospitals) as dominant systems. DaVita and Fresenius operate 50+ dialysis centers. NJ wages are among the highest nationally.
Does New Jersey require CNA for PCT work?
New Jersey does not require CNA for hospital PCT positions. However, nursing homes require CNA certification per NJ Board of Nursing regulations. AMCA PCTC is strongly preferred by RWJBarnabas and Hackensack Meridian.
What are New Jersey PCT wages like?
New Jersey PCTs earn among the highest wages nationally—averaging $42,000-$50,000. Northern NJ near NYC pays highest. However, cost of living is also significantly higher than national average, especially in Bergen and Hudson counties.
Can NJ residents access NYC or Philadelphia healthcare jobs?
Yes—Northern NJ is part of the NYC metro, and South Jersey is part of the Philadelphia metro. NYC-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and NYU are accessible from North Jersey. Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and Temple are accessible from South Jersey.