AMCA PCTC study guide
AMCA PCTC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The AMCA Patient Care Technician Certification (PCTC) is a credential that validates the knowledge and skills needed to provide basic patient care and support under the supervision of nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. It is intended for people preparing to work, or already working, in roles that involve assisting patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding; monitoring and reporting changes in patients' condition; transporting patients safely; assisting with lifting, repositioning, and moving patients; and preparing and cleaning patient rooms and treatment areas. The AMCA PCTC study guide has 6 sections and about 2,039 words.
01Anatomy and Physiology
A medical assistant must know the body's organization from cell to system, the language of body planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and directional terms (superior/inferior, proximal/distal, medial/lateral), and the major systems: integumentary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, nervous, reproductive, and lymphatic/immune. Emphasize the function that pairs with each structure - the alveoli exchange gases, the nephron filters blood, the sinoatrial node initiates the heartbeat, the pancreas has both endocrine (insulin, glucagon) and exocrine (digestive enzymes) roles.
355 words, about 2 min02Pharmacology
Know drug classifications and their prototypes: analgesics (opioid vs. non-opioid), antibiotics, antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics), anticoagulants, antidiabetics (insulin types by onset/peak/duration), bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and vaccines.
321 words, about 2 min03Safety and Infection Control
Understand the chain of infection (infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host) and how to break each link. Know standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of diagnosis, while transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, airborne) apply to specific pathogens.
347 words, about 2 min04Medical Law and Ethics
Distinguish legal duties from ethical duties. Key legal concepts: informed consent (patient must be competent, informed of risks/benefits/alternatives, and voluntarily consent), confidentiality (HIPAA), the scope of practice for a medical assistant, and the doctrine of respondeat superior (employer liability for employees acting within scope).
372 words, about 2 min05Patient Care Skills
Master vital signs and their normal ranges: temperature, pulse (rate, rhythm, volume), respirations, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry. Know proper technique for measuring blood pressure (cuff size, patient seated, arm supported at heart level), counting respirations without telling the patient, and documenting accurately.
343 words, about 2 min06Medical Terminology
Build words from roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Common roots: cardi (heart), hepat (liver), nephr (kidney), gastr (stomach), derm (skin), oste (bone), neur (nerve), pulmon (lung), hem/hemat (blood).
301 words, about 2 min