Orlando, FL – Patient Care Technician (PCT) and other healthcare support programs may face substantial federal funding changes beginning in 2026, potentially limiting affordable entry points for students seeking frontline medical roles. These programs—often short-term and offered through career schools—are directly impacted by new Title IV rules governing student aid eligibility and program performance.
According to federal guidance, PCT and healthcare support certificates under 150 instructional hours, offered as non-credit, or delivered by unaccredited institutions do not qualify for federal financial aid. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must now meet strict Workforce Pell criteria, requiring a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and total program costs that do not exceed graduates’ measured value-added earnings from prior cohorts.
Starting July 1, 2026, these programs will also face the federal “low earnings outcomes” test. Under this rule, a program loses Direct Loan eligibility if graduates earn the same or less than local workers with only a high school diploma for two out of three measured years. Because early-career wages for patient care technicians often fall near this threshold—especially in long-term care and home health settings—many programs may struggle to comply.
Schools warn the changes could reduce training capacity during a period of critical healthcare staffing shortages.
