Healthcare Training & Career Programs in Houston, TX
At Smithwood Medical Institute, we’re dedicated to providing the knowledge and hands-on training you need to begin a successful healthcare career and to ensuring every student feels confident in pursuing their dreams. Whether you’re drawn to direct patient care as a training for Certified Nursing Assistants or Patient Care Technicians, blood collection as a Phlebotomy Technician, cardiac diagnostics as an EKG Technician, or administrative work in Medical Billing & Coding or Pharmacy Technology, Smithwood has a program built to get you certified and job-ready in weeks, not years. We welcome each student to the Smithwood family with open arms. We’re here to help in any way we can.
Our Healthcare Training Programs
Getting Started at Smithwood
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Healthcare Training Programs
Choosing the right healthcare training program is a big decision. Below, we answer the questions students ask most often about Smithwood Medical Institute’s programs in Houston, TX.
The right program depends on the kind of healthcare role you want. Students who want hands-on, patient-facing work often start with Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician training. If you’d rather work with lab specimens and diagnostics, Phlebotomy or Basic EKG training is a faster, skills-specific path. For a non-clinical, administrative role, Medical Billing & Coding is the better fit. Not sure yet? Take our Healthcare Career Training Quiz or call an admissions advisor at (713) 975-0971.
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is trained in personal care and daily living support, including bathing, mobility, and vital signs, making it the most common entry point into healthcare. A Patient Care Technician (PCT) builds on those same fundamentals through a longer, 300-hour program that adds phlebotomy and EKG skills, giving graduates a wider scope of practice.
Most Smithwood programs require a high school diploma or GED for enrollment. Requirements vary slightly by program. See our Admissions page for the specific requirements for each track.
Program length depends on the track you choose. The CNA Refresher and Basic EKG seminar can be completed in about 3 weeks. CNA training runs 4–6 weeks, Medical Billing & Coding about 12 weeks, and the Patient Care Technician program runs 20 weeks. Each program page lists its exact timeline.
Most Smithwood programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on lab and clinical training, which requires in-person attendance for the practical components. Some coursework, like the CNA Refresher, is self-paced and fully online. Check each program’s page for its specific format.
Yes, Smithwood is a licensed institution. Our programs are built to meet Texas state requirements, including approval from the Texas Department of Health & Human Services for the Medication Aide program, and to prepare students for nationally recognized certification exams administered by organizations such as the NHA, AAPC, and the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Yes. Many students combine complementary programs to broaden their job prospects. Phlebotomy students, for example, often add the Basic EKG seminar, since the two skill sets are frequently required together in clinical and lab settings.
Yes. Smithwood offers job placement support to help graduates connect with employers across the Houston healthcare market. Visit our Job Placement page for details.
Financial aid options, including payment plans and assistance for qualifying students, are available across Smithwood’s programs. Visit our Financial Aid page or speak with an advisor after enrolling to review your options.
CNA, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Billing & Coding Specialist roles are consistently in demand across Houston’s hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies, driven by the region’s large healthcare sector and ongoing need for entry-level clinical and administrative support staff.