- Extensive hands-on training: Practice your skills with 900+ hours of clinical experience.
- High NCLEX pass rate: In 2022-23, our program achieved a 94.87% pass rate for graduates taking the national licensure exam (NCLEX-PN).
- 1 & 2 year program options: The program is offered both full- and part-time, allowing you to go at your own pace.
- Tuition assistance: Financial aid is available to eligible students.
POSSIBLE CERTIFICATIONS
- CPR
- OSHA 10-hour Healthcare certification
- IV Therapy certification
- Licensure as a Practical Nurse in Pennsylvania
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Estimated Tuition & Fees for 2023-2024:
$22,200.00 (includes a laptop, if needed)
For the 2023-2024 academic year, this program is eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding! Contact your local CareerLink to learn more about WIOA funding.
Hours:
1,564
Schedule:
Next session of the full-time program: August 2024 through August 2025
- Proposed schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (hours may vary due to clinical experiences)
Part-time program: August 2024- August 2026
- Proposed schedule: Tuesday – Thursday, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Clinical hours also vary pending clinical site, but can be weekdays 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. and weekends from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Please contact us to schedule a tour and to meet with a career counselor to discuss your career goals and this program. Complete this short form to request more information and to schedule a tour, or call us at 814.941.TECH.
We welcome your application to the Practical Nursing program.
GET THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO SHINE
The Practical Nursing program encompasses classroom and clinical instruction in all phases of direct patient care, including dispensing medication and IV Therapy. The GACTC Practical Nursing has served the community since 1970 through the GACTC. The GACTC offers both a full- and part-time Practical Nursing program.
Licensed practical nurses are in demand in our region, and are vitally important in providing quality patient care.
Courses in the Practical Nursing program include the following:
- Personal & Vocational Relationship
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Nursing I, II, and III
- Surgical Nursing I, II, and III
- Maternity Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pharmacology I and II
- More than 900 hours of clinical instruction in all phases of direct patient care!
Upon graduation from the program, students are Graduate Practical Nurses and are prepared to take the National Exam for Licensure (NCLEX) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Read about our 94% NCLEX pass rate here.
When you enroll in the Practical Nursing program, you receive a high-quality, comprehensive education that prepares you for employment in a wide range of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Physician offices
- Home healthcare
- Armed forces
- Health agencies and clinics
- Nursing homes
- Mental health facilities
- Correctional institutions
Clinical Experiences
Practical nursing students obtain clinical experience at various healthcare facilities in our region, including, but not limited to, UPMC Altoona, Conemaugh Nason Hospital, Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg, Allegheny Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg, Garvey Manor in Hollidaysburg, James E. Van Zandt Medical Center, and Encompass Health. Additional practicums may include emergency services, daycares, outpatient agencies, school nurse offices, and rehabilitation services.
Program Accreditation
The Practical Nursing program is an approved program through the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The GACTC has institutional accreditation through the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. For the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023, our Practical Nursing Program achieved an NCLEX pass rate of 94.87%!
The GACTC is a hidden gem in our community, and the Practical Nursing program has a great reputation…it measures clinical competency and validates knowledge and skill by giving you the preparation and training for a state certified license.
