Practical Nursing Program

Welcome to the Western Area CTC Practical Nursing Program!

The Western Area CTC Practical Nursing Program presently offers one Practical Nursing program of study:

  • Part-time 24-month program
  • Full-time 14-month program

The Practical Nursing Program was started in 1984. The first class graduated and achieved a 95% NCLEX-PN pass rate.

Since then, the program has educated and graduated hundreds and hundreds of caring, compassionate, and competent practical nurses.

100% of program graduates taking the NCLEX-PN administered by the State of PA between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023 passed the examination on the first attempt.

81.82% of program graduates taking the NCLEX-PN administered by the State of PA between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022 passed the examination on the first attempt.

78.26% of program graduates taking the NCLEX-PN administered by the State of PA between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021 passed the examination on the first attempt.

78.13% of program graduates taking the NCLEX-PN administered by the State of PA between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020 passed the examination on the first attempt.

Upcoming Events

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Western Area Career & Technology Center Practical Nursing Program is to provide an educational experience that will prepare students to become competent, safe, effective Practical Nurses who strive to provide quality care to individuals at all levels of the heath care continuum.

Why Choose Practical Nursing?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Licensed Practical nurses is projected to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Why not become a part of tomorrow’s future in healthcare? Our population is aging quickly, and you will be in demand as a nurse. Feel good about making a difference in someone’s life. Be successful in a profession that is always growing. Become part of nursing excellence.

As you can see, nursing is an in-demand profession. Practical Nurses work in a variety of locations, such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Facilities
  • Physician’s offices
  • Clinics
  • Home Health Care
  • Hospice
  • Schools

Our graduates are employed by a number of facilities:

  • Bridgeville Rehab and Care Center
  • Excela Health
  • Hawthorne Woods Assisted Living
  • Paramount Nursing and Rehab
  • Premier Washington Health Center
  • Presbyterian Senior Care
  • Ruby Memorial Hospital
  • St. Clair Hospital
  • Strabane Woods
  • Townview Health and Rehab Center
  • Trinity Health System
  • Uniontown Hospital

Our clinical sites:

  • Davita
  • Friendship Village
  • Greenery
  • McMurray Hills Manor
  • Penn Highlands
  • Presbyterian Senior Care
  • Southwood
  • Trinity Schools
  • Washington Hospital
  • Your Child’s Place

To help students find a job after graduation a variety of services are offered such as: job fairs, career counseling, job listings, and resume assistance are provided.

We are delighted to welcome WACTC students back to Friendship Village to help
develop their clinical skills in the Nursing program. The students bring such positive
energy and a desire to learn and perfect their skills—it is wonderful watching them
transition from tentative students to competent student nurses who make a real
contribution to providing exceptional care to our residents. We are proud to be a small
part of the training of this dynamic group of LPN students.

—-Dina Stover, FVSH Health Center Administrator

For Adult Health Sciences information please call 724-746-0467.

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