Practical Nursing at Venango County Area Vocational Technical School

Oil City, PA · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With a 60% acceptance rate, Venango County Area Vocational Technical School is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 57 students in Oil City, PA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,285/yr, roughly in line with the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Practical Nursing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $40,285 far exceeding the $14,677 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #570 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Venango County Area Vocational Technical School in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $40,285 to $40,323 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 2 registered apprenticeship programs align with Practical Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
64
Score
65
High End
Earnings $40,285/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$421K
1.0% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$14,677
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,323
0% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Practical Nursing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses $62,340 +2.6% 75%
Nursing assistants $39,530 +2.3% 90%
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
$62,340
+2.6% growth 75% AI-proof
Nursing assistants
$39,530
+2.3% growth 90% AI-proof

About Practical Nursing Careers

Your career begins on the front lines of patient care as a nursing assistant. In a hospital or long-term care facility, your active days will be spent helping patients with essential tasks like bathing, eating, and moving safely. You’ll be a vital part of the medical team, taking blood pressure and temperature and serving as the eyes and ears for the supervising nurses.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 64/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Venango County Area Vocational Technical School?
At 64/100, the score looks reasonable — but Practical Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
Practical Nursing rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 18% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →