Practical Nursing at Western Suffolk BOCES

Northport, NY · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a compact campus enrolling 274 students in Northport, NY.

Program Analysis

Western Suffolk BOCES's Practical Nursing graduates start at $55,150/yr — above the $44,151 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,859 in median debt clears fast against $55,150 in annual earnings.

Ranked #331 out of 703 programs, Western Suffolk BOCES's Practical Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
69
Score
69
High End
Earnings $55,150/yr (25% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$55K
Reported median after graduation
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,859
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,869
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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

Other Majors at Western Suffolk BOCES

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Suffolk BOCES's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Practical Nursing field.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Western Suffolk BOCES?
Median debt of just $9,859 against $55,150/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Practical Nursing career paths, including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
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 →