Practical Nursing at Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing

Parkersburg, WV · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With 83% of applicants admitted, Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 28 students in Parkersburg, WV.

Program Analysis

At $37,542/yr, Practical Nursing graduates from Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing land near the $44,151 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 4% 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.

A #622 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $37,542 to $40,494 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.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
62
Score
63
High End
Earnings $37,542/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$409K
1.9% 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.

Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,494
8% 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

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
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?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →