Practical Nursing at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 730 in Knoxville, TN.

Program Analysis

At $38,388/yr, Practical Nursing graduates from Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville land near the $44,151 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 8%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

At #594 out of 703 programs, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $38,388 to $43,041 over five years (12% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
63
Score
63
High End
Earnings $38,388/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$438K
2.9% 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)
$43,041
12% 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

Other Majors at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville's Practical Nursing program score?
At 63/100, 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?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
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.
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 →