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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.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

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

Practical Nursing Career Guide

What can you do with a Practical Nursing credential from Western Suffolk BOCES? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

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.

Is Practical Nursing from Western Suffolk BOCES a future-proof career choice?

This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Western Suffolk BOCES's score of 69/100 reflects this durability.

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.

Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Western Suffolk BOCES?

If Western Suffolk BOCES's tuition gives you pause, consider that 2 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.

What's the job market like for Practical Nursing from Western Suffolk BOCES?

Job availability for Practical Nursing is strong — 258,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Western Suffolk BOCES graduates specifically, local market conditions in NY may shift the picture.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →