by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you are interested in helping to provide medical care to others, consider majoring in Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants.
A Nurse Assistant works under the direction of registered nurses proving basic care, monitoring patients, and reporting progress to doctors. You will take classes in clinical nursing, pharmacology, biology, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and chemistry to learn how to teach others how to care for family members, assist in childbirth, and collect medical samples.
Students interested in this field typically major in Licensed Practical Nurse Training, or Nursing Assistant.
Studying Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants covers Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing And Nursing Assistants. Continue reading for the key facts every practical nursing & nursing assistants major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering practical nursing & nursing assistants programs.
Nationwide, practical nursing & nursing assistants draws strong interest, with 99,987 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking analyzes these 1,195 schools to determine the best overall colleges for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of practical nursing & nursing assistants programs later in this article.
Coursework for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates commonly enter.
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistant graduates are responsible for providing day-to-day care to patients, making strong interpersonal skills a necessity. You should enjoy working with others, but have compassion and consideration for patients who are sick and injured. It is also important to be detail oriented because you will be responsible for observing changes in patients and reporting back to registered nurses or doctors.
Graduates in this field work full time in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical centers that require basic health services. Since patients need medical care 24/7, Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants will be required to work nights and on weekends and holidays. Sometimes shifts may be longer than a standard 8-hour workday.
In order to become a Practical Nurse and Nursing Assistant, students must complete a certification program, and then become licensed by the state. Although some schools offer a bachelor's degree program, it is not necessary.
Skills developed in a practical nursing & nursing assistants program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a practical nursing & nursing assistants major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several practical nursing & nursing assistants degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 45,653 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,752 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 14 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10,849 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to practical nursing & nursing assistants tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college courses | 37.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 34.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in practical nursing & nursing assistants careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants work in a variety of medical locations from hospitals to nursing homes to extended care facilities. T hey are responsible for checking vitals, changing bandages, and providing basic medical care to patients. Certified and licensed students should find good job opportunities after graduation.
Studying practical nursing & nursing assistants can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to practical nursing & nursing assistants.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to practical nursing & nursing assistants.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 3,176,121 | 14.4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 87,005 | -4.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,399 |
| 4 years | $42,279 |
| 5 years | $47,962 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers practical nursing & nursing assistants grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $118,810 |
| Nursing Assistants | $27,058 |
With 1,195 different practical nursing & nursing assistants programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased practical nursing & nursing assistants school rankings to help you.
Students interested in practical nursing & nursing assistants, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 50,931 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide | 44,550 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other | 4,506 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
