by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants covers Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing And Nursing Assistants, Other. Any Instructional Program In Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, And Nursing Assistants Not Listed Above. Read on to learn the important information every other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants programs.
Nationwide, other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants is a widely-pursued major, with 4,506 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Schools ranking analyzes these 81 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants programs later in this article.
Coursework for Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other practical nursing, vocational nursing and 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 | 3,808 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 463 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 75 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to other practical nursing, vocational nursing and 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 other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 3,176,121 | 14.4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 87,005 | -4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $118,810 |
| Nursing Assistants | $27,058 |
With 81 different other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants school rankings to help you.
Students interested in other practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 50,931 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide | 44,550 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
