Berks

Penn State Berks accepting applications for practical nursing program

Penn State Berks practical nurses will train in the nursing simulation lab at the Penn State Health St. Joseph Downtown Reading campus. Credit: ProvidedAll Rights Reserved.

Are you looking for a career in a growing field that will remain viable in the years to come? Do you seek a personally and financially fulfilling career centered around, working with, and providing comfort and direct care to people? Would you like to be a member of a well-respected health care team with opportunity to grow your career? If you answered “yes,” to any of these questions, the Penn State Berks Practical Nursing Program can help you achieve your goals.

The practical nursing program is targeted at the working individual, offering a night and weekend class schedule. Students will meet for 18 months to learn and develop the critical thinking and the clinical skills necessary to become a practical nurse. The students earn their license once they pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-LPN). 

Students will gain clinical experience outside the classroom in varied settings including skilled nursing, mental health facilities, hospital settings and dementia units. Career opportunities for graduates include physician offices, nursing facilities, in-home care, community clinics, and even correctional facilities. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the average salary for a practical nurse in Berks County is $24 per hour with an entry wage of $42,990 and an average median salary of $49,500. With the program tuition for 2021-22 of $17,300, this is a great rate of return on your education investment.

Program information sessions and the prerequisite TEAS exams are scheduled for at various times throughout the day and offered through remote access for greater accessibility. For more information or to sign up for a session, visit our website: https://berks.psu.edu/practical-nursing-program. If you have additional questions, contact Elaine Berish, continuing education specialist, at 610-396-6230 or via email at EMB1@psu.edu.

Last Updated October 30, 2020