The Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC) Practical Nursing program achieved a 94.87% pass rate of graduates which completed the national licensure exam (NCLEX-PN) during the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are in-demand in our region and can work in a variety of healthcare delivery settings. The GACTC Practical Nursing program is approved by the State Board of Nursing. The current NCLEX-PN pass rate of the GACTC Practical Nursing program is well above the required pass rate for practical nursing programs in Pennsylvania per state law, which requires an 80% NCLEX-PN pass [...]

The GACTC continues to respond to the needs of area students and employers by adding new adult education programs. Today the school announced a new dental assistant program for the 2024-2025 academic year as part of their adult education programming. In the Southern Alleghenies region, dental assistants remain as a high priority occupation. The dental assistant diploma program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for employment as dental assistants. Students will be trained to perform a wide variety of dental assisting, radiological, and infection control procedures. Additionally, procedures specific to dental specialties, such as restorative, prosthodontics, [...]

In this edition of the Adult Education Programs' newsletter, read about our recent graduation ceremonies for some of our diploma programs, meet a few of our students and their recent activities and accomplishments in the classroom and beyond, and review our short-term training programs and GACTC's open employment positions. Read the full newsletter here.

In this edition of the Adult Education Programs' newsletter, meet a few of our students and their recent activities in the classroom and beyond, get details for our April open house, and review the GACTC's open employment positions. Read the full newsletter here.

In August 2022, we celebrated the graduation of our full- and part-time practical nursing programs, recognizing 63 graduates. Students in the full-time program were enrolled from August 2021 through August 2022; students in the part-time were enrolled from September 2020 through August 2022. After graduation from a practical nursing program, students have the option to apply for a Graduate Practical Nurse permit (GPN). With this permit, students can work as a GPN with supervision until they earn licensure as a practical nurse via the national licensure exam (NCLEX). From our graduating full-time practical nursing class of 2022, of the students that [...]

Through an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Students Occupationally and Academically Ready (SOAR) program provides opportunities for secondary students that complete a career and technical program to earn credit towards related postsecondary credentials at participating postsecondary institutions. The GACTC recently received approval for two SOAR agreements, adding to existing articulation agreements the GACTC offers high school and adult students. Students that successfully complete the Health Occupations program at the GACTC or another career and technology center in Pennsylvania have the opportunity to earn credit towards postsecondary medical programs offered at the GACTC. Students that complete a Health Occupations [...]