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Practical Nursing Instructor Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

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Practical Nursing Instructor information

See Pittsburgh, PA salary details

$39.3K

$59.9K

$80.1K

How much do practical nursing instructor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for practical nursing instructor in Pittsburgh, PA is $59,890.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,100.00 and $69,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a practical nursing instructor?

Practical Nursing Instructors are educators who teach and train students in practical nursing programs, preparing them to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). They develop lesson plans, deliver lectures, supervise clinical practice, and assess student performance. These instructors combine their knowledge of nursing theory and hands-on clinical experience to ensure students gain the skills needed for entry-level nursing roles. They may work in community colleges, vocational schools, or healthcare facilities. Their primary goal is to help students meet licensure requirements and succeed in the nursing profession.

What does a practical nursing instructor do?

A practical nursing instructor teaches courses in a practical nursing program, often at a community college. As a practical nursing instructor, your responsibilities include preparing course syllabi and curricula, maintaining accurate records about students’ attendance and grades, serving on faculty committees, and acting as an advisor for nursing students. Your job duties include recruiting students; instructing students in classrooms, labs, and clinical settings; and helping students plan their educational journey from enrollment through graduation. You may teach classes such as patient care fundamentals, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and pharmacology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a practical nursing instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Practical Nursing Instructor, you need extensive clinical nursing experience, a valid nursing license (such as RN or LPN), and typically a bachelor's degree or higher in nursing or education. Familiarity with educational technology, simulation labs, and curriculum development tools is commonly required. Strong communication, mentorship, and organizational skills enable effective teaching and support for diverse student populations. These competencies ensure high-quality instruction, foster student success, and maintain compliance with educational standards.

What are some common challenges practical nursing instructors face when transitioning from clinical practice to teaching?

Many Practical Nursing Instructors find that adapting their hands-on clinical expertise to an educational setting can be challenging. This transition often involves learning new skills in curriculum development, lesson planning, and student assessment, which can differ significantly from patient care tasks. Additionally, instructors must balance classroom teaching with supervising clinical rotations, requiring strong organizational and communication abilities. Collaborating with colleagues in academic and healthcare settings is also essential to ensure students receive well-rounded, up-to-date training.

What is the difference between Practical Nursing Instructor vs Licensed Practical Nurse?

AspectPractical Nursing InstructorLicensed Practical Nurse
CredentialsLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license, teaching certification (if required)LPN license, completed approved practical nursing program
Work EnvironmentEducational settings, classrooms, clinical labsHospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, nursing schoolsHealthcare providers, hospitals, clinics
Primary FocusTeaching and training future practical nursesProviding direct patient care

In summary, Practical Nursing Instructors focus on educating and training students to become licensed practical nurses, working mainly in educational settings. Licensed Practical Nurses provide direct patient care in healthcare environments. While both roles require LPN licensure, their work environments and primary responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Practical Nursing Instructor jobs in Pittsburgh, PA?

For Practical Nursing Instructor jobs in Pittsburgh, PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Practical Nursing Instructor jobs in Pittsburgh, PA look for?

The top searched job categories for Practical Nursing Instructor jobs in Pittsburgh, PA are:

What cities near Pittsburgh, PA are hiring for Practical Nursing Instructor jobs?

Cities near Pittsburgh, PA with the most Practical Nursing Instructor job openings:

Infographic showing various Practical Nursing Instructor job openings in Pittsburgh, PA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 25% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,890 per year, or $28.8 per hour.

RN Program Director - LPN School

Quest Healthcare Academy

Jeannette, PA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM DIRECTOR (RN)

Quest Healthcare Academy
Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Full-Time | On-Site

Quest Healthcare Academy is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse educator to serve as the Program Director for our developing Practical Nursing (LPN) Program. This is an opportunity to lead a new program from its initial approval and implementation through student enrollment, instruction, clinical education, graduation, and NCLEX-PN preparation.

The Program Director will provide academic and administrative leadership while ensuring compliance with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and institutional requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the Practical Nursing Program.

  • Maintain compliance with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations.

  • Assist in coordinating program approval activities, reports, site visits, and required documentation.

  • Oversee curriculum implementation, course sequencing, lesson planning, testing, and student evaluation.

  • Recruit, orient, supervise, and evaluate nursing faculty and clinical instructors.

  • Coordinate classroom, skills laboratory, simulation, and clinical education.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other clinical partners.

  • Monitor student attendance, academic progress, clinical performance, retention, graduation, and NCLEX-PN outcomes.

  • Implement improvement plans based on student outcomes and program-evaluation data.

  • Participate in student admission, orientation, advising, remediation, discipline, and graduation activities.

  • Ensure that faculty and student records are complete, accurate, and ready for regulatory review.

  • Manage program scheduling, instructional resources, equipment, and supplies.

  • Teach nursing courses or provide instructional coverage when appropriate.

  • Represent the program during meetings with regulators, clinical partners, community organizations, and workforce-development agencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Current, unrestricted Pennsylvania Registered Nurse license.

  • Graduate of an approved professional nursing program.

  • Earned bachelor’s degree, preferably a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

  • Nursing-practice experience relevant to practical nursing education.

  • Experience in nursing education and educational administration.

  • Demonstrated leadership, communication, organization, and program-management abilities.

  • If a master’s degree has not yet been earned, the applicant must have a specific plan for completing one and demonstrate consistent progress toward completion.

  • Ability to meet all Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requirements for a practical-nursing program director.

An applicant whose highest currently earned degree is an ASN or ADN does not meet the minimum bachelor’s-degree requirement, even if currently enrolled in an MSN program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • MSN or another relevant master’s degree.

  • Experience as a nursing program director, coordinator, faculty member, or clinical-education leader.

  • Experience developing or launching a new nursing-education program.

  • Knowledge of Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and private-school regulations.

  • Practical nursing or long-term care education experience.

  • Curriculum development, simulation, accreditation, or NCLEX-preparation experience.

  • Experience supervising nursing faculty and evaluating student-learning outcomes.

POSITION DETAILS

  • Employment status: Full-time

  • Work location: On-site in Jeannette, Pennsylvania

  • Schedule: Primarily daytime hours, with occasional evening or clinical-site responsibilities

WHY JOIN QUEST HEALTHCARE ACADEMY?

The selected director will have a meaningful role in shaping a new practical-nursing program designed to prepare safe, competent, and compassionate nurses for the communities of Western Pennsylvania. This position offers the opportunity to build the program’s culture, faculty team, instructional systems, clinical partnerships, and student-support structure from the beginning.

TO APPLY

Please submit:

  • Current résumé or curriculum vitae

  • Cover letter describing your nursing-education and leadership experience

  • Copy of your Pennsylvania RN license

  • Undergraduate and graduate transcripts

  • If currently pursuing a master’s degree, verification of enrollment and anticipated completion date

Appointment is contingent upon verification of credentials and acceptance of the candidate’s qualifications by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, as applicable.

Quest Healthcare Academy is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.