Registration is underway for classes that will begin in September at the Capital Region BOCES Adult Health Careers Center.
Adults interested in entering the healthcare industry field should register now for the full-time or part-time Practical Nursing programs.
Registration for the full-time, daytime program runs through Aug. 14 with classes beginning Sept. 2. Registration for the part-time, evening program runs through Dec. 1 with classes scheduled to begin Jan. 5, 2026.
The full-time program runs for 10, and the part-time program runs for 18 months. Classes are taught at the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus, located at 1015 Watervliet-Shaker Road in Albany (Colonie).
Those interested in registering or inquiring about the program are encouraged to call 518-862-4709 or email healthcareers@neric.org.
Graduates of the program are filled with praise for the training it provided them.
“It was challenging, but we all had great instructors, great peers. We all helped each other out, and we all succeeded,” said Stacy Bowles, a Class of 2025 graduate.
Classmate Natahja Epps expressed a similar sentiment.
“I have been in this field for more than a decade, and BOCES is allowing me to advance myself,” said Epps.
“I plan to get a job and eventually go back to school and become a forensic pathologist,” she added.
Alumni Gabriele Trapalis was hired even before graduating from the program.
“I worked as a general practical nurse (GPN) for WellNow (a conglomerate of more than two-dozen urgent care clinics located across upstate New York and Illinois) and then when I graduated and passed my boards, I was moved up to LPN [licensed practical nurse],” she said.
“It’s good work, and it’s constantly changing. I really enjoy it,” said Trapalis.
The state-approved Adult Practical Nursing Program at the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School encompasses 1,100 hours of classroom and clinical study and practice. Students earn their clinical experience in various local health care facilities, including Ellis Hospital, Teresian House, the Albany County Nursing Home and Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as the Our Lady of Mercy and more.