PennCommercial Business/Technical School

What PennCommercial Business/Technical School does

PennCommercial Business/Technical School is a privately held vocational and technical education institution founded in 1929 and headquartered on a single 65,000 sq ft campus at 242 Oak Spring Road in Washington, Pennsylvania. The school operates as a regional for-profit trade school serving southwestern Pennsylvania (including Pittsburgh, Washington, Westmoreland, and Greene counties) and northern West Virginia, with a portfolio of 12 programs grouped into four categories: Medical (Practical Nursing, Phlebotomy Technician), Trade & Technical (CADD, Electrician, HVAC-R, Information Technology & Security, Welding Technology), Spa & Salon (Cosmetology via TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy, Esthetics, Nail Technician), and Commercial Driver's License (standard, automatic, and a Westmoreland County-specific offering). Program durations range from approximately 3 months (Nail Technician) to 18 months (associate degree tracks in HVAC-R and IT & Security), with day and evening options serving both recent high school graduates and working adult career changers.

The school monetizes primarily through tuition for diploma and associate degree credentials, supplemented by financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships), payment plans, and a Net Price Calculator. Two secondary revenue streams — contract training customized for regional employers and a State of Pennsylvania-certified third-party CDL testing operation — provide modest diversification. The technology base is industry-standard vocational equipment rather than proprietary software: this includes Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and GE HVAC-R systems (Lennox-sponsored lab is the only one in the tri-state area), ASME IX / AWS D1.1-certified welding equipment, CADD software, CDL training vehicles, and practical nursing medical equipment. Differentiated partnerships with Lennox (HVAC-R) and TONI&GUY (cosmetology) provide branded curriculum, equipment access, and graduate placement pathways that competitors in the region cannot easily replicate.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, anchored by campus tours (Calendly-scheduled), online application, phone/SMS/email outreach, community referrals, a "Refer a Friend" program, and multi-channel awareness marketing (blog, SEO, social, billboards, TV, earned media). The school emphasizes career outcomes messaging — a 35+ local employer network and dedicated career services drive acquisition through job-placement proof points. The institution is independently owned with no parent company or PE backing disclosed, and leadership includes President Robert Bazant, Marketing Director Rick Szymanski, Director of Admissions Mike Berry, Director of Practical Nursing Sandy Phillips, Director of Career Services Ashley Subasic, and program directors across cosmetology, CDL, IT, CADD, welding, and esthetics. Following the 2024 closures of Pittsburgh Technical College and Triangle Tech, Penn Commercial is positioned as one of the few remaining incumbent technical education providers in the region.

Name

PennCommercial Business/Technical School

Legal name

Penn Commercial Business/Technical School

Website

https://penncommercial.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PennCommercial is a privately held, 95-year-old vocational school in Washington, PA offering 12 diploma and associate degree programs across trades (electrician, HVAC-R, welding, CDL, IT), healthcare (practical nursing, phlebotomy), and beauty (TONI&GUY cosmetology) for students in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Junior Colleges (611210), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Career technical education
• Skilled trades training
• CDL driver training
• Cosmetology school

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: Revenue generated from student tuition for certificate and associate degree programs. Programs range from 3-month nail technician to 18-month associate degree programs. Financial aid, scholarships, and payment plans available to support enrollment.
2. Contract Training: Customized training programs for business and industry clients delivered on campus or at employer locations.
3. CDL Testing Services: Third-party CDL testing services for Class A, B, and C licenses available to students and local businesses/trucking companies for fee-based certification exams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Penn Commercial is a private vocational and technical school that delivers career-training diploma and associate degree programs across four categories: Medical (Practical Nursing, Phlebotomy Technician), Trade & Technical (CADD, Electrician, HVAC-R, Information Technology and Security, Welding Technology), Spa & Salon (Cosmetology via TONI&GUY partnership, Esthetics, Nail Technician), and CDL driver training (Class A, B, C). Programs run from 3 to 18 months, combine classroom instruction with hands-on labs, and culminate in industry-recognized certifications and job placement assistance.

Product overview

PennCommercial Business/Technical School is a vocational and technical education institution offering a portfolio of career training programs across four main categories: Medical Programs (Practical Nursing, Phlebotomy Technician), Trade & Technical Programs (CADD, Electrician, HVAC-R, IT & Security, Welding), Spa & Salon Programs (Cosmetology through TONI&GUY partnership, Esthetics, Nail Technician), and CDL Training (standard, automatic, and Westmoreland County-specific options). The school provides both diploma and associate degree programs with durations ranging from 3 months to 18 months. Programs feature hands-on training, industry partnerships (Lennox for HVAC-R, TONI&GUY for Cosmetology), and career services support for job placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy: A cosmetology and beauty program offered in partnership with TONI&GUY, providing training in hair styling, nail technology, and esthetics.

Products and services

• Electrician Program Approximately 9-month electrical training program covering residential, commercial, and industrial wiring, including an alternative energy section in solar, wind, and geothermal; offered with day and evening options for individuals seeking electrician careers in Pennsylvania.
• HVAC-R Program 18-month HVAC-R associate degree program training students on Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and GE equipment in a Lennox-sponsored lab; the only Lennox-sponsored HVAC-R course in the tri-state area, preparing graduates for HVAC technician careers.
• Welding Technology Program 12-month welding training program covering SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes plus pipe and plate welding, taught to ASME IX and AWS D1.1 standards for individuals pursuing welding careers.
• Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD) Program CADD associate degree program teaching 2D and 3D design using industry-standard CAD software, designed for students pursuing drafting careers.
• Information Technology and Security Program 18-month IT and Security associate degree program covering networking, server administration, databases, and security fundamentals, with hands-on computer hardware assembly; targeted at students pursuing IT and cybersecurity careers.
• Practical Nursing Program Licensed practical nursing program preparing students for careers in healthcare facilities providing care for patients of all ages.
• Phlebotomy Technician Program Training program for drawing blood and collecting specimens for medical testing and analysis, preparing students for phlebotomy technician roles.
• Cosmetology Program (TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy) TONI&GUY-branded hairdressing and cosmetology program preparing students for state licensing examinations with international brand curriculum and products.
• Esthetics Program Skin care and aesthetics training program covering facials, skin analysis, makeup application, and hair removal techniques, preparing students for esthetics careers.
• Nail Technician Program Approximately 3-month manicure and pedicure training program offered with day and evening class options, preparing students for nail technician careers.
• CDL Training Program (Class A) Six-week intensive truck driver training program for Class A CDL license, with on-site state-certified third-party CDL testing available.
• Automatic CDL Training Program CDL training program focused on automatic transmission vehicles, providing an alternative path to Class A commercial driver licensure.
• Contract Training for Employers Customized training programs for business and industry clients, delivered on campus or at employer locations, designed to upskill or reskill incumbent workers.
• Third-Party CDL Testing Services Fee-based, state-certified third-party CDL testing for Class A, B, and C licenses, available to Penn Commercial students and external drivers, trucking companies, and local businesses by appointment at the Washington, PA campus.
• GED Program GED program providing high school equivalency preparation for prospective students who need a credential to enroll in further vocational training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs complete in 18 months or less with hands-on training
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LennoxcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 July 2019Lennox, founded in 1895 and based in the Dallas area, partnered with Penn Commercial to supply equipment for their HVAC-R training program. Students are trained on sophisticated Lennox equipment as well as Carrier, Trane, and GE systems. This is the only Lennox-sponsored course in the tri-state area. Many graduates become Lennox-affiliated technicians after completing the program. The partnership includes a Lennox-sponsored HVAC-R lab at the campus.
• TONI&GUY Hairdressing AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTONI&GUY is an international hair and beauty brand that partners with Penn Commercial for cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technician programs. The branded academy provides curriculum, products, and education methodology. Students receive TONI&GUY training and can continue education at TIGI Academy in NYC. Student work has been published in hairstyling magazines.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universal Technical Institute: Publicly traded provider of technical training in transportation, skilled trades, and energy with manufacturer-partnered curricula. Closely comparable to Penn Commercial's HVAC/CDL/electrical programs and OEM-style partnerships (Penn Commercial with Lennox, UTI with manufacturers), though UTI is far larger and more geographically diversified.
• ECPI University: Private career-focused institution with hands-on programs in technology, nursing, and trades including IT/security and HVAC-adjacent curricula. Comparable to Penn Commercial's accelerated, hands-on teaching philosophy and mix of associate-degree and certificate pathways.
• Dorsey College: Michigan-based for-profit career school offering trades, healthcare, and CDL programs with hands-on training. Comparable proprietary-school model, financial aid reliance, and accelerated program structure to Penn Commercial.
• Fortis Institute: Multi-state for-profit career college network offering diploma and associate programs in trades, healthcare, and skilled technical fields. Direct comparable in proprietary-school model, financial aid reliance, and program portfolio overlap with Penn Commercial.
• New England Institute of Technology: Private technical college offering associate and bachelor's degrees in trades, technology, and health sciences with strong employer placement focus. Comparable to Penn Commercial in being a private, career-oriented institution with technical program depth and accelerated credentialing.
• All-State Career: For-profit career school with programs in CDL, trades, and healthcare across the Mid-Atlantic region. Comparable proprietary-school model and program overlap with Penn Commercial, particularly in CDL and allied health training.
• Lincoln Tech: National multi-campus for-profit career and trade school offering programs in HVAC, welding, electrical, automotive, and healthcare. Highly comparable to Penn Commercial in program mix, proprietary-school model, and employer-driven placement focus, but operates at significantly greater geographic scale.

Regional players

• YTI Career Institute: Pennsylvania-based private career college offering trades, healthcare, and technical programs with campuses across the state. Strongly comparable in program mix (trades, healthcare, CDL) and regional employer networks, though broader PA geographic footprint than Penn Commercial's single southwestern PA campus.

Broad incumbents

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology: State-operated system of technical colleges delivering CTE and workforce training in trades, healthcare, and technical fields. Comparable in program mix and competency-based training model, but operates as a public, lower-cost alternative to Penn Commercial's tuition-based proprietary offerings.
• Perdoceo Education Corporation: Publicly traded holding company operating American InterContinental University and Colorado Technical University, focused on career-oriented postsecondary education. Comparable proprietary education business model, but at significantly larger scale and with primarily online delivery, contrasting with Penn Commercial's on-campus model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/penncommercial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUngw5TivNYk845EpJQ1Mfg
• Facebookfacebook.com/penncomm
• Instagraminstagram.com/penncommercial
• TikToktiktok.com/@penncommercial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/penn-commercial-business-technical-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PennCommercial Business/Technical School