Licensed practical nursing programs provide students with the knowledge and proficiencies to provide safe and effective bedside care under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. Students learn to care for patients through lifespan to meet community needs in a number of ways. They learn in the classroom and simulated lab, but an essential component of the program is the clinical experience, which provides real-world patient care opportunities in area hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. The program also prepares students for success on the National Licensure Exam for licensure in Alabama State. The majority of LPNs work in nursing care facilities. A smaller percentage of practical nurses work in hospitals, residential care, dentist and physician offices, clinics, and home healthcare agencies. According to the US Department of Labor, LPNs earned a median annual wage of $43,170 in May 2015.
Trenholm State Technical College
Trenholm State Technology College provides practical nursing students with the knowledge and proficiencies to provide bedside care within the LPN’s scope of practice. The curriculum includes a lecture component, hands-on practice in a simulated lab, and clinical experiences at area hospitals and health facilities. There are 1221 contact hours included in the program. Course topics include mathematical applications, fundamentals of nursing, health assessment, introduction to pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, adult nursing, maternal child nursing, psychosocial nursing, and role transition for the PN. Students complete the program in three semesters and earn 50 credit hours, which may be transferrable to a registered nursing program. Applicants must secure unconditional admission to the college, submit an application to the practical nursing program by the deadline, submit high school transcript or GED scores, and meet the technical standards required for nursing. All students must provide documentation of physical and mental capabilities, verify the absence of drug and alcohol use, and complete a background check. Since admission is competitive, applicants may be ranked according to TEAS scores and completion of college courses. Tuition for the program is $7050. Books, supplies, and testing will cost an additional $2,475.
- Website:http://www.trenholmstate.edu/future-students/nursing-app.cms
- Address: 1225 Air Base Blvd, Montgomery, AL
- Phone: (334) 420-4200
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 95.00%
Wallace Community College – Selma
Wallace Community College facilitates an educational opportunity for adults to complete their goals of becoming a practical nurse. Experienced faculty emphasizes safe, ethical, and non-complex care under the direction of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN and practice under the guidelines established by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The program is available in three-semester and four-semester schedules. Each cycle contains 1296 contact hours (49 credit hours). Applicants must secure admission to the college before submitting an application to the program. TEAS scores (less than two years old), a minimum high school GPA of 2.50 or GED scores, and a minimum 2.50 GPA on college level courses are some other requirements for enrolling in the competitive program. Students must pass a drug screen and background check to participate in the clinical experience. The estimated total program cost is $7,767 including tuition, textbooks, malpractice insurance, drug screening, physical exam, uniform, nurse kit, and NCLEX registration fees.
- Website: http://wccs.edu/home/nursing/
- Address: 3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy, Selma, AL 36703
- Phone: (334) 876-9227
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%
Reid State Technical College
The 49-semester credit hour practical nursing program at Reid State Technical College takes three semesters to complete. In accordance with the standards for PN training, the curriculum includes classroom theory, hands-on training in the school’s lab, and supervised clinical experiences at area health care facilities. Interested persons should submit an application for admission, high school transcript or GED, official college transcripts, ASSET/COMPASS test scores, and attend an orientation on the scheduled days. Applicants with no high school diploma must take the Ability to Benefit Test prior to enrollment. The estimated cost of attendance is $8,081.36 including tuition, insurance, fees, immunization, drug testing, background check, temporary permit fee, ATI assessment, and diploma fee.
- Website: http://www.rstc.edu/
- Address: 100 Alabama 83, Evergreen, AL 36401
- Phone: (251) 578-1313
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.60%
Central Alabama Community College
The practical nursing program at Central Alabama Community College prepares students for success on the NCLEX for practical nurses. The curriculum covers 49 semester credit hours and includes topics such as human anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, fundamental concepts of nursing, intermediate college algebra, English composition, nursing concepts, evidenced based clinical reasoning, fundamentals of public speaking, and transition to PN practice. Admission requires unconditional admission to the college, an application to the practical nursing program by the deadline, a minimum 2.50 GPA on the last 24 credit hours of college courses, a minimum 2.50 high school GPA or GED, and official TEAS V scores – not older than three years. Tuition for the program is $7,774 plus $985 for books and supplies.
- Website: https://www.cacc.edu/
- Address: 1675 Cherokee Rd, Alexander City, AL 35010
- Phone: (256) 234-6346
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College – Macarthur
The licensed practical nursing certificate program is a four-semester course comprising of academic and clinical education to equip students with the competencies to provide bedside care. Under special circumstances, selected students may be allowed to complete the program in three semesters. Applicants must take a placement exam and the TEAS V exam. TEAS V scores must be submitted with the application to the nursing program. Course topics include mathematical applications, health assessment, introduction to pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, adult nursing, fundamentals of nursing, maternal and child nursing, psychosocial nursing, adult/child nursing, and role transition. During the clinical experience, students provide direct patient care at area hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies. Tuition is $146 per credit hour. Special program costs include malpractice insurance, vaccination, drug screen, lab kits, background check, health insurance, TB skin test, nursing uniforms, and testing fees.
- Website: http://lbwcc.edu/
- Address: 1000 Dannelly Boulevard, Andalusia, AL 36420
- Phone: (334) 222-6591
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.90%
Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.