Practical Nursing | Northwest-Shoals Community College

Practical Nursing (LPN)

The Practical Nursing Program is three semesters in length. Students are admitted to the program once a year. Northwest-Shoals Community College will no longer offer a fall admission into the practical nursing (PN) program. Instead of a fall admission, a summer admission will be offered. The curriculum is currently under review.

The Practical Nursing program enables the student to obtain the skills and knowledge leading to employment in the health care field. Topics related to safe, knowledgeable, and efficient nursing care are included. The program is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the state licensing examination (NCLEX-PN) for licensure as Practical Nurses. Graduation from the program however, does not guarantee Board of Nursing approval to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination.

PRACTICAL NURSING GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The admission criteria is currently under review and is subject to change.

PN applicants must have a minimum 18 ACT composite score (National or Residual). For more information regarding the Residual ACT testing dates, times and the scheduling process, please contact the Phil Campbell Testing Center at 256-331-6297 or the Shoals Testing Center at 256-331-5282. The residual ACT may not be taken more than once every 60 days.

See the Online Catalog for Latest Admission and Program Requirements.

Please review the Ranking Sheet before submitting your application.

Please check back in summer 2020 for application packet!

To view a listing of transfer requirements and the transfer policy, please view the online College catalog.

The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Alabama State Board of Nursing.
Click to view full approval information.

This nursing education program is a candidate for accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
http://www.acenursing.us/candidates/candidacy.asp

NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
For the Alabama Board of Nursing reporting period of January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, 93.33% of graduates who took the NCLEX-PN passed on the first attempt.

Program Completion Rate:
The program completion rate for the graduating class of 2019 was 68.18%.

Job Placement Rate:
52% of those who graduated in 2019 were employed in nursing by January 20, 2020.
(For reporting purposes, the program's job placement rate must reflect the percentage of all graduates who obtain employment as LPNs. Due to the one-plus-one curriculum, many graduates do not seek employment as LPNs. Instead, those graduates continue their education into the ADN program. The percentage of 2019 graduates who were seeking employment and obtained employment as LPNs is 90.7%)

Continuing Education Rate:
As of January 20, 2020, 96% of those who graduated in 2019 were continuing their education into an Associate Degree in Nursing program.

For more information, please contact Brittney Humphres, Director of Nursing Education at bhumphres@nwscc.edu or 256-331-6207/5337

Programs of Study