Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Certificate in Practical Nursing

Certificate
Virginia Western Community College

The Practical Nursing program prepares graduates to sit for the exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Did you know that Practical Nursing at Virginia Western Community College prepares you to gain employment in hospitals, acute care, long-term care, schools, parish nursing, physician's offices, and other community opportunities? Begin your journey today to a career that provides entry into the exciting and rewarding world of health care.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

There are many program specific requirements for admission to the practical Nursing Program at Virginia Western Community College. Students interested in applying to this program should consult their academic advisor for specific guidance on courses to take for this program.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Western Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses In addition to the traditional classroom setting, this program requires hours in a clinical setting. Students accepted into the Practical Nursing program will be required to have a clear criminal background check, clear drug screening and other requirements established by the clinical agencies. Please be aware that any felony conviction or positive drug screen for illegal drug use will prevent the student from attending the hospital clinical sites and completing the program. Students will be required to travel to clinical sites and are responsible for their own transportation. There are additional costs for this program such as uniforms, student instrument kits, license requirements, physical examinations and certification exams that are the responsibility of the individual student.
Doing More With Your Degree This curriculum is designed to prepare students for a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The program will provide instruction to prepare qualified students to meet the health care needs of the community within the scope of practice of practical nursing, as defined by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Graduates of this program earn a Certificate in Practical Nursing and will be academically eligible to take the NCLEX-PN examination. The Virginia Western Community College Nursing Program's advance placement or "Bridge" program is designed to grant advanced placement to LPNs who have been admitted to the Virginia Western Community College Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree program and meet pre-requisite requirements.
Program Successes & Highlights To be eligible for licensure as a practical nurse requires graduation from a program approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and successful completion of the NCLEX-PN examination. Graduates of this program earn a Certificate in Practical Nursing and will be academically eligible to take the NCLEX-PN examination. The VWCC 5-year NCLEX-PN Board Pass Rate average is 93.3%.
Related Programs & Certifications
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On Completion You Are Ready For
Credential
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing
Link
Credential That Prepares You For This Program
Credential
Career Studies Certificate in Health Professions: Introduction to Practical Nursing
Link
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Certificate in Practical Nursing
48
Certificate in Practical Nursing
48
PRACTICAL NURSING
48
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Up to 36 credits may be transferred in to this program. A GPA of 2.0 or greater is required for graduation.
PNE 158
1
PNE158 RQ
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 155
3
PNE155 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111
3
ENG111_C RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 141
3
PNE141 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 110 and 111
10
PNE 110/111 RQ
10
Earn 10 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
PNE173
2
PNE173 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 230
3
PSY230 C+
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 181 and 182
10
PNE 181/182 RQ
10
Earn 10 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
PNE136
4
PNE136 RQ
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 145
1
PNE145 RQ
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PHI 220
3
PHI 220 C+
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 142
3
PNE142 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
SDV 101 - Orientation to Health Professions
2
SDV 101 - Health C+
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
GPA Req Practical Nursing 157
48
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.

Students who have completed BIO 141 and BIO 142 with a grade of "C" or higher may receive credit for PNE 155 if completed within five years of beginning the program. The required CPR certification is American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR which includes hands-on training with infant, child, adult and AED.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.
Credit for Prior Learning Yes
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Virginia Western Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
519
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Virginia Western Community College's service region includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, along with Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. Virginia Western was the first college established in the Virginia Community College System, in 1966, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of more than 8,500 students in credit courses and more than 1,200 enrollments in accelerated career training and continuing education courses.
Transfer Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
First Year Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.virginiawestern.edu/transfer/transfer-agreements/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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This program could not be matched to any related careers. Please contact the institution for assistance with matching this program to careers.

Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 48 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Certificate in Practical Nursing at Virginia Western Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 3 semesters or 1.5 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $161 Per Credit $7,728 $0 $7,728 Includes Dual Enrollment
Fees
Fees $15 Per Credit $720 0 $720
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.