Are you interested in learning more about the Practical Nursing program and the various
pathways to get there that are offered at Edmonds College?
Please join Nursing Program Navigator, Julia Erickson, on Zoom for a short presentation
about nursing education. You will have an opportunity to ask questions after exploring
different healthcare opportunities at Edmonds College.
The Nursing Program at Edmonds College prepares individuals to become Licensed Practical
Nurses. It has received approval by the Washington State Board of Nursing. Graduates receive a certificate of proficiency in practical nursing.
The program is designed for students who are currently working in healthcare. The
students will integrate theory and practice throughout the nursing program. Theory
courses will be taught using online and hybrid (online and in class) instruction.
Students will apply their theoretical knowledge during laboratory experiences on campus
one to two days per week and during clinical experiences caring for patients in long-term
care facilities, acute care hospitals, and community agencies.
Our new practical nursing (PN) curriculum will be aligned with the LPN Direct Transfer
Agreement (DTA) pathway and streamlines the required credits for the prerequisites
and the PN certificate. This means that students will have a seamless transition to
progress to the RN or BSN level. Students will be able to take less credits, save
money, and simplify the process of continuing their education.
Please note that the PN program is designed for students who are currently working
in healthcare. International students are not eligible to apply.
The new prerequisite courses are listed below. For their nursing core courses, the
curriculum consists of 6 quarters and is part-time. It will take a little less than
2 years (21 months) to complete. Students attend classes in fall, winter, and spring
quarters for two academic years, with the summer quarter off and take 7-8 credits
per quarter.
Admission to our Practical Nursing Program only occurs once a year. Applications are
submitted in June to begin the program the following Fall Quarter.
The nursing program has admission requirements beyond those necessary for general
admission to the college. An applicant must be admitted to Edmonds College in order
to apply to the nursing program. This can be done online and is free. Visit our admissions webpage to find out more about applying to Edmonds College.
After graduation, individuals must take and pass the NCLEX PN examination to be licensed
by the state as a practical nurse. Licensed graduates are qualified for employment
as entry level staff in long term care facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics,
and home care agencies.
Edmonds College has not made a determination that the nursing curriculum meets educational
requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington state. We encourage
students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification
requirements. Information regarding each state’s PN licensing requirements can be
found on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
Students planning to continue on to an RN program must meet the requirements of the
school to which they plan to apply. Courses that will meet the requirements for most
LPN to RN or BSN programs include PSYCH& 200 Lifespan Psychology, NUTR& 101 Nutrition, and BIOL& 260 Microbiology. Continuing your nursing education to the associates, bachelors, and graduate level
is highly encouraged.
Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in prerequisite courses with no less than 2.0 in any one
course.
Minimum six months recent patient care experience.
Complete the TEAS test.
Two professional recommendations.
Optional: Extra consideration will be given to applicants with a valid CNA certificate/license,
MA certificate/license, or military medical corps experience. Submit proof of certificate,
license, or military service.
Prerequisite Course Requirements
Prerequisites consist of 7 courses:
BIOL& 211 - Majors Cellular w/ Lab, 5 credits*
BIOL& 241 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab, 5 credits
BIOL& 242 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab, 5 credits
CHEM& 121 - Intro. to Chemistry w/ Lab, 5 credits
ENGL& 101 - English Composition I, 5 credits
MATH& 146 - Intro. to Statistics, 5 credits
PSYC& 100 - General Psychology, 5 credits
* can substitute BIOL& 160 - General Biology w/ Lab, 5 credits (this is the only course
substitution permitted on the PN Certificate)
If you have international or out-of-state transcripts you would like to use for admissions,
please connect with the Nursing Program Navigator to have a preliminary review of
your unofficial transcripts and/or course-by-course report completed before you apply.
The Edmonds College Mission is Teaching-Learning-Community. The college’s core themes
expand on the mission stating: Guided by innovation, equity, inclusion, and a global
perspective we are committed to Academic Excellence, Student Success, and Community
Engagement.
The Edmonds College Practical Nursing Program is committed to excellence and to fulfilling
the mission of the college. Our mission is to educate nurses from diverse backgrounds
who are caring, technically competent, technologically literate, culturally competent,
and who are prepared to practice with commitment and integrity in diverse and changing
health care settings.
The Edmonds College Practical Nursing Program holds initial accreditation from the
National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037.