Practical Nursing - Career Certificate Program
Earn a certificate that will put you on a path to employment and licensure as an LPN.
Why Choose to be a LPN?
Licensed practical nurses make a real difference for patients every day in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies and physician offices. The satisfaction of helping all types of patients, from an acutely ill elderly man to a new mother and baby, makes this in-demand profession very rewarding.
Students learn current theories and gain a wide range of clinical experiences in local health care facilities, including in medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology and medication administration, geriatric and long-term care nursing, and obstetrical and pediatric nursing. Applicants must meet the criteria to enroll in this limited-access program, including passing entrance exams.
Graduates of this state-approved program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN state board examination to become licensed practical nurses.
Practical Nursing students gather with PBSC President Ava Parker (center).
Program Details
Admission Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Acceptance at PBSC for general admission
- Completion of a special application for the Practical Nursing program
Program Length
- 1 year: full-time day classes
Tuition
- Approx. $3,800 for Florida residents
- Approx. $14,800 for out-of-state students
- Financial aid and scholarships
- College affordability
Coursework
How to Apply
STEP 1: Watch our mandatory LPN Information Session video.
STEP 2: Apply to PBSC for general admission.
- Apply at least a term before applying to the Practical Nursing certificate program to ensure completion of all steps and prerequisites.
STEP 3: Sign into the College's Virtual Service (QLess) and request to meet with a Health Sciences advisor to discuss your plan to:
- Take the TABE exam or determine if you are exempt.
- Pass the HESI Admissions exam with a required score of 75% or higher.
- Review other prerequisites.
STEP 4: Apply to the limited-access Practical Nursing Career Certificate Program.
- Annual deadline is November 1*.
*If the deadline falls on a weekend/holiday, it will extend to the next business day.
Career Outlook
Students who complete the Practical Nursing program will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), which is required to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Licensed practical nurses are in high demand at hospitals and health care facilities in South Florida and beyond. Our students often graduate with a degree in one hand and an employment offer in the other.
Keep Learning
At Palm Beach State College, graduates of the Practical Nursing program can take advantage of the College’s LPN to RN transition program, which offers advanced placement to students meeting set criteria, with the goal of being admitted into PBSC's Associate in Science degree program in Nursing to prepare to become a registered nurse.
Alumni Stories
Health Sciences Career Pathway
Palm Beach State’s academic programs are grouped into Career Pathways that include similar areas of study. The Career Pathways are designed to help students like you identify a career path early in your educational journey so you can finish your degree faster, lower your educational costs, and be better prepared to earn additional credentials or enter the workforce.
Each Career Pathway has its own academic community that brings students together. The Nursing programs are housed in PBSC’s Health Sciences Career Pathway.
Important Program Information
Covid-19 Guidelines for Nursing Students
If you are sick, stay home and work with your instructor or professor regarding any
assignments that may be due while you are ill. Your instructor/professor will follow
the protocol outlined in the course syllabus regarding absences. Students must follow
their chain of command outlined in the program manual with notification related to
absences. Please note clinical facility learning experiences may or may not be available
for make up during the current term. Students must comply with clinical facility requirements
during their learning experiences.
Ensure you follow the CDC guidelines in accordance with your specific situation to mitigate spread and promote wellness.
Face Masks / Face Coverings
Face masks are optional. They are no longer required on campus currently. If you elect
to wear a face mask, the mask must not prohibit or impede your ability to work in
the classroom, labs, or communicate effectively with faculty and/or peers. Please
keep this in mind when selecting covering and use good judgment based on the activities
you normally would participate in at these settings.
This program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing.
Contact Information
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org
Get Started in Nursing at PBSC
Whether you’re starting your nursing career or ready to advance, we have a program for you.
Questions?
Our nursing program staff is happy to help!
Nursing Office
561-868-3412
nursing@palmbeachstate.edu
Nursing Program Locations
Lake Worth Campus: 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33461
Allied Health Building | First Floor | Room 110 | Campus Map
Belle Glade Campus: 1977 College Drive, Belle Glade, FL 33430 | Campus Map
Loxahatchee Groves Campus: 15845 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470 | Campus Map
Web page is under revision
