Practical Nursing

Welcome to Chipola College School of Health Sciences Practical Nursing program. The PN program is 1350 clock hours over three semesters. The program is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Florida Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN C02, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252, (850) 245-4444. The PN program will be seeking accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The Chipola College PN program admits students once a year in the spring semester. Deadline dates are outlined in the Practical Nursing Information Packet. Students must use the current nursing application. 

Deadline for Selection: All entry requirements as outlined in the program application packet must be completed by the appropriate deadlines for the January start dates each year. Please see the corresponding application and information packets for deadlines.

Vaccination Information

Vaccinations are a mandatory requirement for attending clinicals at any hospital. Failure to provide documentation of immunization can prevent students from attending clinical, which will in turn prevent them from progressing in the program. Please see Required Vaccinations for a list of all mandatory vaccinations.

Drug and Alcohol Screening

A clear drug and alcohol screening is required for admission to the nursing program. Please see the PN Student Handbook regarding policy for this while in the nursing program.

Criminal Background Checks

A criminal background and level two background check are required for admission to the nursing program. Please see the ADN Student Handbook regarding policy for this while in the nursing program.

Approximate Program Costs

For students interested in the Practical Nursing Program and the costs associated with it, here is the Estimated Cost of PN Program Please remember, these costs are only estimates and are subject to change.

TEAS Testing

The TEAS test must be completed before submitting your application. You can take the TEAS test at Chipola College in the Testing Center or at any other institution that administers the TEAS test.  

Your TEAS test must be affiliated with a higher education institution such as Chipola College. The PN program will not accept scores from tests that are not proctored by an institution. TEAS tests taken at home online will not be accepted. Priority review will be given to applicants who score 50 or greater on the TEAS.

Application and Deadline Information

The Spring 2025 Deadline is Monday, October 21. Applications received after the deadline will be be considered on a space available basis.    

Please follow the steps below:

  1. Watch the Information Session - will be posted soon.
  2. Read the PN Information Packet - will be posted soon.
  3. Complete the Spring 2025 Practical Nursing Application wiith the following forms and return it to Dr. Trilla Mays, Dean of Health Sciences, or turn it in to Health Sciences, Building Q, Office 211. All pages of the application must be filled in completly with the required attachments. Any incomplete applications will be denied admission.
    1. PN Student Health Form
    2. Immunization Form
    3. Applicant's Acknowledgment
    4. Medical Release Form, must be notarized
    5. Flu Vaccine Form, flu vaccine must be have a date after September 1, 2024.

Additional Information

PN Nursing Student Handbook Spring 2024

PN Program Completion Rates with Expected Level of Achievement (ELA)

Fifty percent of the PN students who begin PRN 0098C will complete the program on time, which is three semesters.

NCLEX Pass Rates with Expected Level Of Achievement

The NCLEX-PN pass rate will be 80% or higher for first-time test takers and repeaters.

Job Placement Rates with Expected Level of Achievement

Eighty percent of graduates will be employed as an LPN within 12 months of graduation.