Prince George's Community College: LPN Programs

Prince George's Community College (PGCC) of Largo, Maryland, established its nursing program in 1967. In 1976 the National League of Nursing accredited the nursing programs within this school. Since then, more than 4,500 students have graduated from the nursing programs. Students interested in LPN programs are able to select from a standard LPN training program or a LPN to RN transition program.

The LPN certificate program at Prince George's Community College provides students with the necessary information to provide vital health care services to patients. This entry-level program results in a certificate and prepares students to take the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination). As of 2010, PGCC states 100 percent of graduates from this LPN program have passed this required examination on the first attempt. This program is accredited by the Maryland Board of Nursing as well as the National League of Nursing.

The LPN-RN program is designed for LPNs who desire to progress in their nursing career to become a registered nurse (RN). Students within this program undertake the standard coursework as the aforementioned LPN program; however, additional courses are taught to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN examination. Applicants must successfully complete the LPN program at PGCC and hold a valid LPN license from the State of Maryland. Applicants have five years to complete the LPN program before entering the second phase of the transition option; however, if the applicant took longer than five years to complete the LPN certificate program, he or she must take a transition course (NUR 106) before being admitted into the RN portion of this program.

LPNs who are not graduates from the PGCC LPN certificate program but hold a valid LPN license in another state must also take the transition course to be admitted.

Upon completing the LPN-RN transition option, students are given an associate’s degree in nursing and are able to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Students interested in entering the LPN certificate program must have graduated high school, or have a GED, and complete the prerequisite coursework with a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Prerequisite coursework may be completed at PGCC. The LPN certificate program requires applicants to have taken and passed five courses with a C or higher. As of 2010, these courses include: BIO 205, ENG 101, BIO 206, NUR 100 and PSY 101.

Applicants for the LPN-RN transition option must have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and have completed the following coursework prior to applying for this program: PSY 101/207, BIO 201/205/206, MAT 112 (or higher) and EGL 101.

Students applying for the LPN certificate program and the LPN-RN transition option must also pass a criminal background check.