Admission Requirements

There are only three requirements to apply for the Practical Nursing Program:

  1. Submit a completed application

  2. High School Transcript/Diploma or High School Equivalency (e.g., GED)

  3. Complete the ATI TEAS pre-entrance examination (cost is $70)

Program Start: August 2024

Application Due Date: July 1, 2024

Nursing students taking a test at Polaris Career Center

Pre-Entrance Exam

To be considered for admission into the Practical Nursing program, applicants must complete the pre-entrance ATI TEAS exam.

This exam costs $70 and is completed onsite at Polaris Career Center.

Enrollment Requirements

Once you complete the admission requirements and receive a letter of acceptance, you will be required to complete the following steps to enroll in the Practical Nursing program:

  1. Contact Financial Aid Coordinator and complete your FAFSA

  2. Provide verification of High School Diploma/Transcript or High School Equivalency (e.g., GED)

  3. Submit health documentation and proof of BLS CPR card

  4. Complete BCI/FBI background check and drug screen

  5. Meet with the Administrative Coordinator to register for the program

  6. Attend the Practical Nursing orientation

Download our Admission and Enrollment Checklist

We will walk you through each of these steps once accepted for admission into the Practical Nursing program!

Program Schedule and Curriculum

The Practical Nursing program spans 11 months and consists of 1,100 hours. This includes 788 hours of classroom instruction, 146 hours of hands-on laboratory experiences, and 166 hours of clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. Click here to download the program curriculum.

Students will have class Monday to Thursday, as well as one Friday per month, from 8:45 am - 3:45 pm. However, when it comes to clinical, the hours may vary. Students will be assigned either a morning or afternoon shift to complete their clinical rotations.

The upcoming program is scheduled to start on August 19, 2024 and conclude on June 24, 2025. Prior to the start date, students must attend a mandatory program orientation on August 5, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm.

Southwest Hospital Building

Clinical Rotations

Our Practical Nursing students are fortunate to engage in an exclusive clinical partnership program at Southwest General Health Center. Instead of moving between different healthcare facilities in the city, students will conduct the majority of their clinical rotations at Southwest General Health Center, conveniently situated next to Polaris Career Center.

This program offers students a consistent learning experience, allowing for enhanced learning and increased responsibility during their clinical rotations.

Program Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the Practical Nursing program, students must fulfill the following:

  • Achieve an 80% or better in all nursing courses

  • Satisfactorily complete all laboratory and clinical experiences

  • Attendance rate not less than 90% for all classroom lecture courses

  • Completion of all clinical and laboratory experience hours

  • Payment of all outstanding obligations to the school

Nursing students at Polaris Career Center

Accreditation

The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).

Program Cost

The total program cost is $16,996 (Tuition: $14,336 | Books & Supplies: $612 | Materials & Assessment: $2,048).

The uniform and nursing toolkit (e.g., stethoscope, scissors, penlight, etc.) are included in the total program cost.

Download the Cost of Attendance Sheet

Get Licensed!

Successfully completing the Practical Nursing program will make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination through the NCSBN to become a Licensed Practical Nurse!