Requirements

Program Details

Complete these program requirements to earn a Practical Nursing diploma.

Program Requirements

Program Selection Criteria

Please review the PN Program Admission, Progression, and Retention Information.

Fall 2025 Application

The Practical Nursing application is open through March 1, 2025.

  1. Complete the Northland admission process and declare the Practical Nursing major.
  2. Satisfactory completion of developmental courses if indicated by Next Generation Accuplacer.
    • Advance Algebra and Functions (AAF): 230-249 OR
    • Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS): 250-300
    • Students achieving assessment scores below the established minimums must register and successfully complete (with a grade of C or better) the required developmental courses in order to meet graduation requirements.
  3. Application for eligibility to enroll in the PNSG course sequence should occur when the student is enrolled in their final semester of pre-PNSG courses, which are:
    • HLTH 1110 Nursing Assistant (NA) course within last 5 years or currently on nursing assistant registry.
    • HLTH 1106 Medical Terminology 2 credits
    • MATH 1003 Math Applications for Nurses
    • BIOL 2260 Anatomy & Phys I
    • BIOL 2262 Anatomy & Phys II
    • ENGL 1111 Composition I
    • *Students must achieve a C or higher grade in all required courses.
  4. For Fall Practical Nursing program start: priority admission applications must be received between October 2 and March 1. All required information must be submitted by the application deadline. Students completing pre-PNSG courses during the summer semester may be considered for fall semester start pending space availability.
  5. For Spring Practical Nursing program start: priority admission applications must be received between March 2 and October 1. All required information must be submitted by the application deadline.
  6. PNSG Selection Criteria
  7. Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA for PN program entrance and meet the college’s required cumulative completion percentage standard. (Northland policy 3070 Satisfactory Academic Progress) Students in a warning, probation, or suspension status will not be considered for PN program eligibility.
  8. Achievement of a minimum cumulative score of 50 on the ATI TEAS® examination. The ATI TEAS® Version 7 test must be taken before the application window closes (before March 1 for fall start and before Oct. 1 for spring start).
  9. Current CPR Certification — Current CPR certifications accepted include: Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (American Heart Assn) or CPR for the Professional Rescuer (Red Cross.)
  10. Completion of the College Health Screening & Immunization information requirements through Castle Branch upon acceptance into the program.
  11. Completion and approval for clinical participation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensing Division Background Study and fingerprinting upon acceptance into the program. Completion and approval for clinical participation by a National Background Study through Castle Branch.
  12. Northland Nursing Program Alignment with Other States’ Educational Requirements.

Requirement Costs

For specific costs related to the listed program requirements, please visit the program costs page.