Some of the biggest differences between licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants are the roles and responsibilities, advancement opportunities, and wages. It’s not surprising then that many certified nursing assistants are going back to school to obtain the education that is essential for licensure and practice as a licensed practical nurse. If you’re considering such a move, enrolling in CNA to LPN transition program is the way to go. Your certification and experience as a certified nursing assistant may qualify for credit in the program or even an advantage in the competitive admissions process. Practical nursing programs typically require a time commitment of 10 to 12 months.
Chattahoochee Technical College
Certified nursing assistants may apply for admission to the Practical Nursing program at Chattahoochee Technical College and receive extra points in the competitive admissions process. The program includes theory and hands-on activities to prepare students to become safe practitioners of care. The curriculum centers on the practice of nursing. The development of critical thinking, communication techniques, sound nursing judgment, and technical skills is a vital part of the program. Course topics include composition and rhetoric, introductory psychology, foundations of mathematics, medical terminology for allied health sciences, nursing fundamentals, pharmacology and clinical calculations, medical surgical nursing, maternity nursing, and nursing leadership. Students must complete 57 credits to obtain a Practical Nursing Diploma. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam to obtain the LPN credential. The duration of the program is 3 semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Must have reached 18 years of age upon admission to the program
- Must meet the requirements for admission to CTC
- Must enroll in the Health Care Assistant Certificate program to complete diploma-level prerequisite courses
- Must have a CTC GPA of 2.0
- Must attend a Virtual Practical Nursing Application Session
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better – Composition and Rhetoric, Foundations of Mathematics, Structure and Function of the Human Body or Anatomy and Physiology I and II lecture and lab, Medical Terminology
- Take the ATI TEAS test and achieve a minimum total adjusted score of 60. A student may take the ATI two times in a calendar year and must wait for a minimum of 30 calendar days between attempts
- Immunization is not required for admission but is required for participation in the clinical experience at affiliate agencies
Tuition costs a maximum of $1,500 per term for full-time resident students. Mandatory fees cost an additional $426 per term. Other costs for books, supplies, prerequisite courses, fees, and insurance are additional. The program is eligible for HOPE Career Grant.
- Website: https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/
- Address: 980 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30060
- Phone: (770) 528-4545
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 98.93%
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
The practical nursing program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College prepares certified nursing assistants as well as those who are new to the field of health for practice as a licensed practical nurse. The program leads to a Practical Nursing Diploma and guarantees graduates’ ability to provide competent nursing care. Academic and occupational courses cover a variety of techniques designed to help students acquire knowledge and skills to function in the role of the practical nurse. Planned clinical experiences at local health care facilities integrate theory and practice under the guidance of an experienced clinical instructor. Courses include nursing leadership, maternity nursing, medical surgical nursing, nursing fundamentals, diet and nutrition for allied health sciences, anatomy and physiology, and general education courses. Students must complete 57 credit hours to graduate from the program and become eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure as a practical nurse in Georgia. A maximum of 28 students are admitted with each cycle.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to GPTC – online, in person, or via email
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of $25
- Submit official high school transcripts and any college transcripts
- Must have satisfactory scores on the Accuplacer, SAT, ACT or the ASSET test
- Provide verification of lawful presence in the United States
- Attend a nursing information session
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C in all courses – Composition and Rhetoric, Basic Algebra, Basic Psychology, and Anatomy and Physiology
- Verify that the applicant’s major is listed as Practical Nursing in the Banner Web
- Take and pass the entrance exam – ATI TEAS with a minimum required score of 64.3%
- Complete a criminal background check and drug screen
Tuition costs $100 per credit hour for Georgia residents. The cost for fees, books, and supplies must be added.
- Website: https://www.gptc.edu/
- Address: 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021
- Phone: (404) 297-9522
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 97.19%
West Georgia Technical College
Nurse aides may enroll in the practical nursing program at West Georgia Technical College and build on their existing skills to prepare for practice as a licensed practical nurse. Academic and occupational courses include a classroom and clinical component to support the development of knowledge and technical skills needed to function as competent providers of care. Courses are delivered in sequence and requires a passing grade for progression. Course topics include structure and function of the human body, medical terminology for allied health sciences, introduction to pharmacology and clinical calculations, nursing fundamentals, medical surgical nursing, maternity nursing, and nursing leadership. Graduates will receive a Practical Nursing Diploma and be eligible to take the licensure exam for practical nurses. New students are admitted once per year. Admission is competitive.
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to WGTC and pay the application fee of $25
- Must be a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
- Must be a resident of Georgia for at least 12 months to qualify for resident tuition
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C and an overall GPA of 3.0
- Provide proof of current CPR certification by the American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers
- Must take and pass the ATI TEAS exam with an Adjusted Individual Total Score of 65%- exam must have been taken within two years of the program start date
- Complete Physical Examination and Health History with a physician’s statement indicating satisfactory health
- Provide a copy of immunization records or titers – MMR, varicella, influenza, hepatitis
- Provide results of 2-step PPD or chest x-ray
- Complete a satisfactory criminal background check and urine drug screen
Tuition costs $100 per credit hour for Georgia residents. Books, fees, and supplies are additional. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.
- Website: https://www.westgatech.edu/
- Address: 4600 Timber Ridge Dr, Douglasville, GA 30135
- Phone: (770) 947-7300
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.36%
Erudite Nursing Institute
The practical nursing program at Erudite Nursing Institute meets and exceeds national and state standards for practical nursing education. Certified nursing assistants may enroll in the fast-track option and complete the practical nursing education in five weeks. The covers all national standards include early and modern history of nursing, scope of practice, roles and responsibilities of the LPN, work environments and settings for provisioning care, physical assessment techniques, application of the nursing process, medication administration, dosages, contraindication, vital signs, infection control, clinical lab skills, IV therapy, medical terminology, anatomy, standards of nursing care, proper patient identification, application of critical thinking, and much more. The curriculum requires completion of 60 credit hours. Course modules are critical thinking in nursing practice, communication and public speaking, nursing fundamentals, family nursing theory, medical nursing, legal and ethical aspects of practice, medical crisis, emergencies, and disaster prep, and intro to phlebotomy and intravenous therapy. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. A fast-track 5-week schedule is available.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to Erudite Nursing and pay the application fee of $65
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a minimum four years work experience and health care certification – patient care tech, surgical tech, clinical medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, or higher
- Applicants to the fast-track program must have a minimum of 50% of comparable and equivalent LPN program at accredited US institution with designated timeframe of two years
- Must have a valid, current, state-issued photo ID
- Pay the application fee of $65
- Provide proof of qualifying background in the medical field
The program cost of $16,080 covers tuition for 60 credit hours, textbooks, supplies, technology fee, and exam delivery and testing. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.eruditenursing.education/
- Address: 3330 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, Ga 30339
- Phone: 1(800) 595-6276
- Email: admissions@EruditeNursing.education
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: N/A
Southern Crescent Technical College
Southern Crescent Technical College’s practical nursing program is open to nurse aides who may receive extra points in the competitive admissions process. The program covers nursing fundamentals and seeks to help students develop other key competencies such as communication skills, technical skills, teamwork, critical thinking, and clinical judgment. Students will participate in hands-on experiences in the skills lab and at clinical facilities where they will apply the principles learned in the classroom. Course topics include pharmacology and clinical calculations, nursing fundamentals, medical surgical nursing, nursing leadership, and maternity nursing. Prerequisite courses include fundamentals of English, basic psychology, foundations of mathematics, structure and function of the human body, and medical terminology for allied health sciences. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX-PN. New students are admitted in the fall and spring semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Submit a completed application and non-refundable application fee
- Must be at least 17 years or older
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript with test scores
- Must complete the Health Care Assistant Certificate program during the admissions process
- Must complete nationalized admissions testing for nursing and achieve a minimum score as designated by the nursing department
- Must complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of B
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for core classes
- Complete all health requirements including a criminal background check, drug screening, and health screening
Tuition costs $100 per credit hour for resident students. Other costs include equipment and supplies, uniforms, licensing exam, liability insurance, medical fees, background check, CPR, nursing pin, nursing cap, ACEMAPP, ATI, and nursing tote.
- Website: https://www.sctech.edu/
- Address: 501 Varsity Road, Griffin, GA
- Phone: (770) 228-7348
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 92.42%
South College
The Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program at South College is open to certified nursing assistants and leads to a Practical Nursing Certificate. The curriculum includes general education and core nursing courses to provide students with a foundation that they can build on should they decide to pursue further studies in nursing. Apart from technical knowledge, students will acquire essential skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and application of knowledge in a complex healthcare setting. Clinical experiences will cover the collection and organization of healthcare data, delivery of competent care, devising patient care plans, and identification of common health problems. Course topics include human body in health and disease, vocational relations, fundamental concepts and skills for practical nurses, pharmacology, medical surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, maternal infant nursing, mental health nursing, and geriatric nursing and issued at the end of life. Graduates are eligible to take the LPN licensure examination (NCLEX-PN).
Admission criteria:
- Submit an application for general admission to the college
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of $50
- Take and pass the entrance exam with a specified score
- Submit a minimum SAT combined score of 830 or minimum ACT Assessment composite score of 17 or provide evidence of a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA
- Submit a school of nursing application by the published deadline
- Take and pass with ATI TEAS Assessment score at the academic preparedness level of BASIC
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA 2.50 – College Algebra, English Composition, General Psychology, and Medical Terminology
- Complete a background check application to complete a background check
- Attend a nursing orientation on the scheduled day in its entirety
- Complete health history and physical exam – provide records of immunization Hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, Tdap, TB test
- Complete an acceptable drug screen before the first day of class
- Provide proof of health insurance coverage
- Must have valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Course Completion Card or Certificate
Tuition costs $5,500 per quarter for 10-20 credit hours. Books, supplies, fees, and admission costs.
- Website: https://www.south.edu/
- Address: 2600 Century Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
- Phone: (470) 322-1200
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: N/A
Crystal G
Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.