Overview
Career outlook
Employers hire licensed practical nurses to provide basic patient care such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with daily needs under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
Getting in
What Anoka Technical College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Prerequisite courses
- CPR certification
- Immunizations
40 credit diploma starting August and January; estimated total cost $10,252 (2026-2027). Applications open September 1 for spring and March 1 for fall and are accepted on a rolling basis until seats fill. Requires Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide or Medical Assistant completion, prerequisite courses, BLS CPR, the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) and the immunization and health status form.
Checked Oct 2026 on the school's site. Requirements change each cycle, so confirm before you apply.
Paths
Routes into LPN. The first step is where you enroll today.
Medication Aide to LPN
Your medication administration experience counts. Bridge from certified medication aide into practical nursing and full LPN licensure.
CNA to LPN
Step up from nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse. The fastest license upgrade in nursing, and the standard bridge toward RN.
Find your next step.
Getting in starts with a path. Pick one, then follow the people who already did it.