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 Arizona Western College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Background check
- Drug screen
- CPR certification
- Prerequisite courses
AWC offers the AAS in Nursing with a Practical Nursing exit option after the third semester; no separate PN admission. HESI A2 required (taken at the AWC Testing Center), mandatory nursing information session, Fingerprint Clearance Card, drug screen, CPR and mask fit (about $325). Deadlines: Sept 1, 2026 for spring 2027 (passed), March 1, 2027 for fall 2027. Full AAS estimated cost $14,220 (66 credits). Pass rate shown is the program's overall NCLEX rate for calendar 2025 (88.30%).
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.