Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Offered by Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, ArkansasOverview
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 Arkansas State University Three Rivers asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
- CPR certification
12-month PN technical certificate; Malvern campus admits in January and August (50 seats), Saline campus in August (30 seats). Entrance exam is the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER ($10 at the Business Office, scores valid one year) with minimum 256 in both reading and writing; applicants are ranked by the averaged reading/writing score with math as tie breaker. PN application due 5:00 pm on the 2nd Thursday in May for August classes and the 2nd Thursday in October for January classes, followed by a mandatory meeting the 3rd Thursday. Accepted students must pass state and national background checks, submit immunizations (varicella, Hep B, MMR, Tdap, flu, TB) and an AHA healthcare provider CPR card, and are subject to random drug screens. Approximate total cost $12,485 over three semesters including tuition, nursing fees, books and subscriptions.
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.