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 Black Hawk College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Prerequisite courses
- Background check
40-credit certificate, fall start only; the Fall 2026 deadline has passed and Fall 2027 applications open Feb. 1, 2027. TEAS minimum score 50; prerequisites PN 110 (B or better) or BIOL 145 (C or better) within 5 years, ENG 101/101C or COMM 105, and MATH 070/078 or placement. Students must complete all health and background checks required by departments and clinical sites; 2.0 GPA required to graduate.
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.