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 Columbus State Community College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Transcripts
- Prerequisite courses
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
Three-semester Practical Nursing Certificate (34 credits); daytime cohorts start summer and autumn, evening cohort starts spring. Competitive entry requires NURC 1001 with C or better, placement into CHEM 0100, BIO 0100 and ENGL 1100, GPA 2.4 in good standing, HESI A2 overall 73% or higher taken at Columbus State within 4 years, age 18 by first day. Spring 2027 evening application open September 16 to October 31, 2026; Autumn 2026 deadline was July 20; summer 2027 dates to be posted. Accepted students complete health records plus drug and background screening.
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.