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 Des Moines Area Community College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Prerequisite courses
- Transcripts
- Background check
- Immunizations
- CPR certification
Nursing - Practical Diploma (41 credits, three terms) at Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton and Urban campuses; Ankeny/Boone start fall and spring, Carroll/Newton fall only, Urban spring only. Entry requirements: DMACC application, required Nursing Information Session, Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry placement or passed Nurse Aide written and skills tests, math competency (ALEKS 30+ or MAT 064), B or higher in BIO 168, BIO 173 and PSY 121, C or higher in ENG 105, and ATI TEAS adjusted total score of 55% or higher taken in person at a DMACC Testing Center. Qualified applicants go on a standby list; fall cohorts are accepted in February and spring cohorts in September. Approximate total program cost $12,625 at $215 per credit.
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.
People
Acceptees whose paths lead to this program, and how they got in.
Find your next step.
Getting in starts with a path. Pick one, then follow the people who already did it.