LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Offered by Howard Community College Columbia, Maryland

Overview

Tuition $7,920

Licensure pass rate (2025) 92.59%

Duration 11 months

Accreditor ACEN

A practical nursing program that prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure to provide basic nursing care under the direction of RNs and physicians, supporting health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

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 Howard Community College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.

Entrance exam TEAS

Minimum GPA 2.0

Application fee $25

Apply through School application

What you'll need

Transcripts
Prerequisite courses
Background check
Drug screen
Health insurance
Immunizations

Supplemental Allied Health Application open Feb 15 to May 15 for fall clinical admission; one-time $25 supplemental fee (waived for military/veterans). Prerequisites with C or higher: BIOL-107 or 200 (Microbiology), BIOL-203 (A&P I), CHEM-103 or 101, and MATH 132/138/141 or higher; one science must be A or B; cumulative HCC GPA 2.0. ATI TEAS (valid 2 years) minimums: reading 69%, math 69%, composite 66.5%, on file by May 15. Qualified applicants selected by randomized lottery (Howard County, then Maryland, then out-of-state residents). Clinical component is 11 months beginning fall (day or evening/weekend), 49-50 credits; drug screen, background check and health insurance required. NCLEX-PN pass rate 92.59% (MBON, 2025) per the October 2025 program outcomes report.

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

CMA LPN

Your medication administration experience counts. Bridge from certified medication aide into practical nursing and full LPN licensure.

Timeline: 1 year
State: All states

Support available to Spanish learners

Southwestern College

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CNA to LPN

CNA LPN

Step up from nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse. The fastest license upgrade in nursing, and the standard bridge toward RN.

Timeline: 1 year
State: All states

Support available to Spanish learners

East Arkansas Community College

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Acceptees

Acceptees whose paths lead to this program, and how they got in.

Starr Moore

#Current student#Associate Degree in Nursing

Accepted toHoward Community College

Nursing student at Howard Community College · Maryland

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Find your next step.

Getting in starts with a path. Pick one, then follow the people who already did it.

Start My Path Acceptees