LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Offered by Mesa Community College Mesa, Arizona

Overview

Tuition $4,608

Licensure pass rate (2024) 100%

Duration 12–18 months

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

Entrance exam HESI A2

Apply through School application

What you'll need

Prerequisite courses
Transcripts
Background check
Drug screen
Immunizations

Fast Track Practical Nursing CCL at the Red Mountain campus (two semesters, NUR160PN and NUR180PN, January or August start). Applicants need a high school diploma/GED, NUR158 or NCE150/151 nurse assisting within 24 months or a current CNA/LNA credential, HESI A2 with 75% or higher in both English composite and math taken together (about $45, retest after 60 days, max 3 per year), a Level One DPS fingerprint clearance card and health and safety documentation. Complete applications are accepted any time through the Maricopa electronic form and placed on a date-stamped district waitlist (typically 6 to 12 months); applications were paused until August 2026 for a district process change. Estimated total program cost $4,608 for Maricopa County residents (24 credits at $97 plus fees, books, background check and drug test); licensure costs about $550 more. Background check and urine drug screen required on admission.

Prerequisite courses

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

View path

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

View path

Find your next step.

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

Start My Path Acceptees