# Practical Nursing (PN)

**Institution:** ECPI University

**College:** Nursing

**Sub-Program:** Nursing

**Degree:** Diploma in Practical Nursing

**Canonical URL:** https://www.ecpi.edu/programs/lpn

**Last Updated:** 2026-08-17T15:35:03+00:00

## Practical Nursing Degree Overview

The Practical Nursing (PN) diploma program at ECPI University introduces nursing basics. Emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and theory, this diploma ensures comprehensive education for aspiring practical nurses. Through our accelerated year-round program, students can complete their program and earn their Practical Nursing diploma in just 15 months.

This program prepares students to become a valuable member of a healthcare team, working under the supervision of registered nurse, licensed physician, or other practitioner authorized by the state’s Board of Nursing.

Led by experienced faculty with a focus on hands-on learning through labs and simulations, our curriculum prepares you for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. Once passed, the practical nurse is eligible to take licensure to become an LPN.

- **48.5 Total Credits** — 15 Month PN Diploma
- **Start in the Nursing Program** — No Pre-Requisites Required

### Knowledge and Skills

Graduates should grow in the following areas:

- **Nursing Foundations:**
    This covers the legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects of healthcare, ensuring you provide safe and responsible patient care.
- **Patient Care Fundamentals:**
    You'll learn hands-on skills like taking vital signs, assisting with daily living activities, medication administration, and wound care.
- **Assessment Techniques:**
    The program educates you to ensure patients' physical and emotional well-being, identify potential problems, and report them to supervising nurses or doctors.

## Program Structure and Learning Formats

### Locations

- [Raleigh, NC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/raleigh-nc)
- [Charlotte, NC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/charlotte-nc)
- [Virginia Beach, VA](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/virginia-beach-va)
- [Newport News, VA](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/newport-news-va)
- [Roanoke, VA](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/roanoke-va)
- [Charleston, SC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/charleston-sc)
- [Greensboro, NC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/greensboro-nc)
- [Northern Virginia, VA](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/northern-virginia-va)
- [Greenville, SC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/greenville-sc)
- [Columbia, SC](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/columbia-sc)
- [Richmond, VA](https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/richmond-va)

## PN Curriculum

We develop effective nursing professionals through training and practical experience.

- **Foundational Nursing**
    Practical Nursing graduates deliver patient-centered, evidence-based care through teamwork and cultural competence.
- **Medical Certification**
    ECPI University helps prepare Practical Nursing graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN and become licensed registered nurses.
- **Acute Nursing**
    Practical Nursing students learn to care for critically ill patients through medical-surgical, critical care, and emergency nursing training.

### Program Requirements

Program requirements vary in accordance with State Boards of Nursing. The program requirements are as follows:

### Virginia and South Carolina

#### Core Curriculum Requirements
48.5 semester credit hours

**Complete ALL of the following Courses:**

 ****Contact Hours****: 1,696*

***Diploma Program Length****: Minimum weeks of instruction: 60 weeks*

***Maximum Satisfactory Time Frame Completion****: 90 weeks**

| Course ID | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| [BIO112](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO112 "View BIO112") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO112 "View BIO112") | 2 |
| [BIO112L](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO112L "View BIO112L") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology I Lab](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO112L "View BIO112L") | 1 |
| [BIO117](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO117 "View BIO117") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO117 "View BIO117") | 2 |
| [BIO117L](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO117L "View BIO117L") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology II Lab](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO117L "View BIO117L") | 1 |
| [COR102](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR102 "View COR102") | [Freshman Orientation](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR102 "View COR102") | 1 |
| [COR105](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR105 "View COR105") | [Study Skills](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR105 "View COR105") | 0.5 |
| [ENG109](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/ENG109 "View ENG109") | [College Composition](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/ENG109 "View ENG109") | 1.5 |
| [NUR100](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR100 "View NUR100") | [Dosage Calculations](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR100 "View NUR100") | 1 |
| [NUR139](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR139 "View NUR139") | [Pharmacology](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR139 "View NUR139") | 1.5 |
| [NUR165](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR165 "View NUR165") | [Concepts of Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR165 "View NUR165") | 2.5 |
| [NUR167](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR167 "View NUR167") | [Concepts of Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR167 "View NUR167") | 3 |
| [NUR169](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR169 "View NUR169") | [Concepts of Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR169 "View NUR169") | 3 |
| [NUR190](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR190 "View NUR190") | [Medical Surgical Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR190 "View NUR190") | 3 |
| [NUR203](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR203 "View NUR203") | [Medical Surgical Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR203 "View NUR203") | 4 |
| [NUR204](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR204 "View NUR204") | [Acute Care Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR204 "View NUR204") | 4 |
| [NUR208](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR208 "View NUR208") | [Medical Surgical Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR208 "View NUR208") | 3 |
| [NUR209](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR209 "View NUR209") | [Acute Care Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR209 "View NUR209") | 4 |
| [NUR213](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR213 "View NUR213") | [Acute Care Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR213 "View NUR213") | 4 |
| [NUR233](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR233 "View NUR233") | [Role Transition](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR233 "View NUR233") | 4 |
| [PSY108](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY108 "View PSY108") | [Normal Life Span](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY108 "View PSY108") | 1 |
| [PSY109](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY109 "View PSY109") | [Introduction to Psychology](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY109 "View PSY109") | 1.5 |

### North Carolina

#### Core Curriculum Requirements
48.5 semester credit hours

**Complete ALL of the following Courses:**

 ****Contact Hours****: 1,736*

***Diploma Program Length****: Minimum weeks of instruction: 60 weeks*

***Maximum Satisfactory Time Frame Completion****: 90 weeks**

| Course ID | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| [BIO114](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO114 "View BIO114") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO114 "View BIO114") | 2 |
| [BIO114L](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO114L "View BIO114L") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology I Lab](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO114L "View BIO114L") | 1 |
| [BIO118](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO118 "View BIO118") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO118 "View BIO118") | 2 |
| [BIO118L](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO118L "View BIO118L") | [Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology II Lab](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/BIO118L "View BIO118L") | 1 |
| [COR104](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR104 "View COR104") | [Freshman Orientation](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR104 "View COR104") | 1 |
| [COR107](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR107 "View COR107") | [Study Skills](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/COR107 "View COR107") | 0.5 |
| [ENG114](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/ENG114 "View ENG114") | [College Composition](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/ENG114 "View ENG114") | 1.5 |
| [NUR111](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR111 "View NUR111") | [Dosage Calculations](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR111 "View NUR111") | 1 |
| [NUR134](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR134 "View NUR134") | [Pharmacology](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR134 "View NUR134") | 1.5 |
| [NUR174](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR174 "View NUR174") | [Concepts of Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR174 "View NUR174") | 2.5 |
| [NUR177](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR177 "View NUR177") | [Concepts of Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR177 "View NUR177") | 3 |
| [NUR179](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR179 "View NUR179") | [Concepts of Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR179 "View NUR179") | 3 |
| [NUR205](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR205 "View NUR205") | [Medical Surgical Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR205 "View NUR205") | 3 |
| [NUR206](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR206 "View NUR206") | [Medical Surgical Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR206 "View NUR206") | 4 |
| [NUR207](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR207 "View NUR207") | [Medical Surgical Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR207 "View NUR207") | 3 |
| [NUR235](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR235 "View NUR235") | [Acute Care Nursing I](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR235 "View NUR235") | 4 |
| [NUR236](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR236 "View NUR236") | [Acute Care Nursing II](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR236 "View NUR236") | 4 |
| [NUR237](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR237 "View NUR237") | [Acute Care Nursing III](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR237 "View NUR237") | 4 |
| [NUR238](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR238 "View NUR238") | [Role Transition](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/NUR238 "View NUR238") | 4 |
| [PSY106](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY106 "View PSY106") | [Normal Life Span](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY106 "View PSY106") | 1 |
| [PSY111](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY111 "View PSY111") | [Introduction to Psychology](https://www.ecpi.edu/course/PSY111 "View PSY111") | 1.5 |

## Program Outcomes

Program outcomes, such as NCLEX-PN pass rates provide information about a nursing program's quality and effectiveness. This metric helps students assess a program's ability to prepare graduates for successful licensure and entry into the nursing field.

### Virginia Practical Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates

 | Campus | 2025 Pass %\* | 2024 Pass %\* | 2023 Pass %\* | 2022 Pass % | 2021 Pass % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manassas | 93.55 | 89.13 | 95.77 | 91.14 | 94 |
| Newport News | 96.97 | 93.44 | 86.89 | 82.14 | 87.9 |
| Richmond | 97.96 | 97.37 | 100 | 90.57 | 84.2 |
| Roanoke | 76.36 | 89.83 | 98.08 | 68.12 | 80.4 |
| Virginia Beach | 96.3 | 96.34 | 98.75 | 91.38 | 96.5 |

\*[NCLEX Pass Rates are tracked annually to provide a consistent measure of program performance.](https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/EducationPrograms/TestingPassRates/)

###
South Carolina Practical Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates

 | Campus | 2025 Pass %\* | 2024 Pass %\* | 2023 Pass %\* | 2022 Pass % | 2021 Pass % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 87.60 | 95.96 | 93.10 | 84.15 | 94.59 |
| Columbia | 86.96 | 95.06 | 94.59 | 92.05 | 93.75 |

## Accreditation

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees.

Full accreditation details: [ECPI University Accreditation](https://www.ecpi.edu/accreditation).