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Nursing – Practical Nursing Full-Time Program – Certificate

Programs

Practical Nursing: Full-Time Program

Certificate

The Practical Nursing Program is designed to provide an individual with the knowledge and skills to function as a safe and effective member of the health care team in the role of the practical nurse. Classroom theory, laboratory practice, and clinical experience are included in this certificate.

The full-time Practical Nursing program starts every August (2024, 2025, 2026, etc.) and is two-semesters in length (fall and spring). Curriculum is delivered in a traditional, face-to-face format during normal business hours.

Applicants should contact the Testing Services Office at the College. The Practical Nursing Program entry packet and selection procedures can be found by reviewing the Restricted Allied Health Admission resources. The steps to be followed are specified in the admissions packet. In addition to completing a college application, the applicant must be able to do the following:

  1. Provide proof of graduation from an accredited high school or possess a G.E.D. certificate
  2. Be admitted to the College and have a student ID number before applying to the program
  3. Apply to the program before registering for the pre-entrance exam
  4. Register and take pre-entrance examination (ATI TEAS)
  5. Check email frequently throughout the admission process. Correspondence will only be sent via email.
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What You Can Do

This program is accredited by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations and the ICCB. The accreditation and approval of these agencies allow a graduate of the program to do the following:

  1. Register and complete the NCLEX-PN Examination. (This is the licensing examination that a graduate of any nursing program must pass to be employed as a practical nurse.)
  2. Be employed as a practical nurse in various health care settings, including state and federal institutions.

Jobs

  • Medical Office Practices
  • Flu Clinics
  • Home Health; Private Duty (especially disabled pediatric homebound patients)
  • Nursing Homes
  • Assisted Living Centers
  • Senior Citizen Centers
  • Rehabilitation Centers

Earning Potential

View the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, for Licensed Practical Nurses, at Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)

Modes of Instruction
Learn more about the modes of instruction offered at John A. Logan College.

Program Details

00LPN 0061

SUMMER SEMESTER

Students must maintain a “C” or higher in all courses.

ORI 111PN Orientation 10.5
0.5

FALL SEMESTER

ALH 101Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation1 1
BIO 205Anatomy & Physiology I 24
PNE 101Fundamentals of Nursing3
PNE 102Nursing Procedures2.5
PNE 103Clinical Nursing1.5
PNE 105Nursing throughout the Life Cycle1
PNE 161Pharmacology in Nursing I2
PNE 208Mental Health Nursing1
COM 115Speech OR COM 116 Interpersonal Communication3
19
*Students will be required to complete ALH 101 the Fall semester. No student will be exempt from this requirement.

SPRING SEMESTER

BIO 206Anatomy & Physiology II4
PNE 171Pharmacology in Nursing II2
PNE 183Maternal and Newborn Health1.5
PNE 184Obstetric Clinical0.5
PNE 193Pediatric Nursing I1.5
PNE 204Adult Nursing I2
PNE 206Adult Nursing II2
PNE 207Medical / Surgical Clinic3
PNE 209I.V. Therapy0.5
17
Total Hours for Degree36.5
  1. Students must be certified in CPR annually before starting clinical rotation. ↩︎
  2. BIO 205 Human Anatomy and Physiology I must be completed by the end of the first semester or prior to program admittance. No prior credit will be given if a grade lower than a “C” was earned. It is strongly recommended that students without a high school or college background in biology take BIO 100 or 101 or 105 prior to BIO 205. ↩︎

The Practical Nursing Full-Time Certificate is a minimum of 36.5 credit hours. Please use our Tuition and Fees page to calculate your approximate cost.

*Students will be responsible for additional classroom materials and tools.

Official John A. Logan Bookstore Apparel, Merchandise & Gifts

John A Logan College is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. For more information on programs with specialized accreditations please visit Programs with Specialized Accreditations – John A. Logan College (jalc.edu).

The JALC LPN program meets licensure requirements in the state of Illinois.

Higher education institutions and the U.S. Department of Education share a common goal: to support students in educational programs that lead to state licensure, enabling them to fulfill the educational requirements necessary for employment in their chosen field. According to U.S. Department of Education regulations 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), starting July 1, 2024, all institutions must disclose whether the curriculum for Title IV-eligible programs designed or advertised as leading to professional licensure or certification required for employment meets state educational requirements where a student is located. Disclosure is required regardless of a program’s modality. Academic programs that provide a path to optional, national, or industry certifications do not require disclosure.

John A. Logan College strives to ensure that information regarding educational requirements for licensure or certification is up to date; however, state requirements may change. Beyond educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residency requirements, jurisprudence exams, and other training.

The new U.S. Department of Education regulations, 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32) require colleges to assign programs leading to licensure to one of two categories; “Yes, meets state requirements” or “No, does not meet state requirements.”

John A. Logan College’s educational programs are designed to meet licensure requirements in the state of Illinois regardless of the modality of instruction. The programs listed below meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification for that occupation in Illinois:

  • Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
  • Cosmetology (COS)
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
  • Massage Therapy (MAS)

John A. Logan College cannot guarantee licensure in other states. State laws, regulations, and policies governing professional licensure may change at any time. The decision to grant a license or certification is the purview of the state. Only state licensing agencies or boards can determine whether an academic program meets or partially meets educational requirements for licensure. John A. Logan College cannot guarantee an individual’s attainment of any professional licensure or certification, in any field, in any state. At this time, per regulations, the College must assign, “No, does not meet requirements” in states other than Illinois.

Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing authority directly to determine if John A. Logan College’s program meets the educational requirements for licensure before beginning the program. Many John A. Logan College licensure program graduates have successfully transferred into careers and obtained licensure in states other than Illinois.

John A Logan offers a seamless transfer to the next step in your educational journey for many of our programs. Our academic programs prepare you for what you will need to transfer to a four-year college or university. When you have selected the college where you would like to transfer, it is important to review their specific admission and course requirements. John A Logan College has many articulation agreements with various colleges.

Transfer Planning – John A. Logan College (jalc.edu)

1. Explain the quality and safety of an individual’s care, including information technology.

2. Identify appropriate nursing actions based on patient presentation and disease processes.

3. Show caring by actively advocating for diverse populations.

4. Demonstrate effective professional communication.

5. Take part in interdisciplinary teamwork to promote optimal health.

Licensure Pass Rates for LPN:

Licensed Practical Nursing*20232022202120202019
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates97% (73/75)89% (62/70)90% (85/94)95% (62/65)98% (88/90)

`* In 2023, the NCLEX-RN National Average was 87%; the State of Illinois Average was 88%

LPN Program Retention Rates:

Licensed Practical Nursing20232022202120202019
Enrollment Max901309013090
Actual Enrollment Numbers901269013089
Completers6869807583
**Retention Rate49%57%89%unknownunknown

**Based on 100% on-time completion

To Take the Test in Illinois

All applicants must apply to BOTH Continental Testing Services AND Pearson Vue Professional Testing.

  1. Continental Testing Online Application:
    1. Go to www.continentaltesting.net
    2. Click on “Examinations”
    3. Click on “State of Illinois”
    4. Scroll down to the heading “IL Division of Professional Regulations” and under that do one of the following two:
      • For the RN, scroll to “041 – Professional Nurse” and click on it; OR
      • For the LPN, scroll to “043 Licensed Practical Nurse” and click on it
    5. Read through the page, especially the “Requirements to take the Examination”.
    6. RN Students – Be sure to enter your LPN License Number, Date of Issuance and License Status in order to bypass the required fingerprint submission.
    7. Click on Apply for Exam and pay the application fee of $107.00 with a debit or credit card.
  2. Register with Pearson Vue Professional Testing:
    1. Go to http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/
    2. At the top of the page, click on Register for the NCLEX.
    3. Follow ALL directions on this page closely.
    4. Pay the application fee of $200.00 with a debit or credit card.
      *Please note:
      ADN School Code is: US49404200
      LPN School Code is: US49106200

Fingerprints

LPN Students:

  1. Fingerprints will be offered on JALC Campus on a specific date. You will be required to sign up for a time slot in order to be fingerprinted. NOTE: Do not fingerprint if you have outstanding coursework – fingerprints are only good for 60 days.
  2. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License or State ID) or passport. The cost for fingerprinting is $56.25, you must pay by Debit or Credit Card or Money Order made payable to Accurate Biometrics. No personal checks or cash are accepted.
  3. If you choose to fingerprint on a different date, you will need to bring your receipt to the nursing department.

RN Students:

You are not required to submit fingerprints to Continental Testing since you already hold an unencumbered Illinois LPN Nursing License. You will be directed on your application to enter your LPN License Number, Date of Issuance and License Status in order to bypass the required fingerprint submission.

Testing Rosters and ED-NUR Forms

The nursing department will submit an official school roster with the school seal to Continental Testing. You do not need to submit an ED-NUR form. The LPN rosters will include copies of the fingerprint forms, you do not need to submit fingerprints on your own.

Application Status

Application status is updated every business day and is only available online and NOT available by phone or email. You can check your status on the Continental Testing Services home page under Application Status and Test Results. Only contact Continental Testing Services for the status of your application if it has been over ten (10) business days since submission of ALL required documents.

Reminder, there will be no paperwork given from the JALC nursing office. All nursing degrees conferred will be mailed directly to Continental Testing Services. Students will not be listed on the testing roster until a graduation date has been posted on official transcripts.

Authorization to Test (ATT)

Once eligibility is determined, you will be approved at Continental Testing Services. You must be registered with Pearson Vue in order to receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). Your ATT will be sent via email from Pearson Vue. Once you receive the ATT, follow the instructions to schedule your examination appointment. The ATT is only valid for 90 days – NO extensions are allowed.

After the Exam – Applying for Illinois Licensure:

You will be able to view your test results online but you are not finished yet!! You must apply to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) once you receive your official examination letter. Official letters will be sent via USPS mail to the address you registered with at Pearson Vue within 7-10 days. This official letter will have instructions on how to apply for Illinois licensure. Passing the state board exam does not mean you will be licensed. You must mail a $50 check or money order to start the licensing process with IDFPR. It can take several weeks from mailing the $50 fee to obtain a valid Illinois license.

Taking the NCLEX outside of Illinois

If you are testing outside the state of Illinois, make an appointment with the Director of Nursing.

Nursing Program Contacts

Susan Phillips

Nursing Admission Coordinator

Email: susan.phillips@jalc.edu
Phone: (618) 985-2828 Ext. 8497
Office: G218G

Tracie Zoller

Nursing Program Specialist II

Email: tracie.zoller@jalc.edu
Phone: (618) 985-2828 Ext. 8498
Office: G220

Dr. Kristin Yosanovich, DNP, RN

Dean of Health Sciences and Director of Nursing

Kristin Yosanovich

Email: kristin.yosanovich@jalc.edu
Phone: (618) 985-2828 Ext. 8498/8455
Office: G218F