General Information
The Practical Nursing Certificate is a 44-credit hour certificate program designed to prepare individuals to function as entry level practical nurses. This program is offered in the Rockbridge area, but students who reside in any location may apply for admission. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination leading to licensure as a practical nurse (NCLEX-PN exam). Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), under the direction of physicians or registered nurses, care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled. LPNs care for patients in many ways. Often, they provide basic bedside care. Many LPNs measure and record patients’ vital signs such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration. They also prepare and give medications, injections, and treatments. To help keep patients comfortable, they assist with personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing, and walking. They might also feed patients who need help eating. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.
Award: Certificate
Program Head: Catherine Hiler
Length: Three semester of study
*This program is G3-eligible.*
Program Requirements
The next cohort for the Practical Nursing Program will be Summer 2025
Application Deadline April 1, 2025
Practical Nursing Information Packet (PDF)
https://www.atitesting.com/teas/register
Practical Nursing Program Application
Program Approval
The Virginia Board of Nursing has granted full approval to MGCC to operate the Practical Nursing program.
Virginia Board of Nursing, Perimeter Center
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300,
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/
Related Degrees
Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR
668.43 (a) (5) (v), Mountain Gateway Community College Practical Nursing Certificate (PN) program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:
Mountain Gateway Community College's PN program meets all Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for pre-licensure nursing education programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, it meets all requirements for nationally recognized accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing.
The Commonwealth of Virginia participates with 32 other states in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Licensing Compact (NLC) to allow nurses licensed in one state to provide nursing care across state lines in other compact states. The Uniform Licensing Requirements (ULRs) are found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/licensure/uniform-licensure-requirements.page.
States currently in the NLC are found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/nlcmemberstates.pdf. Prospective and current students are strongly encouraged to evaluate all state requirements in jurisdictions where they intend to practice nursing. A list of all state requirements is found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm.
Mountain Gateway Community College has not determined if the PN program meets the requirements of any other states.
This statement serves to meet the USDOE regulation until further notice.