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College Credit Certificate inPractical Nursing

/ Academics / All Programs / Practical Nursing

Why Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing Certificate at Black Hawk College is your ticket to a fulfilling profession that makes a real difference in people’s lives. With a growing demand for skilled nursing professionals, this program equips you with the essential knowledge and hands-on experience needed to excel in various health care settings. Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or considering a career change, the Practical Nursing Certificate offers an accessible pathway to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Upon completion of this course of study, the student may be eligible to take the examination to become a licensed practical nurse in Illinois.

Locations

Quad-Cities Campus

Formats

On-campus

Number of Credits

40

Next Start Date

Fall 2025

New students applying to Black Hawk College should select the General Occupational and Technical Studies (GOTS) AAS until such time as they have been officially accepted by the department into this program.

Careers In Practical Nursing

Licensed practical nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, clinics and a number of community agencies.

Discover careers and salaries for this program

Learning Objectives

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

Display Practical Nursing knowledge at a competent level.
Complete the ATI-Nursing education computerized learning and testing coursework.

Admission Requirements

The curriculum in Practical Nursing is career-oriented and the applicant must meet the following requirements for admission.

High school graduation or equivalent
Completion of pre-admission testing
PN 110 with “B” or better or BIOL 145 with “C” or better within 5 years of acceptance into program
Completion of TEAS or HESI test with minimum required score
ENG 101, ENG 101C, or COMM 105
MATH 070, MATH 078, or appropriate placement score

Students must also successfully document and need all health and background checks required by academic departments and/or clinical sites prior to admission to program and/or courses.

Application for Fall 2025

Academic Requirements

All prospective PN students are required to take the TEAS test (Test of Academic Essential Skills). Students are encouraged to prepare for this exam in order to assure that the necessary score is achieved to be considered for admission into the nursing program. Study materials can be found at ATI Testing and at the BHC bookstore.

Scoring

A minimum score of 50 is required to be considered for admission.

Prospective PN students will be ranked on the following criteria:

TEAS score
Grades in PN 110 or BIOL 145
GPA of 2 or above
CNA certificate (not required)

Licensing Requirements

Completion of the Practical Nursing program does not automatically guarantee a graduate the right to take the National Council Licensing Examination or to become licensed as a practical nurse. The student is bound by the Illinois Nursing Act.

For more information, refer to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules – Administrative Code.

Courses in Practical Nursing

Program Prerequisites

CRN	Course Name	Hrs.
BIOL 145	Anatomy-Physiology I or	4
PN 110	Basic Anatomy and Physiology	3
ENG 101	Composition I or	3
ENG 101C	Composition I or	3
COMM 105	Essentials of English	3
MATH 070	Topics in Developmental Math or	3
MATH 078	Pre-Algebra or	3
	Appropriate Placement Score	3

CRN	Course Name	Hrs.
PN 105	Pharmacology in Practical Nursing I	1
PN 111	Foundations of Practical Nursing	8
PN 112	Older Adult Nursing	8

Second Semester

CRN	Course Name	Hrs.
PN 106	Pharmacology in Practical Nursing II	1
PN 113	Adult Health Nursing	8
PN 114	Intergenerational Nursing	8

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Quad-Cities Campus

309-796-5341 or
309-796-5000

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309-854-1724

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