LPN Transition to AAS

Applying for Program Admission

• You must complete program prerequisites as described in Program Requirements (see below), with grades and assessment scores posted on PCC transcripts, before you apply to the program.
• If you earned transfer credits from another Regionally Accredited Institution, they must be officially evaluated and the grades posted on PCC transcripts before they are made valid. If you are transferring courses, please see Transfer to Pima.
• You must complete the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nursing Entrance Exam with Proctor360.
  • You may take the NLN Nursing Entrance Exam two times a year. Each exam is good for one year from the date that you took the exam.
  • The NLN Student Guide offers comprehensive instructions on creating your NLN account, scheduling your exam, taking the test and accessing your scores. For information on purchasing study materials and the NLN Nursing Entrance Exam – Proctor360, please refer to our PCC Student NLN Guide.
• Special Admission – If you are a Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), you are eligible to apply for entry into the second semester of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. Upon acceptance, you must complete a transition course (NRS 188/188LC/188LS) and meet all admission requirements to continue into the third semester of the ADN program.
• Once you complete prerequisite coursework and the application window opens, you may apply through the MyPima application portal.
• Because program information is communicated via PCC student email, it is imperative that you check your PCC student email address. Please ensure that your personal information is up-to-date with the College.
• As an applicant, you are selected based upon prerequisite GPA and nursing admission exam scores. Selection is decided by a defined point system. We strongly encourage you to apply, regardless of the number of points you have self-calculated.
• If you are not selected for admission, we encourage you to re-apply the following semester.
• Application deadlines: The application deadline for the Spring semester is Sept. 1 (application window is July 1-Sept. 1). Application deadline for the Fall semester is Feb. 1 (application window is Dec. 1-Feb. 1).

Additional Program Admissions and Course Information

• Vaccinations required for entering/continuing in the Nursing program: The Nursing program works with hospitals and agencies that require the hepatitis B vaccination series, COVID vaccination and an annual flu vaccination. If you are enrolled or entering the Nursing program, you must provide documentation of receiving these vaccinations or a positive titer. All students must get these vaccinations and/or titers immediately. If you do not provide proof of receiving the vaccinations or a positive titer when entering the Nursing program, you will have to reapply to the program. The hospitals and agencies that PCC works with strictly enforce these requirements. Additional vaccination requirements for the clinical portion of the program are listed in the next section of this page.
• The Nursing program accepts qualified students each fall and spring semester. Qualified students are placed into the semester that seats are available. You must attend a mandatory Nursing Division orientation the semester before your placement date. You will be notified via PCC student email about when to sign up for this orientation. If you do not sign up for and attend the orientation, you must reapply to the program.
• Your completion time for the Associate Degree in Nursing is based on your assessment results, completion of program admission requirements and support courses and completion of three (3) semesters of nursing core courses.
• You must be able to access the Internet on a daily basis.
• Nursing program curriculum is offered only on a full-time basis at Pima’s West Campus. The Nursing Division develops student scheduling of core courses, with students being randomly assigned to day, evening or weekend classes. Individual student requests for schedules are not honored.
• Nursing core course scheduling is dependent on clinical site and instructor availability and is scheduled to change.

Program Prerequisites

If you are a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the community who is interested in completing the Nursing AAS degree, you must complete the following program prerequisites with grades and/or assessment scores posted on your PCC transcript before applying to the program.

The following prerequisites are required for acceptance into the LPN to RN Transition program:

• Completion of the Accuplacer Reading Assessment
• MAT 142 or higher with a grade of “C” or higher
• BIO 201IN or BIO 201H with a grade of “B” or higher
• BIO 202IN with a grade of “B” or higher
• WRT 101 with a grade of “C” or higher

Program Length

The length of the LPN to RN program pathway is three (30 semesters, excluding pre-requisite/preparatory classes.

Additional fees include but are not limited to: Health insurance and tuition (see Program web page and Paying for College). The cost of tuition is based on the number of credit hours you enroll in each semester. The tuition you pay is determined by whether or not you are an in-state resident or a non-resident. Refer to the schedule of classes for additional course fees.