Harper College will be closed Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1 for Thanksgiving Break.
Program facts 
Build your career by earning the Practical Nursing Certificate qualifying you to take the NCLEX-PN exam and apply for Illinois practical nurse licensure (LPN). Gain the skills needed to work in a wide variety of settings such as long-term care, schools, medical offices and hospitals. Harper's faculty are highly trained experts in their field and use cutting-edge teaching methods to ensure your success.
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This is a limited-enrollment program. Please review this program's admission criteria and process.
This 38 credit-hour certificate program is designed to educate the student to become a practical nurse.
The Practical Nursing certificate qualifies the graduate to sit for the NCLEX-PN and application for Illinois licensure as a practical nurse. Legal limitations could prohibit an individual from taking this licensing examination. Questions regarding these restrictions should be directed to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations at 217.782.8556. Positions in practical nursing are available in a variety of health care settings.
Because of the nature of clinical experiences and individual instruction required in this program and specialized technology and equipment necessary to offer this program, a higher tuition rate is assessed for career specific courses. These include courses with the NUR prefix. Students pay 1.5 the regular rate of tuition.
Admission Requirements:
Practical Nursing is a limited enrollment program. Applicants must have completed a CNA program and be active on the Illinois Department of Public Health, Health Care Worker Registry. For admission requirements, please contact the Admission Outreach Office at 847.925.6700 or visit harpercollege.edu.
Students who apply for this limited enrollment program are obligated to meet current admission requirements and follow program curriculum as defined at the time of acceptance to the program. Upon admission to the Practical Nursing Certificate, the mathematics requirement is met.
A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 260 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
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Description: Introduces the anatomy of the human body; the following systems studied either regionally or systemically: integumentary, skeletal, articular, muscular, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine and reproductive. Includes some introductory histology. Specially designed for students in health careers, biology, and physical education. Strongly recommended preparation: One year of high school biology with a grade of C or better taken within the last five years, or BIO 110. (NOTE: Lab science credit.) Formerly BIO 160. IAI BIO 920C Prerequisite: Placement into ENG 101. english-placement-grid.php Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
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Description: Emphasizes the writing of expository prose. Introduction to the critical reading of nonfiction prose. IAI C1 900 Prerequisite: ENG 096 with a grade of P or other placement options: english-placement-grid.php ESL students need one of the following options: ESL 073 and ESL 074 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 and ESL 086 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 and ESL 099 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 with required writing placement test score; or ESL 074 with required reading placement test score. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
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Description: Investigates human and animal behavior with emphasis on the scientific nature of contemporary and classic psychological investigation. Emphasizes psychological theories, principles, and research applications. Introduces the divisions of the American Psychological Association. References biological processes, sensation, perception, learning, memory, thinking, emotional life, mental disorders, intelligence, aptitude, personality, development, daily life and everyday problems. IAI S6 900 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 261 | Human Physiology | 4 |
|
Description: Emphasizes physiological principles at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and system level, as they pertain to the human organism. The following systems are studied in detail: skeletal, muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive and endocrine. In this course, special applications will be made to meet the needs of students in health careers, biology and physical education.(NOTE: Lab science credit.) Formerly BIO 161. IAI BIO 920C Prerequisite: BIO 260 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 101 | PN Fundamentals | 4 |
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Description: Introduces concepts as related to the practical nurse's role as a member of the discipline of nursing and a provider of care. Emphasizes the nursing process, essential components of therapeutic communication, basic skills, and legal and ethical professional issues for the delivery of safe and competent care for diverse patients throughout their lifespan. Provides theory and practice in assisting patients to meet basic needs. Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing certificate program and BIO 260, ENG 101 and PSY 101 with grades of C or better and prior or concurrent enrollment in BIO 261, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better. Corequisite: NUR 131. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 131 | PN Fundamentals Clinical | 3 |
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Description: Provides the student with the opportunity to practice and apply basic knowledge and skills to the provision of patient care in the laboratory and clinical setting. The course emphasizes the role of the practical nurse as this role relates to the nursing process, essential components of therapeutic communication, basic skills, and legal and ethical professional issues for the delivery of safe and competent care for diverse patients throughout their lifespan. Provides practice in assisting patients to meet basic needs. Prerequisite: BIO 260, ENG 101 and PSY 101 with grades of C or better and prior or concurrent enrollment in BIO 261, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better, and admission into the Practical Nursing certificate program. Corequisite: NUR 101. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 213 | Advanced Pharmacology | 2 |
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Description: Builds on pharmacology content begun in previous coursework (either NUR 111 or HSC 165). Discusses pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the major classifications of medications at an advanced level in order to understand the pharmacological activity within each classification. Incorporates the principles of safe drug administration. NOTE: This course is designed for nursing students. (formerly HSC 201) Prerequisite: BIO 135 and HSC 165, or BIO 260 and NUR 110 or HSC 112 and HSC 165 with grades of C or better, or prior or concurrent enrollment in NUR 101. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 102 | PN Medical Surgical Nursing | 2 |
|
Description: Focuses on the use of the nursing process to meet the needs of adults. Emphasis is on the normal physiologic and psychosocial aspects of basic care needs as well as the common diseases specific to each patient population. Prerequisite: BIO 261, NUR 101, NUR 131, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better. Corequisite: NUR 132 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 108 | PN Mental Health Nursing | 1 |
|
Description: Utilizes the nursing process to provide patient-centered nursing care for patients experiencing psychosocial issues/mental health disorders. Emphasizes health promotion concepts in the care of patients across the life cycle and the continuum of mental health care. Addresses various treatment modalities and interventions including those applicable to community-based care and long-term care. Prerequisite: NUR 101 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 109 | PN Maternity and Pediatrics | 2 |
|
Description: Focuses on the use of the nursing process to meet the needs of childbearing and childrearing families including infants and children. Emphasis is on the normal physiologic and psychosocial aspects of basic care needs as well as the common diseases specific to each patient population. Prerequisite: NUR 101, NUR 131, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better. Corequisite: NUR 139. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 132 | PN Medical Surgical Clinical | 2 |
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Description: Provides the student with the opportunity to apply common disease concepts related to the care of the adult in the clinical setting. Emphasis is on the normal physiologic and psychosocial aspects of basic care needs as well as the common diseases specific to each patient adult population. Prerequisite: BIO 261, NUR 101, NUR 131, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better. Corequisite: NUR 102 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| NUR 139 | PN Maternity and Pediatrics Clinical | 2 |
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Description: Focuses on the application of the nursing process to meet the needs of childbearing and childrearing families including infants and children. Emphasis is on the normal physiologic and psychosocial aspects of basic care needs as well as the common diseases specific to each patient population. Selected clinical experiences in the areas, where practical nurses can be employed. Prerequisite: NUR 101, NUR 131, and NUR 213 with grades of C or better. Corequisite: NUR 109. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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| PSY 228 | Psychology of Human Development | 3 |
|
Description: Investigates the psychological development of humans from conception to death, through grief and bereavement. Investigates the theories, empirically derived science and principles of developmental researchers and developmental psychologists. Emphasizes cultural and/or international contexts as well as normative and non-normative patterns of development. Discusses mortality throughout the life-span. Integrates developmental psychopathologies. IAI S6 902 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 104 | PN Field Experience | 3 |
|
Description: Utilizes the nursing process to provide care for patients with commonly occurring problems causing health interferences. Provides opportunity for supervised experience as a member of the nursing care team in health care settings, assuming the role and responsibilities of the practical nurse. Prerequisite: NUR 102, NUR 108, NUR 109, NUR 132 and NUR 139 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 |
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Students who successfully complete this program are able to:
PRACTICAL NURSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
| Year | Harper LPN Pass Rate | State Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | Completion Rate | Job Placement |
| 2016 | 100% (16/16) | 91% | 84% | 61.7% | 100% |
| 2017 | 100% (40/40) | 86% | 84% | 72.7% | 100% |
| 2018 | 100% (34/34) | 89% | 86% | 71.7% | 100% |
| 2019 | 100% (33/33) | 89% | 86% | 65% | 94% |
| 2020 | 97% (36/37) | 87% | 83% | 82% | 83% |
| 2021 | 79% (30/38) | 83% | 80% | 61% | 100% |
| 2022 | 96% (24/25) | 83% | 80% | 81% | 100% |
| 2023 | 96% (23/24) | 88% | 87% | 68% | Pending |
PN NCLEX Pass Rate State Board .PDF
The Practical Nurse Certificate (PNC) program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The next evaluation will be Spring 2022.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Fax: 404.975.5020
Nursing Program approved by:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington
Springfield, IL 62786
Students interested in nursing may also be interested in:
For more information about LPN courses at Harper College, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.