Nursing (LPN) — Certificate

Our LPN Certification is a 49 credit hours degree. The certification will equip you to enter the job market skilled and employable. To increase your earning power, students should always continue their education to continue to grow and learn in their fields of study. Many LPN nurses go on to earn their Registered Nursing 2-year degree, RN Bachelors and Masters degree.

Once accepted, the LPN Program is a total of 3 semesters in length.

Application Deadline (Due Date): For consideration of Summer admittance, LPN applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 15. For consideration of Fall admittance, LPN applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on May 15.

Application into Lawson State's prestigious LPN nursing program is competitive. Although we recommend that all students apply to our programs, students meeting minimum requirements or seeking readmission are not guaranteed admission. Students seeking admission should work to maintain the highest GPA possible and concentrate on a superb performance in all science classes, beginning with BIO103 (as a pre-nursing student). Admission into the Nursing program is based on your ranking against the criteria and your ranking against other students applying to the program.

Criteria (in terms of student selection) is established from assessing GPA's, student completion of pre-requisite courses, ACT exam outcomes, and grades achieved in Biology courses (and additional points awarded from HPS103 and MTH 186, if the student opts to take these courses). Each student is assessed by a Point System (The maximum number of points a student can obtain is 63 points.)

How to Calculate Your Application Points: Score of 18 or higher on the ACT= 36 points. ACT or ACT Residual Test- Maximum 36 points (This score is based on your individual ACT score). A minimum composite score of 18 is required (Reading, Math and English) and Science score of 18.

Selected Required Coursework- Maximum 12 points: ENG 101 English Composition: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points; MTH 100 or Higher Level: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points; BIO 201 Anatomy & Physiology I: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points; BIO 202 Anatomy & Physiology II: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points.

Additional Points (OPTIONAL--Not Required) - Maximum 15 points: HPS 103 Foundation Competencies for Health Sciences: A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D/F = 0 points; MTH 186 Dosage Calculations: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points; BIO 103 Principles of Biology I: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C = 1 point, D/F = 0 points; Skills for Success Training (select one): Mental Health Worker/Nurse Support Technician/Community Health Worker: 5 points.

STEP 1: Apply to the college and get accepted first. Your status at Lawson must be Active.

STEP 2: Ensure you have a Lawson State GPA of 2.0 or higher. Current or previous Lawson State students must a have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at Lawson State or your most recent college GPA must be a 2.0 or higher.

STEP 3: Confirm and Validate you have an 18 ACT Score. All applications must have a score of 18 or higher on the ACT to apply to the LPN Program. A minimum composite score of 18 is required (Reading, Math and English) and Science score of 18. ACT SuperScores of 18 or higher are accepted. There is no expiration on test dates. ACT On-Campus (formerly ACT Residual) scores MUST be from an Alabama Community College.

STEP 4: Complete Pre-requisite Courses before Applying. LPN applicants must complete the following pre-requisite coursework (see listing below). In addition, applicants must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on four of the select pre-requisites (at the time of application): ENG101, MTH100, BIO201 and BIO202. General Education Pre-Reqs: ORI101--Orientation to College (1 credit); ENG101--English Composition (3 credits); MTH100 or higher--Intermediate Algebra (3 credits); BIO103--Principles of Biology--a pre-requisite for BIO201 (4 credits); BIO201--Anatomy and Physiology I w/lab (4 credits); BIO202--Anatomy and Physiology II w/lab (4 credits).

STEP 5: Secure your Unofficial Transcripts from all Colleges. You must upload ALL unofficial transcripts to your LPN application regardless of whether or not they were previously submitted to the Admissions office.

STEP 6: Secure a copy of your official ACT scores. You will have to upload your scores to your online application.

STEP 7: (FINAL STEP) Submit your application by the deadline. For Summer Admissions, submit by Jan 15, 11:59 p.m. For Fall Admissions, submit by May 15, 11:59 p.m.