Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing program consists of 1500 hours of instruction (93 quarter credit hours). The Day session requires fifteen months for completion on the basis of approximately 28 hours of instruction per week.

This program intensively covers nursing theory and clinical functions practiced by practical nurses. Students will develop an understanding of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, nursing fundamentals, nursing skills, pharmacology, mental health, medical-surgical nursing, and maternal and child health. Concepts involving the Nursing Process, critical thinking, therapeutic communication, legal, ethical and cultural issues, the health care system and the role of the licensed practical nurse are explored. Health care, prevention and the wellness/illness continuum are integrated throughout the curriculum. Laboratory practice is conducted to enhance the learning process. Students will have hands-on experience to prepare for performance in the clinical settings and future nursing practice. The maximum number of students being taught in any one lecture classroom or lab is 40. Clinical rotations are taught in groups of no more than 10.

The Practical Nursing lab classrooms are equipped with hospital beds and nursing skills mannequins and the same kinds of medical supplies currently in use in physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Students work with assessment tools and equipment for procedures, i.e. blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, catheters, needles and syringes, dressings, feeding tubes, IV therapy tubes, etc. A variety of anatomical charts and models supplement the learning environment.

Students must have completed (attended) 1500 hours in their program in order to graduate. In order to practice as a practical nurse in the State of Connecticut, one must graduate from an approved Practical Nursing program and pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

This program is offered in a residential format, with lecture and labs on campus, and clinical rotations at approved, off-site locations.

If you like helping others and you want a job that’s in demand, here are just a few of the reasons to choose our Practical Nursing program:

Concrete Skills. Our science-based Practical Nursing program will train you in the fundamentals of human anatomy, first aid and medical terminology so you’ll have a solid base of knowledge from which to build your career. You’ll learn about proper medical administrative procedures and patient care and how to most effectively work in a modern healthcare center. You’ll also learn the clinical skills you’ll need to work directly with patients, administering medications, changing dressings, assisting with personal grooming and monitoring overall patient health. You’ll learn how to be a comforting presence for your patients and their families and how to serve as liaison between your patient and the rest of the medical team.

Hands-on Training. At Porter and Chester Institute, you get to learn by doing. Whether you’re working in our labs or using actual medical equipment and mannequins, our practical nursing program is designed to give you real experience. We even get you out to area facilities to work with actual patients.

Qualified Instructors. All of our teachers are registered nurses who are committed to the nursing profession and also to your success. Our small class sizes allow them to get to know you as an individual so they can help you reach your full potential in our program and beyond.

Job Outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for licensed practical nurses are expected to grow by 6% through 2031 and the training you’ll get from Porter and Chester Institute will help you prepare to take the NCLEX-PN exam and become licensed. We’ll work with you until you find the career opportunity that matches your newly acquired skills.

Soft Skills. In addition to clinical and administrative skills, you’ll learn how to interact with patients, doctors, and medical staff with professionalism. We’ll teach you what it means to be a good employee in a real world setting.

Prior to enrollment at the Institute, an applicant must have graduated from high school or have acquired a state high school equivalency diploma or graduated from a college degree program. Instruction is only offered in English, requiring proficiency in written and spoken English.

Each Practical Nursing applicant must take the Wonderlic test and pass with a score of 15, and must take the TEAS test and pass with an overall composite score of 50%. PCI covers the cost of one TEAS attempt.

Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Students may begin classes in the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. Students are encouraged to make early application for admission, as some forms of financial aid give preference to early applicants; and whenever aid is limited, it is made available to the first applicants.

Practical Nursing day session: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM. The Day session requires fifteen months for completion on the basis of approximately 28 hours of instruction per week.

The Practical Nursing program does not necessarily start students at all campuses in all terms. The Admissions team will know the start schedule for a particular campus.

Upcoming class starts published in the catalog's Program and Term Schedule are January 11, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 31, 2027; August 16, 2027; October 25, 2027; January 17, 2028; and March 27, 2028. If, in the opinion of the Institute, there is insufficient enrollment to make the class start of a program session or section feasible, the Institute reserves the right to cancel that class.

Tuition is $4,774 per term for 6 terms, for total tuition of $28,644.

Program fees may include materials, laboratory, technology, and graduation expenses. These fees are applied at various points throughout the student’s training, depending on the specific requirements of the program. All applicable fees are disclosed in the student’s Enrollment Agreement and are included as part of the overall cost of attendance. The Materials Fee covers all books, devices, tools, instruments, uniforms, supplies, and other materials that the students will receive from PCI during the course of their attendance in their program. Even if costs increase, students will never pay more than the fee specified in their Enrollment Agreement.

There are no additional charges for programs delivered via Distance Education (Hybrid or fully Online). After deducting all anticipated educational funding from the total charges for each term, any balance due to the Institute must be paid by the student out-of-pocket prior to the start of each term. Or, the student may request a monthly payment plan. The first payment on a monthly payment plan is due prior to the start of the first term.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Federal Title IV programs available to qualified students include Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). PCI also participates in the Imagine America scholarship program and offers institutional grants and awards to specific student populations.

FAFSA code: 010779 (all PCI campuses other than Hamden). Use the Porter and Chester Institute Net Price Calculator to estimate how much your total career training program will cost you.

Cost of Attendance (COA). For federal student aid purposes, postsecondary institutions must estimate a student’s total cost of attending the institution for a specified period of time, as established by law. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board (or an allowance for housing and food); an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care (if applicable); disability related expenses, and some miscellaneous expenses as well. Below is Porter and Chester’s estimate of a student’s cost of attendance, including estimated living expenses.

• Tuition and Fees: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)
• Books and Equipment: Included in the Student Services Fee (student living with parents); Included in the Student Services Fee (student with dependents)
• Room and Board: $906/month (student living with parents); $1576/month (student with dependents)
• Personal Expenses: $231/month (student living with parents); $353/month (student with dependents)
• Transportation: $348/month (student living with parents); $348/month (student with dependents)
• Loan Fees (other): $25/month (student living with parents); $25/month (student with dependents)
• Disability Costs: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)

Graduates of the Practical Nursing program will have sufficient knowledge and skills for entry-level employment as a nurse in long-term care facilities, medical offices, hospitals, clinics and other allied health environments once they pass the NCLEXPN.

Licensing and certification. CT: This program meets the educational requirements of Connecticut for graduates to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN and apply for licensure. MA: This program does not meet the educational requirements of Massachusetts for graduates to be eligible to apply for licensure.

Graduation and employment rates. From the 2025 ACCSC annual report, for the 6/2022-5/2023 start cohort at this campus, Practical Nursing reported a graduation rate of 54% and an employment rate of 71% (starting population 70, graduate population 38).

NCLEX-PN licensing rates (ACCSC 2025 Annual Report). Day: 38 graduates, 32 passed, 5 failed, 1 did not take the exam (86%); Evening: 7 graduates, 7 passed (100%).

How these rates are calculated. Porter and Chester Institute calculates a Graduation Rate and an Employment Rate for each program using formulas specified by our accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The graduation rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period as the denominator, and as the numerator uses the number of students from that group who graduated within 150% of the program length. The employment rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period and proceeded to graduate as the denominator. Those of the cohort whose self-reported employment in their field of training, or a related field has been verified by the school, form the numerator. The rate is calculated for the cohort after 150% of the program length has elapsed for all students in the cohort, with an additional three month allowance for placement related activities.

How the licensing rate is calculated. Porter and Chester calculates a Licensing Rate for the Practical Nursing program using a formula specified by ACCSC. The formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period, graduated, and took the licensure exam as the denominator, and as the numerator uses the number of students from that group who passed the exam.

Graduation rate for the student body. The graduation rate for first-time full-time students who began their studies at Porter Chester Institute in Fall 2019 (310 students) and graduated within 150% of their program length (178 students) is 57.4%.

Where graduates work. Waterbury campus graduates are working at employers such as Physician One Urgent Care, Trinity Health of New England, The Pines at Bristol.

The Waterbury campus consists of approximately 62,500 square feet of space. All classrooms are air-conditioned, brightly illuminated and tiled or carpeted. There are approximately 300 parking spaces on the premises. Each curriculum division operates its own reference library which contains appropriate resource materials and multimedia. All student workstations are equipped with the same kinds of tools, equipment, and instrumentation in current use by advanced industrial and commercial firms.

Each term, each campus holds a mandatory online or on-campus New Student Orientation, specifically for the incoming student body. Key staff are on hand to share important information.