Practical Nurse

Practical Nurses care for the sick, injured, convalescent and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. Healthcare employment opportunities are available in long term care, home health, hospitals and outpatient settings. Clinical experience is provided at extended care facilities and hospitals. A Diploma will be awarded upon successful completion of this program. Outside work required. Students who have successfully met all educational and institutional requirements for a Diploma in Practical Nurse from Southeastern College are eligible to have their names submitted to the Florida Board of Nursing to be considered as a candidate for the NCLEX-PN. The Florida Board of Nursing is the state agency authorized to determine if the applicant qualifies to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) for licensure as a Practical Nurse.

This program will prepare students for an entry-level position as a Practical Nurse. The program will familiarize the student with the techniques and procedures of basic bedside care. Students will learn how to take vital signs such as, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. In addition, students will observe patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments, collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. Experienced practical nurses may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

All applicants will be required to do a pre-enrollment interview with an Admissions Coordinator to determine the necessary requirements for entrance into the program. To be considered for enrollment, applicants must supply verification of standard high school graduation, GED completion, or proof of graduation from a foreign institution comparable to a United States secondary school; home-schooled applicants are considered upon receipt of the proper state credential.

Admissions requirements.

• Have a high school diploma or G.E.D. or equivalent
• Submit Application
• Pass School Entrance Assessment by obtaining a minimum score of 45 on the ATI TEAS exam. (To be considered for admission into the nursing program, applicants must earn a minimum score of 45 on the most current version of the ATI TEAS exam. Students must wait at least 30 days after the second test attempt and may take the exam no more than three times within a six-month period. TEAS scores that are more than 12 months old at the time of acceptance into the professional phase of the program will not be accepted. All TEAS attempts must be taken at Southeastern College to be considered.)
• Pass the Wonderlic Score by obtaining a minimum score of 17 (To be considered for admission into the nursing program, applicants must earn a minimum score of 17 on the Wonderlic. Students may take the exam no more than three times within a 3-month period.)
• Submit Written Essay
• Interview with the Practical Nurse Program Panel Applicants holding a Bachelor's Degree
• Submit Application.
• Have an earned bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution recognized by the US Department of Education or a foreign equivalent.
• Pass the Wonderlic Score by obtaining a minimum score of 17 (To be considered for admission into the nursing program, applicants must earn a minimum score of 17 on the Wonderlic. Students may take the exam no more than three times within a three-month period.)
• Submit a written essay.
• Interview with Nursing Program Director and/or designee

Prerequisites.

• Level II Background Check and Fingerprinting
• 10 Panel Drug Screen
• Abuse registry clearance

Additional prerequisites.

• Provide TB Test and or/Chest X-ray documentation
• Provide documentation of Health Exam
• Provide current Immunization Documentation

Please see the Program Handbook for additional policies for this program.

Program length. This program can be completed in 12 months for full-time students.

Campus hours. Classes are in session year-round, except for the holidays and vacations listed in the Academic Calendar. The Boynton Beach and Miami Lakes campuses are open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm, Fridays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Start dates. The catalog publishes term dates (each term begins on a Monday; for example, the Winter 2027 semester begins January 11, 2027) but no program-specific start dates; contact the campus for the next start.

Tuition and fees (Florida). At Southeastern College, tuition and fees are charged to the student by the semester/pay period. Each semester is 16-weeks in duration for credit hour programs. Each pay period is 450 hours (900 clock hour program), 370 hours (740 clock hour program) and 500 hours (1500 clock hour program) in duration for clock hour programs. Southeastern College students are not charged by the course or by credit hours.

The catalog lists 3 semesters for this program. The following fees are charged each semester/pay period in addition to tuition, and the one-time fees are charged at enrollment:

• Tuition per 16-week semester (full-time): $12,576.00
• Technology fee (per semester/pay period): $400.00
• Student services fee (per semester/pay period): $300.00
• Program fee (per semester/pay period): $300.00
• Lab fee (per semester/pay period): $300.00
• Application fee (one-time): $50.00
• Registration fee (one-time): $95.00
• Nursing admittance fee (Practical Nurse only, one-time): $75.00
• Transcript fee: $5.00
• Diploma shipping and handling fee: $100.00

Tuition for students less than full time is charged based on a pro-rata calculation at the beginning of the semester/pay period. Programs that require a student kit will be assessed a fee accordingly. Textbook prices are available on the student portal by course. If applicable, students taking online courses who have the textbooks shipped will have shipping charges assessed for them.

Financial aid. Southeastern College is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV Federal Aid Programs. Prospective students who seek financial assistance must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and make an appointment with a Financial Aid Officer. The college's aid programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Work Study and Southeastern College and private scholarships. Federal School Code (FAFSA) for this campus: 031239.

Military and veterans. Southeastern College is approved by the Florida and North Carolina state approving agencies for veterans training, and its VA Pending Payment Policy protects students using Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) or VR&E (Chapter 31) benefits. Tuition Assistance funds are available to eligible Service members; Active Duty students must meet with their branch of service before enrolling.

Net price calculator. Southeastern College Net Price Calculator

Career focus. This program will prepare students for an entry-level position as a Practical Nurse. The program will familiarize the student with the techniques and procedures of basic bedside care. Students will learn how to take vital signs such as, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. In addition, students will observe patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments, collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. Experienced practical nurses may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

Credentialing.

Students who have successfully met all educational and institutional requirements for a Diploma in Practical Nurse from Southeastern College are eligible to have their names submitted to the Florida Board of Nursing to be considered as a candidate for the NCLEX-PN. The Florida Board of Nursing is the state agency authorized to determine if the applicant qualifies to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) for licensure as a Practical Nurse.

Graduation and employment rates (ACCSC 2025 annual report, as of 10/10/2025). Full-time cohort starting October 2021 – September 2022: 58% graduation rate (of 62) and 72% employment rate (of 36).

Programmatic outcomes. Florida CIE Form 609b (2025): 35 students took the NCLEX-PN for the first time, with an institutional first-time pass rate of 62.86% (national rate 86.6%). Status with the Florida Board of Nursing: not on probation.

Professional licensure disclosure: Diploma-Practical-Nurse-Disclosure-Form-2026.pdf