Practical Nursing

Practical Nurses perform a full range of hands-on patient care. The program objective is to develop proficiency and confidence in the basic therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventative care of people of all ages and cultures. They provide basic bedside care performing nursing procedures such as taking vital signs, giving injections, applying dressings, and helping patients with activities of daily living. Practical Nurses also keep accurate medical records, implement plans of care, and perform nursing duties.

Graduates may work in a variety of entry level settings including hospitals, nursing homes, physician's offices, home health agencies, residential care facilities, and clinics. A growing number of Licensed Practical Nurses are also providing healthcare in the home.

Stepful College graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse per Section 335.066, RSMo.

What you'll learn. Our Practical Nursing program prepares you to provide hands-on, everyday patient care across a range of settings:

• Take vital signs and administer medications
• Assist with wound care and treatments
• Develop and follow patient care plans
• Support patients with daily living and recovery

Learn from healthcare professionals. Courses are taught by faculty who bring practical healthcare experience into the classroom, helping students be practice-ready on day one.

Build skills for clinical care. Through coursework, hands-on practice, labs, simulations, and clinical experiences where applicable, students develop the knowledge and skills needed for nursing and respiratory therapy pathways.

Programs designed for working adults. Flexible schedules designed for students with responsibilities beyond the classroom.

Application to Stepful College is open to all individuals who possess a High School diploma or High School equivalency. All applicants must be interviewed prior to acceptance. Parents, children and/or significant others are encouraged to attend admissions interviews and tour the facilities.

The following items are required to complete the application process: Application for Admission; Enrollment Agreement (if the applicant is under 18 years of age, it must also be signed by a parent or guardian); High School diploma, High School equivalency, signed attestation, or other proof of graduation; High School and College transcripts when applicable; financial aid forms (if the applicant wishes to apply for financial aid); a personal interview with an admissions representative and program director (when applicable); a signed Student Statement of Acknowledgment; background and Employee Disqualification List (EDL) screening for certain programs; and an entrance assessment and essay(s) when applicable.

Students applying to programs that require a licensure/certification/registration exam upon completion are required to complete a background or fingerprint check through Stepful College's approved provider prior to enrollment and clinical/externship experience. Applicants are responsible for the fees required to complete the background checks and/or fingerprint screenings.

Program format: Hybrid. Complete your didactic coursework in a hybrid format for added flexibility, then apply your skills through clinical rotations completed in person: hybrid lecture and coursework, scheduled on-campus skills labs, and in-person clinical rotations. Clinicals are always in-person so you build real hands-on patient care experience.

The Practical Nursing program runs four semesters (60 weeks; about 15 months). Semester 1 builds the foundation with prerequisite coursework in anatomy & physiology, math, and critical thinking; Semester 2 covers nursing fundamentals theory and lab plus geriatric care; Semester 3 brings the first hands-on clinical practicum alongside adult, mental health, and maternal-child nursing care; Semester 4 adds a second clinical practicum, pediatric nursing care, and a dedicated review course to prepare for the NCLEX-PN.

Start dates. Semesters for the LPN-RN, RT and PN programs begin January 4, 2027, May 3, 2027, August 23, 2027, January 3, 2028, May 1, 2028 and August 28, 2028. Not all programs will start every semester; contact admissions to confirm upcoming start dates.

Tuition and costs (2026-2027). Tuition is charged per credit: $475 per credit, $26,125 tuition before fees or financial aid. The following fees are not included in tuition. Additional costs are spread throughout the program and are not all due at once.

• Tuition per credit: $475
• Tuition, academic year 1: $12,350
• Tuition, academic year 2: $13,775
• Uniforms (estimated): $200
• Drug screening (estimated): $50
• Student kit (estimated): $220
• CPR certification (estimated): $60
• Technology fees (estimated): $1,600
• Lab fees (estimated): $400
• Program-specific costs (estimated): $1,046
• Textbooks (estimated): $1,485.88
• Enrollment fee (waived for returning students or alumni): $75
• Background check: $45
• HESI entrance exam: $75
• Post-graduation certification & licensure (estimated): $276
• Graduation: $100

Program disclosure (2025-2026). Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $20,000.00 (County) of debt. The program meets licensure requirements in Missouri.

Financial aid. Financial aid is available to eligible students who qualify. The Federal Financial Aid Programs available at Stepful College are: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Institutional Work Study, Federal Work-Study (FWS), and the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program (subsidized and unsubsidized), plus Federal Direct PLUS loans for parents. Assistance is also available to qualified students from programs such as Trade Act Assistance (TAA), Veterans' Benefits (VA), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Stepful College is approved to offer VA benefits under the Post 9/11 and Yellow Ribbon, Montgomery GI Bill®, VA Voc-Rehab and Tuition Assistance Programs. Stepful College also offers institutional scholarships and SC Institutional Loans.

FAFSA. Use Stepful College school code 016848 when completing your FAFSA. Submitting the FAFSA does not guarantee eligibility for financial aid or that financial aid will cover the full cost of attendance.

Payment options. Payments can be made by cash, check, credit or debit card, or electronic transfer. At minimum, students must pay the applicable Enrollment Fee at time of enrollment. Flexible payment plans are available; contact the Financial Aid office for details. Examination fees, licensure fees, and/or related expenses are the sole responsibility of the student. Tuition, fees, inclusions, and exclusions are subject to change.

Graduates may work in a variety of entry level settings including hospitals, nursing homes, physician's offices, home health agencies, residential care facilities, and clinics. LPNs provide direct patient care across a range of healthcare settings: nursing homes and residential care facilities, physicians' offices and clinics, home health agencies, and hospitals.

Licensure. After completing the program, you will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), a required step toward becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. Stepful College reports a +90% LPN credential pass rate since 2020.

Begin your nursing career as an LPN, then continue building toward an RN or BSN through programs designed to support your next step.