Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing program is a 48-week diploma offered in residential and blended (online/hybrid) formats. Students attend lecture classes online while participating in hands-on lab experiences at the school or regional healthcare facilities. The program provides theoretical instruction and clinical experience in gerontological, medical, surgical, obstetric and pediatric nursing, with clinical instruction in both acute and long-term care settings.

Students progress from caring for patients with simple, short-term nursing needs to more complex long-term needs, using the nursing process to provide safe, effective care and exercising sound nursing judgment and critical thinking as members of the healthcare team. UCI offers direct admission: once accepted and meeting all requirements, students are assured a seat with no pre-nursing general education courses. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, required to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.

United Career Institute (UCI) is part of a family-owned group of tri-state schools focused on short-term career training, established in 2019 by West Virginia Junior College, which was founded in 1922. UCI offers accelerated, career-focused training so students can be ready for professional careers in two years or less, with caring and knowledgeable instructors who work closely with them in small on-campus and online classes.

• Institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
• A WE CARE approach centred on the school's core values, with a success team that supports each student from admissions to career search.
• Employers sit on advisory boards to keep the curriculum relevant, and UCI arranges externships with partner employers.
• Graduate Promise: extended career services at any time after graduation, and brush-up courses within the original curriculum at no additional tuition.
• Online classes with mobile access, 24/7 tech support and interactive labs, plus hands-on days at the Irwin, PA campus.

Applicants must meet the general admission requirement of a high school diploma, equivalency or recognized home school credential. Consideration for the Practical Nursing program is based on the nursing program application (with fee), entrance exam results, an interview with a college representative, and TEAS scores of Reading 60, Math 50, Science 40 and English 50. UCI Clinical Medical Assistant and Medical Office Administration graduates with 85% attendance and a 3.0 GPA are exempt from the TEAS.

Applicants attend an information session, take the entrance exam, apply, interview, and on acceptance complete enrollment paperwork and financial planning and pay the $100 seat fee, then complete required screening, immunizations and background checks and acquire supplies. Admission is highly competitive and meeting the minimums does not guarantee a place. Applicants should confirm with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing that they can meet licensure eligibility requirements.

The 48-week program follows the Official School Calendar 'A' Quarters. 2027 quarters: Winter, January 4 to March 28; Spring, April 5 to June 27; Summer, June 28 to September 26; Fall, September 27 to December 19, 2027. Breaks fall in late March, mid-August and at year end, and courses must be taken in sequential order.

Day classes may be held between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and night classes between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Clinical rotations may be scheduled any day or night as the healthcare site requires, at sites that have included Allegheny Health Network, St. Anne Home, Angels of Care, Maxim and Bayada.

Tuition for Practical Nursing is charged term by term: $5,230 per full-time term (12 or more credits), plus an Education Resource Fee of $995 per term. This is the rate for students starting January 1 to December 31, 2027 (the 2026 rate was $5,050 per term). Practical Nursing students also pay a $100 seat fee, and may opt in to a school-provided laptop at $860. A one-time $25 application fee applies. Tuition is due at the beginning of each term, and payment may be deferred until financial aid is received for students relying on aid.

• Federal and state grants: federal grants based on need through the FAFSA; the Pennsylvania State Grant for Pennsylvania residents in a degree program.
• Student loans: federal student loans and PLUS loans for parents of dependent students.
• Institutional grants and scholarships: such as the Academic Success Grant, Nursing Pathway Grant and high school grants, for those who qualify.
• Veterans: Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program.
• Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver: for eligible Pennsylvania youth who are or have been in foster care.

The program fulfils the educational prerequisites for professional licensing in Pennsylvania. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN, and passing it qualifies them to be employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Pennsylvania. Licensure in other states is the graduate's responsibility, and students considering practising out of state should check that state's requirements before beginning classes.

Skills developed include holistic patient care, wound care, IV therapy, medical records, critical thinking, communication with interdisciplinary teams, healthcare technology and ethical practice, preparing graduates to work in diverse healthcare settings.

Career management starts in admissions with a career planning session before classes begin, and each student's journey ends with a career management class working with the career management director on the job search. Career service benefits include career advising, five-year plan development, a professional externship, resume and cover letter help, pre- and post-interview assistance, and access to employment networks.

Externships and clinicals must be scheduled at the site's convenience and may fall on evenings or weekends; the institution assigns the site and students are responsible for their own transportation. Health requirements such as immunizations and a tuberculosis skin test must be met at the student's cost before the externship. Online students need a personal computer, internet access and an email account; Microsoft Office may cost $150 to $500.