Admission Criteria
Approximate Costs
Program Requirements

Academic Map - Practical Nursing (Technical Certificate)

The Practical Nursing is a 12-month program. The Malvern Campus admits students in January and August, and the class size is limited to 50 Students. The Saline Campus admits students in August, and the class size is limited to 30 students.

Approved by Arkansas State Board of Nursing

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare students for employment in the health care field and for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).  All students accepted into the Practical Nursing Program will be required to have state and national criminal background checks and will pay all associated fees before set deadline. Conviction of certain crimes may make the applicant ineligible to attend certain clinical sites.  If any clinical site denies student access for any reason, the student will not be allowed to progress through the program.  Random drug screening may be utilized at any time during the course of the program at the student’s expense. 
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) may refuse to issue or shall revoke the license of any person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty of or nolo contendere to any offense listed in 17-3-102. For more information visit the ASBN website. A second criminal background check is required before students will be permitted to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. 

Students spend time in the classroom and in clinical experiences.  Practical Nursing students are prepared for giving direct and primary nursing care under the immediate supervision of the clinical instructor, staff nurse, and/or physicians in the cooperating clinical facilities.  Clinicals are completed in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.  Clinical practicum is planned to provide students with varied experiences; therefore, students may have a portion of their clinical experience at facilities in many surrounding areas. 
All applicants will have an equal opportunity regardless of race, age, disability, sex, creed, religion, or nationality. Not all applicants are accepted into the PN program. Applicants with special needs due to disability must make this fact known prior to admission, so that necessary accommodations may be made.