CERTIFICATE
Practical Nursing
The Practical Nursing Certificate is for aspiring LPNs. This program prepares you for hands-on patient care in high-demand healthcare settings. You’ll build clinical nursing skills, complete supervised clinical experiences, and prepare to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam — moving you quickly into nursing practice.

Dig Deeper Into the program
Explore coursework, essential clinical training, and practical experiences that develop your ability to deliver safe, compassionate care and support immediate entry into the nursing workforce.
Degree Offered
- Certificate
Start Terms
- Summer (May)
Program Format
- On-campus
- Select classes available online to provide added flexibility for students
Credit Hours & Timeline
- Total credits required: 40
- Typical completion time: 12 months
Curriculum Highlights
- Foundational Nursing Skills — Course work in patient care procedures, health assessment, and fundamentals of nursing practice.
- Pharmacology and Clinical Judgment — Build safe medication administration skills and sound clinical reasoning.
- Supervised Clinical Experience — Hands-on learning in real healthcare environments with direct supervision.
- NCLEX-PN Preparation — Coursework and simulation designed to prepare you for the Practical Nurse licensing exam.
Licensure
- Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.
- Passing the NCLEX-PN is required to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
To be accepted into the PNC program, all applicants must:
- High School graduate or GED with appropriate signatures.
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
- Cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Completion of English Composition (ENG 101) with a final grade of C or higher.
- Completion of Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) (BIO 120/121) or Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) (BIO 200/201) with a final grade of C or higher. If transferring in A&P courses, they must have been successfully completed within the last 5 years.
- Demonstration of English Language Proficiency through one of these options:
- Graduate from an English-based high school
- Associate’s (or higher) degree from an accredited, English-based, college or university
- Complete an English Placement Test through CSM, placing into English Composition (ENG 101) or higher
- English Language Proficiency testing
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper version minimum score of 560
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) computer version minimum score of 220
- Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) minim score of 84 and a minimum speaking score of 26
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic version with overall score of 6.5 and minimum score of 6.0 on all modules
- Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) with a minimum score of 780
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a passing standard of 81 and speaking section score of 3
- Michigan English Test (MET) with a minimum overall score of 55 and a minimum speaking score of 55
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) 55 overall with no sub scores lower than 50 in each scored part
- Duolingo English Test Score minimum score of 105
- An active and unencumbered CNA license.
- A letter of recommendation may be requested by the Program Director.
- Prior to program start:
- Meet Core Performance Standards (Policy 1.2) and Nursing Program Requirements (Policy 1.3)
- Completed health record, including BLS documentation, immunizations and laboratory results, background check and drug screen.
The nursing program reserves the right to admit only those students who, in the judgment of the program, satisfy the requirements of scholarship, health, and personal suitability for nursing.
PNC applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning June 1 for the following May start date. Students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. If the cohort reaches capacity, a waitlist will be established.
Your Roadmap to Admission
From application to enrollment, we guide you through each step with clarity and personal support so you can focus on what matters most and take the next step toward your future.
Why Choose CSM?
Fast Path to Practice
Gain the skills and clinical experience needed to enter nursing quickly and begin earning while you build your career.
Hands-On Training
Focused clinical hours and simulation labs develop the practical skills employers expect from day one.
Supportive Environment
Small class sizes and dedicated faculty give you individualized support and mentorship throughout your training.
Mercy-Driven Care
Grounded in the Mercy tradition, you learn compassionate, patient-centered care that honors dignity, equity, and service.
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Tuition & Aid
Investing in your education is a big decision, and you do not have to navigate it alone. Every admitted full-time undergraduate student is guaranteed a merit scholarship, and CSM offers additional aid and personalized guidance to make your degree attainable. Our team will walk you through your options so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
LPN Career Opportunities
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in hospitals
- LPN in long-term care and assisted living
- Home health nurse
- LPN in physician offices
- School health assistant
- Hospice care nurse
- Public health support roles

PNC By The Numbers
100%
First-Time NCLEX-PN Licensure Exam Pass Rate
CSM graduates consistently and significantly exceed national expectations for new LPN licensure success.
100%
Job Placement Within Six Months of Graduation
Every PNC graduate from recent cohorts was successfully employed in a nursing role within six months of graduation.
100+ Years
Of Nursing Education at College of Saint Mary
For more than a century, College of Saint Mary has prepared skilled, compassionate nurses serving Nebraska and beyond
Nursing Students In Action









Accreditation
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The practical nursing program has Nebraska State Board of Nursing approval.
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Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll help you build a future with confidence.


