Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are a vital member of the health care team. Anoka Technical College's Practical Nursing program prepares students for a career in health care within a year.
Practical Nursing graduates are educationally qualified to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After successfully passing the exam and obtaining state licensure, graduates are then Licensed Practical Nurses.
Why Become a Practical Nurse?
Top 10 career in demand in Minnesota
+90% job placement rate
Health care career with growth potential
Industry & Career Outlook
Potential Jobs:
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- LPN
Salary Information:
Median Wage: $29.15 per hour
Top earners: $34.22 per hour
Information provided is for Minnesota. See current data at mn.gov/deed.
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Other Program Info
The Practical Nursing diploma program at Anoka Technical College located in Anoka, Minn. is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Anoka Technical College Practical Nursing diploma program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at acenursing.org.
Programs preparing persons for licensure as practical nurses must be approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. The statutory requirements for initial and continuing approval of a nursing program that prepares students for basic entry into practical nursing is found in Minnesota Statutes Section 148.251. In addition, Minnesota Rules Chapter 6301 specify the board’s administrative procedure and requirements for renewal of approval of a nursing program.
The Anoka Technical College Practical Nursing program is currently approved. A list of approved practical nursing programs in Minnesota is found on the Minnesota Board of Nursing website.
Minnesota Board of Nursing
1210 Northland Drive Suite 120
Mendota Heights, MN 551250
Main Telephone Number: 612-317-3000
Toll-free Number (MN, IA, ND, SD, WI): 888-234-2690
TTY Number (Relay service for hearing/speech impaired): 800-627-3529
Fax Number: 651-688-1841
Website: mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/nursing/
Email: nursing.board@state.mn.us
The board office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm and is closed on state holidays.
Application Dates
- Fall semester start: Applications begin being accepted on March 1 or first business day in March each year.
- Spring semester start: Applications begin being accepted on Sept. 1 or first business day in September each year.
Completed application packets are accepted during published application periods.
Admission Guidelines
Practical Nursing Program Application
Steps to Admission to the Practical Nursing Program
You must complete all steps of the admissions process to be admitted into the Practical Nursing program. Please read the full explanations below and be sure to follow Admissions Guidelines. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
- Apply and be admitted to the college.
- Complete the Accuplacer Assessments.
- Complete the Nursing Assistant OR Medical Assistant requirement.
- Complete the Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR requirement.
- Complete the most recent and the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS)
- Successfully complete prerequisite courses.
- Complete the Student Record of Immunization and Health Status Form. Must be signed and/or stamped by a health provider.
All documents are submitted to enrollmentservices@anokatech.edu once all the requirements are successfully completed.
All required documents must be submitted in a Word or PDF format and are submitted as an entire package. Completed application packages are accepted on a rolling basis until the seats are filled. Students are notified within five (5) business days of application submission of the seat availability for the upcoming semester.
The Practical Nursing program reports on multiple program outcomes each academic year including:
- On-time completion rate
- Program completion rate
- Annual performance on NCLEX-PN
- Job placement rate
Health Technology
Certificate
Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide
Certificate
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Are you ready to learn more about becoming a student at Anoka Tech? Request info to receive program-specific information, connect with admissions and learn more about paying for college.
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Info for Current Students
Through a Minnesota Board of Nursing approved program of study, the Anoka Technical College Practical Nursing (PN) program prepares students for a diploma in Practical Nursing.
Graduates are educationally eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX - PN) and, after passing and obtaining state licensure, may use the title Licensed Practical Nurse.
There is a cost associated with this examination and a fee from the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
If you have any legal or medical questions regarding your potential for meeting the Board of Nursing requirements for licensure or your potential to practice practical nursing, contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing directly at 612-317-3000, or nursing.board.state.mn.us.
The Anoka Technical College Practical Nursing Program meets the state education requirements for a Practical nursing license in the state of Minnesota. Anoka Technical College has not determined if the Practical nursing diploma program meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia.
Students should contact the Board of Nursing in the state in which they wish to be licensed for specific licensing requirements. Students may review the available resources available through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website to review each state's initial licensure education requirements.
Link for every state Nurse Practice Act can be found at https://www.ncsbn.org/policy/npa.page
Link to Nursing Program Regulations regarding the impact of 34 CFR 668.43 on nursing programs can be found at https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/education/board-of-nursing-licensure-requirements.page
General Employment Sites for Nurses
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
- ISEEK
- Wage Information (DEED)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- College Grad Career Information
- Career Planner
Continuing Education
Graduates may choose to pursue an associate degree in Nursing (ADN) through a community college or a baccalaureate degree in Nursing (BSN) through a university. Articulation/mobility plans are in place at colleges and universities in the state of Minnesota.
Other Resources
- Minnesota Board of Nursing
- National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, Inc.
- National League for Nursing
- The American Nurses Association Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements
Faculty advisors are available to assist students with this process.
Minnesota Board of Nursing Approved Practical Nursing Programs
Professional Development
For help with writing resumes, preparing for interviews, locating jobs and other professional preparation, students and graduates should contact Anoka Tech Career Services.
Start Dates:
Fall semester: August
Spring semester: January