Become a Practical Nurse in just two semesters.

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?

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Top 10 career in demand in Minnesota

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+90% job placement rate

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Health care career with growth potential

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

Hear from our Students

About the Program

Loading Program Details

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 Initial Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at acenursing.org.

The next scheduled evaluation visit is Fall 2024.

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 GuidelinesIncomplete applications will not be processed.

  1. Apply and be admitted to the college.
  2. Complete the Accuplacer Assessments.
  3. Complete the Nursing Assistant OR Medical Assistant requirement.
  4. Complete the Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR requirement.
  5. Complete the most recent and the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS)
  6. Successfully complete prerequisite courses.
  7. 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

Review Program Outcomes (pdf)

Faculty

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Miranda Anderson
manderson@anokatech.edu
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Rita Froiland
rita.froiland@anokatech.edu
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Julie Krueger
julie.krueger@anokatech.edu
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Ashley Ladroma
ashleyann.ladroma@anokatech.edu
Diane Larson
Diane Larson
dlarson1@anokatech.edu
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Mikki Ottomoeller
mottomoeller@anokatech.edu
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Kathleen Stauter
kstauter@anokatech.edu

Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710

Current Students

register for classes

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 U.S. Department of Education has implemented regulations (Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 [a][5][v]) which requires Anoka Technical College’s diploma program in Practical Nursing to make public whether a program will fulfill educational requirements for a specific professional licensure or certification required for employment in an occupation where the institution’s curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification.

The Practical Nursing diploma program at Anoka Technical College 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 program at Anoka Technical College 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. Additionally, students may review the National Council of States Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website to review each state’s initial licensure educational requirements: https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has resources that may be helpful:
•    Every Nursing Practice Act.
•    FAQs regarding the impact of 34 CFR 668.43 on nursing programs.
•    Every State Regulatory Agency for Nursing
This information does not apply to transferring MN LPN Licensure to another state.

Last Review:  August 1, 2020.

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

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

Upcoming Events:

Nov
12
Virtual Information Session
  10 AM to 11 AM
  Zoom
RSVP
Nov
13

Important Dates:

Contact

Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710

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