There are only three requirements to apply for the Practical Nursing Program:
Submit a completed application
High School Transcript/Diploma or High School Equivalency (e.g., GED)
Complete the ATI TEAS pre-entrance examination (cost is $70)
To be considered for admission into the Practical Nursing program, applicants must complete the pre-entrance ATI TEAS exam.
This exam costs $70 and is completed onsite at Polaris Career Center.
Once you complete the admission requirements and receive a letter of acceptance, you will be required to complete the following steps to enroll in the Practical Nursing program:
Contact Financial Aid Coordinator and complete your FAFSA
Provide verification of High School Diploma/Transcript or High School Equivalency (e.g., GED)
Submit health documentation and proof of BLS CPR card
Complete BCI/FBI background check and drug screen
Meet with the Administrative Coordinator to register for the program
Attend the Practical Nursing orientation
Download our Admission and Enrollment Checklist
We will walk you through each of these steps once accepted for admission into the Practical Nursing program!
The Practical Nursing program spans 11 months and consists of 1,100 hours. This includes 788 hours of classroom instruction, 146 hours of hands-on laboratory experiences, and 166 hours of clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. Click here to download the program curriculum.
Students will have class Monday to Thursday, as well as one Friday per month, from 8:45 am - 3:45 pm. However, when it comes to clinical, the hours may vary. Students will be assigned either a morning or afternoon shift to complete their clinical rotations.
The upcoming program is scheduled to start on August 18, 2025. Prior to the start date, students must attend a mandatory program orientation on August 4, 2025, from 9 am to 3 pm.
Our Practical Nursing students are fortunate to engage in an exclusive clinical partnership program at Southwest General Health Center. Instead of moving between different healthcare facilities in the city, students will conduct the majority of their clinical rotations at Southwest General Health Center, conveniently situated next to Polaris Career Center.
This program offers students a consistent learning experience, allowing for enhanced learning and increased responsibility during their clinical rotations.
To successfully complete the Practical Nursing program, students must fulfill the following:
Achieve an 80% or better in all nursing courses
Satisfactorily complete all laboratory and clinical experiences
Attendance rate not less than 90% for all classroom lecture courses
Completion of all clinical and laboratory experience hours
Payment of all outstanding obligations to the school
The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
The total program cost is $16,996 (Tuition: $14,336 | Books & Supplies: $612 | Materials & Assessment: $2,048).
The uniform and nursing toolkit (e.g., stethoscope, scissors, penlight, etc.) are included in the total program cost.
Successfully completing the Practical Nursing program will make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination through the NCSBN to become a Licensed Practical Nurse!
For current and prospective students who want to review the program policies, please download our Practical Nursing Student Handbook.
