Nursing – LPN to Associate Degree (RN)

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Associate Degree (AD) Nursing is a two-semester Registered Nurse (RN) option for current LPNs who want to continue working while they pursue their RN degree. This option aims to reduce barriers and to provide more advanced standing credit for past education and working experience. This program prepares graduates to test for the NCLEX-RN to become RNs.

Admission into the program is a competitive process.

Program Prerequisites

Students must have a prerequisite minimum 2.5 GPA. Before applying, students must attain a minimum “C” grade or higher in the following courses:

PSYC 1310 Introduction to Psychology
CHEM 1010 Survey of Chemistry
BIOL 2100 Human Anatomy

In addition, students accepted to the program must meet the same GPA and grade minimums before starting nursing courses in the following:

ENGL 1210 College Composition I – Critical Reading & Writing
PSYC 2630 Developmental Psychology
BIOL 2110 Human Physiology
BIOL 2150 Microbiology

Program Timeline – Spring 2025

Information Session: Sessions available July – September 2024. Register for an information session below.
Application: September 1, 2024 – October 1, 2024
Orientation & Registration: October 25, 2024 (in-person, mandatory)
Semester Start: January 13, 2025

Program Delivery

Eleven credits of Advanced Standing
Semester 1 – Part-time, Wednesdays in-person (Hutchinson campus); Precepted clinicals
Semester 2 – Full-time, in-person (Hutchinson or Willmar campus), off-site clinical experiences

Accreditation

The Practical Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

ACEN nursing accreditation seal

The Ridgewater College Practical and Associate Degree Nursing Programs meet the state education requirements for a Practical or Professional nursing license in the state of Minnesota. Ridgewater College has not determined if the Practical and Associate Degree Nursing Programs at Ridgewater College meet the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia.