Practical Nursing Program

Earn your Practical Nursing diploma in as few as 12 months

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    Gain the hands-on experience you need with our Practical Nursing program.
    Elevate your future with the Practical Nursing program at Unitek College, an accelerated pathway that prepares you to pursue a career in practical nursing in as few as 12 months. Designed for motivated learners, this program blends comprehensive classroom instruction with hands-on training grounded in Caritas Principles, emphasizing compassionate, patient-centered care alongside clinical skill development. Students can choose between a full-time day program that can be completed in as few as 12 months or a part-time evening program that takes approximately 75 weeks (about 19 months), offering flexibility to fit different schedules. Through on-campus skills labs, high-fidelity simulation, and VR-enhanced learning, you’ll build confidence in real-world scenarios before applying your skills during supervised clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings, including nursing homes, public hospitals, and community-based care environments. With 1,620 instructional hours, focused NCLEX-PN preparation, and extensive practical experience, you’ll develop the competence and confidence needed for real-world practice and a meaningful career in nursing.
    NCLEX PASSING ASSISTANCE
    2024 NCLEX-PN PASS RATE 93.02% Source: Nevada State Board of Nursing
    CAREER-FOCUSED TRAINING
    PN Graduate Placement Rate 97%*
    CNEA LOGO
    Prepare for your career through a program designed to uphold rigorous nursing education standards. The Unitek College Practical Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. 202-909-2487
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    I really appreciate the care and effort that was put in by Career Services. Towards the end of the program, I was beginning to feel some doubts about getting a job, but the whole process (with mock interviews) made me feel a lot more confident.
    Victoria G.
    Unitek College Graduate
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    I really appreciate the care and effort that was put in by Career Services. Towards the end of the program, I was beginning to feel some doubts about getting a job, but the whole process (with mock interviews) made me feel a lot more confident.
    Victoria G.
    Unitek College Graduate
    Enroll before our next start date.
    Reno, NV
    5250 South Virginia St
    Suite 110
    Reno, NV 89502
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    How to apply to the PN program

    Follow these simple steps to start your path toward training to become a Practical Nurse.

    These steps represent a general overview of the admissions process and reflect the typical path most students follow when enrolling. For a list of all admissions steps and requirements, please visit the college catalog.

    Need assistance?

    Connect with an Admissions Representative today to get started on your PN application.

    Admissions Requirements

    • Meet with admissions (virtual or in person)
    • Submit copy of a government-issued ID and proof of high school diploma/GED
    • Clear criminal background check
    • Complete an interview with a program director
    • Complete prerequisite requirement
    • Begin enrollment processes
    • Complete FAFSA and financial aid appointment
    • Start classes

    PN Curriculum (48 Credits*)

    Our Practical Nursing program empowers you to step confidently into the nursing profession by preparing you for the NCLEX-PN and equipping you with the clinical and administrative skills needed to thrive in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare environments. You’ll build strong competencies in areas such as patient monitoring, medication administration, and hands-on patient support and education, gaining the practical experience that shapes exceptional LPNs.

    With 1,620 instructional hours that blend classroom learning, labs, and clinical rotations, you’ll cover essential topics including nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, pediatrics, maternal and newborn care, medical-surgical nursing, and professional development. By the time you graduate, you’ll be fully prepared to pursue entry-level LPN roles and make a meaningful difference in patient care.

    Course Totals
    48 Credit hours

    Course Credit Hours
    PVN110: Fundamentals of Caring Practical Nursing I 3
    PVN112: Fundamentals of Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab I 1
    PVN130: Fundamentals of Caring Practical Nursing II 2
    PVN132: Fundamentals of Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab II 1
    PVN140: Fundamental of Caring Practical Nursing Clinical I 1.5
    PVN136: Pharmacology for Caring Practical Nursing 2.5
    PVN152: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing I 3
    PVN154: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab I 1
    PVN158: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing Clinical I 2
    PVN146: Pharmacology for Caring Practical Nursing II 2
    PVN162: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing II 3
    PVN164: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab II 1
    PVN168: Medical/Surgical Caring Practical Nursing Clinical II 2
    PVN250: Mental Health Caring Practical Nursing 2.5
    PVN252: Mental Health Caring Practical Nursing Clinical 0.5
    PVN226: Maternal/Newborn Caring Practical Nursing 2.5
    PVN228: Maternal/Newborn Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab 0.5
    PVN230: Maternal/Newborn Caring Practical Nursing Clinical 0.5
    PVN232: Professional Caring Practical Nursing I 1
    PVN236: Pediatric Caring Practical Nursing 2.5
    PVN238: Pediatric Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab 0.5
    PVN240: Pediatric Caring Practical Nursing Clinical 0.5
    PVN256: Professional Caring Practical Nursing II 1
    PVN262: Professional Caring Practical Nursing Skills Lab 1
    PVN 264: Professional Caring Practical Nursing Clinical 2

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    Name A. Unitek Graduate

    By the time I finished at Unitek, I scheduled and took my NCLEX within a month. I passed on my first time, all thanks to Unitek.

    Almoss M. Unitek College Graduate

    I really appreciate the care and effort that was put in by Career Services. Towards the end of the program, I was beginning to feel some doubts about getting a job, but the whole process (with mock interviews) made me feel a lot more confident.

    Victoria G. Unitek College Graduate

    Gain focused NCLEX-PN support through guided review, practice tools, and personalized coaching that strengthen your knowledge and help you feel fully prepared for exam day. 

    Students engage with immersive virtual reality experiences that simulate real patient scenarios, allowing them to practice clinical decision-making, prioritize care, and respond to a range of patient conditions in a safe, controlled environment. These interactive tools complement classroom instruction, reinforce key concepts, and help students build confidence before transitioning into clinical settings. 

    Simulation and skills labs are equipped with industry-standard tools and high-fidelity manikins that replicate real patient responses. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, students practice essential nursing techniques such as patient assessment, medication administration, and vital sign monitoring, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for real-world patient care. 

    Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) collaborate closely with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop and carry out patient care plans across a variety of settings—nursing homes, extended-care facilities, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and private homes. With your training, you’ll deliver primary patient care under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and physicians, performing tasks such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and providing comfort and support to patients. 

    Over time, LPNs may advance into supervisory, administrative, or management roles, or leverage their hands-on experience to pursue further education and qualify for a Registered Nurse (RN) role. According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for LPNs was $64,150* as of May 2024. As of August 2025, employment in the field is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, roughly in line with the national average for all occupations. 

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    *These placement rates are based on program-specific and campus-specific data reported to our institutional accreditor(s) in 2024. While the figures shown here are not separately reported to our accreditor, they are derived from those outcomes. For full details by program and campus, please visit our Disclosures page

    *Please note that wage data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other third-party sources may not be an accurate reflection of all areas of the country, may not account for the employees’ years of experience, and may not reflect the wages or outlook of entry-level employees, such as graduates of our program (accessed on 3/17/2026).