Fulfill your dreams of nursing!
High school seniors can have a professional career one year after graduation from high school. Adults can upskill and begin a rewarding career within two years!
Practical nursing is a dynamic and rewarding healthcare profession focused on providing compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals across the lifespan. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) work as essential members of the healthcare team, collaborating with physicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals to promote health, prevent illness, and care for patients in a variety of settings.
The Practical Nursing Program prepares students with the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional behaviors needed to provide safe, effective nursing care. Through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and supervised clinical practice, students develop the competencies required for entry-level practical nursing practice.
Students who successfully complete all program requirements are eligible to apply for licensure through the state nursing board and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®).
The Practical Nursing Program is a two-year program open to high school seniors and adult learners. Designed to prepare students for success on the NCLEX-PN® examination and entry into the nursing profession, the program combines classroom instruction, skills laboratory experiences, simulation, and supervised clinical practice.
Clinical learning is integrated throughout both years of the program, giving students the opportunity to apply nursing concepts in real-world healthcare settings. Students gain experience caring for patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician offices, and other healthcare environments while completing more than 400 hours of direct patient care.
The program follows the Prince William County Public Schools calendar and includes supplemental asynchronous online learning. Students must maintain a minimum program average of 74.5% and have reliable access to a computer and the internet.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure and sit for the NCLEX-PN® examination.
Specialty program applications will be accepted November 2, 2026-February 1, 2027.
Visit the Practical Nursing Application Process webpage to view program application information and apply.
High school seniors’ tuition, books, and uniforms are covered by PWCS in the first year of the program. However, all students are assessed tuition, book and uniform fees for the second year of the program.
Adult students are required to pay tuition fees each year. The first year of tuition is $3,500 and the second year of tuition is $4,500. Resources and uniforms are an additional fee. View a breakdown of program fees and projected expenses.
Tuition fees are subject to change and are established annually in alignment with Prince William County Public Schools' budget and finance regulations. All tuition payments are non-refundable. This program is not FAFSA eligible or tax deductible, but scholarship and grant funds may be accepted.
Students take Practical Nursing 1 and 2 as seniors and complete the program with Practical Nursing 3 after graduation. Tuition is charged for Practical Nursing 3. All Health and Medical Science courses will count toward meeting the one credit practical arts requirement for graduation, except Practical Nursing 3.
Practical Nursing 3 is the second-year course. Topics covered in the second year include:
Community Health and Mental Health instruction takes place throughout clinical experiences in the second year. Lab and clinical experiences are utilized to enhance classroom learning. The HESI testing and remediation system is used to enhance comprehension.
The program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and accredited by the Virginia Department of Education.