Practical Nursing, D.A.S. - LPN1
The Practical Nursing (PN) program is designed to afford the student the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to provide supervised health care to individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
The PN program is three semesters. Students are admitted in the fall to the Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood and in the spring to the Laurens campus.
Graduates of the PN program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The licensed PN (LPN) is qualified to continue their nursing education through the LPN to ADN transition program.
The PN program is approved by the Board of Nursing for SC.
Admission: Acceptance into Piedmont Technical College’s PN program is competitive and is limited to 32 students to begin fall and spring semesters. See the college calendar or website for application dates.
Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission into the PN program:
- Complete the following courses (minimum "C" grade required):
Course List Courses Course Title Credit Hours BIO 112 Basic Anatomy and Physiology 4 ENG 101 English Composition I 3 MAT 120 Probability and Statistics 3 or MAT 110 College Algebra PSY 201 General Psychology 3 Total Hours 13 - Minimum grade point average for the above courses of 2.5. A grade point average calculator can be found under the Application and Advising tab. *Please note that the minimum grade point average for the above courses will change to 3.0 in Fall 2025.
- TEAS score of 65% or higher in math and 65% or higher in reading.
- Good academic standing at the college.
These requirements will not prepare PN graduates to continue their nursing education in the ADN program. Students interested in continuing their education in the ADN program should take the biology needed for the ADN program.
Upon acceptance into the major studies coursework of the PN program, it will take three (3) semesters to complete the program.
Students are required to maintain a current American Heart Association “Basic Life Support” certification throughout the major studies courses.
| Courses | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Courses | ||
| BIO 112 | Basic Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 120 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or MAT 110 | College Algebra | |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Subtotal | 13 | |
| Required Core Subject Areas | ||
| PNR 110 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 5 |
| PNR 128 | Medical/Surgical Nursing I | 7 |
| PNR 154 | Maternal/Infant/Child Nursing | 5 |
| Subtotal | 17 | |
| Other Courses Required for Graduation | ||
| PNR 122 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| PNR 138 | Medical/Surgical Nursing II | 7 |
| PNR 170 | Nursing of the Older Adult | 2 |
| PNR 181 | Special Topics in Practical Nursing | 1 |
| Subtotal | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Graduation Plan
Enrollment in clinical coursework requires admission to the program. See Application and Advising section for more information.
Note: Clinical courses that start in the Fall term are offered on the Greenwood Campus only. Clinicals that start in Spring are on the Laurens campus.
Fall Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| BIO 112 | Basic Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 120 or MAT 110 |
Probability and Statistics or College Algebra |
3 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PNR 110 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 5 |
| PNR 122 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PNR 128 | Medical/Surgical Nursing I | 7 |
| PNR 154 | Maternal/Infant/Child Nursing | 5 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PNR 138 | Medical/Surgical Nursing II | 7 |
| PNR 170 | Nursing of the Older Adult | 2 |
| PNR 181 | Special Topics in Practical Nursing | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Spring Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Hours | |
| BIO 112 | Basic Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 120 or MAT 110 |
Probability and Statistics or College Algebra |
3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
| PNR 110 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 5 |
| PNR 122 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PNR 128 | Medical/Surgical Nursing I | 7 |
| PNR 154 | Maternal/Infant/Child Nursing | 5 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| PNR 138 | Medical/Surgical Nursing II | 7 |
| PNR 170 | Nursing of the Older Adult | 2 |
| PNR 181 | Special Topics in Practical Nursing | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Nursing Application Process
Nursing is a limited enrollment program that has special admissions requirements. These requirements must be completed before you can be accepted.
If you are a new student, there are three key steps to complete before entering the Nursing program:
- Step 1: Apply to the college and complete the enrollment process
- Step 2: Take the necessary courses and testing to become Program-Ready
- Step 3: Apply to the program
Are You Program-Ready?
Before applying for program entry, be sure you meet the requirements for acceptance. Start by connecting with an advisor and review program requirements.
We've also provided the resources below to assist you with the program acceptance process.
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheets are designed for students and advisors to review program-specific requirements and program application procedures. Please make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your academic goals and progress, and to develop your individualized degree plan.
GPA Calculator
There are minimum GPA requirements for program-ready coursework. The Program-Ready GPA Calculator can be used to calculate your GPA.
Application Worksheet
The application worksheet is used to calculate points toward competitive program entry.
TEAS Testing
Candidates for entry into the Practical Nursing program must take the TEAS test. When you are eligible for entry into the program, you must complete testing before starting the application process.
Health Care Program Acceptance Data
These are NOT the scores required to be accepted. These are scores from past applicants that were accepted. Since the applicant pool changes each time, there is no way to predict how high the application points need to be for acceptance into the program.
Guided Pathways
Guided Pathways are designed to assist students in scheduling the order of courses to become program-ready or to complete the Health Care Certificate for their desired program.
Health Care FAQ
We strongly recommend that students review the Health Care Division FAQ to be fully aware of our program entry requirements.
Apply to the Nursing Program
Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to become program ready, it’s time to apply to the program.
Applications are accepted for entry into the Practical Nursing program on the following schedule
- Fall Entry (Greenwood Campus)
- Application Dates - May 1-16
- Notification of Program Acceptance Emails Sent - Mid June*
- Spring Entry (Laurens Campus)
- Application Dates - September 1-16
- Notification of Program Acceptance Emails Sent - Mid-October*
Program applications must be submitted during the scheduled dates for this program to be considered. Please ensure all official transcripts and TEAS scores are on file prior to applying. Your TEAS test scores can be found in Prior Education & Testing section under Student Tools in your Student Profile in Pathway. You will receive a response to your Student (Pathway) email.
Note: If you haven't already done so, you must apply to the college before completing the Practical Nursing program application.
Current Student Program Resource
Nursing Handbook
Health Care Division Handbook
This handbook is designed to be utilized in conjunction with the PTC Academic Catalog, PTC Student Calendar and Handbook and PTC Health Care webpages. Please refer to them for additional information.
Health Care FAQ
We strongly recommend that students review the Health Care Division FAQ to be fully aware of our program entry requirements.
Health Care Readmission
Health Care readmission students who fail or withdraw from a Health Care curriculum class must complete and submit a readmission application in order to be considered for readmission.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Purpose Statement
A Diploma in Practical Nursing provides the student with the knowledge and skills needed to provide supervised health care to individuals and families across the life span and prepare them to take the NCLEX-PN.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
1. Patient centered care
Collaborate with others by incorporating sensitivity and respect in demonstrating concepts of patient centered care within culturally diverse populations among individuals, families and communities. (Mission Goal 4)
2. Teamwork and collaboration
Communicate professionally and function effectively under supervision within nursing and other health care disciplines to achieve quality patient care in response to the needs of individuals and families across the lifespan and the health illness continuum. (Mission Goal 2)
3. Evidence based practice
Provide interventions based on evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes across all healthcare populations. (Mission Goal 1)
4. Quality improvement
Collect data and assist in implementing quality improvement measures with ongoing evaluation to ensure patient safety across the healthcare continuum. (Mission Goal 3 and 5)
5. Safety
Assist in creating a safe environment that enhances quality of care for individuals and families within culturally diverse populations. (Mission Goal 3)
6. Informatics
Use basic technology skills for shared decision making and resolving problems in the delivery of care for individuals and families across the lifespan. (Mission Goal 3)