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Lehigh Carbon Community College

What is a Certificate in Nursing?

This is an integrated college program spanning three semesters. Students complete classroom instruction alongside clinical experience. A practical nursing graduate is prepared to assist in caring for medical and surgical patients, convalescents, and disabled.

Upon completion of the approved curriculum, the graduate receives a certificate as a practical nurse. Once the graduate successfully completes the Virtual ATI NCLEX-PN review course they are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination – Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).

The Practical Nursing Certificate program at Lehigh Carbon Community College at the Main Campus located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania; at the Donley Center located in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and at the Morgan Center located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; 404-975-5000; www.acennursing.org.

The Practical Nursing Certificate program at Lehigh Carbon Community College maintains full approval status with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Applications for Summer 2025 admission will open on October 1, 2024.

Nursing Courses

Your nursing courses will prepare you for success in either a future career or when pursuing a four-year degree. In this program, you’ll take classes like:

  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nursing I, II, III
Students in SIM Lab

Health Care Patient Simulation Center

The Patient Simulation Center encompasses both high- and low-fidelity patient manikins. The labs connect classroom learning with real-life clinical experience and help students build confidence as they learn to interview and care for patients. The students apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to ongoing patient scenarios. Learning in a controlled environment allows the student to learn without compromising the safety of an actual patient, as they receive feedback from the Nursing faculty. The sim lab allows the students to develop critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills.

Pathway to a Career in Nursing

Advance your career at your own pace. Each step below transfers credits to the next. Appropriate job titles and average pay ranges are meant to help guide an individual interested in this field; they vary based on individual experience and employer.

Wage information taken from Lightcast Q1 2024 BETA Data Set – QCEW Employees. Wage range is 25%-75% hourly average in surrounding 10-county region.

State Licensing and Credential Requirements

The Practical Nursing program at Lehigh Carbon Community College is approved by the PA State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Upon completion of the program, students will apply for licensure by examination by completing the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). The application and requirements for nursing licensure are unique to each state. The below information is meant to provide a resource. This is not a definitive list of the requirements for nursing licensure. Please refer to the State Board of Nursing for full requirements for application.

Licensed Practical Nurse Licensing Requirements by State

Pennsylvania (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Complete a Board approved LPN program
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Pages/Nursing-Guide.aspx

Contact Information

State Board of Nursing
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
717-783-8222
ST-NURSE@pa.gov

Connecticut (meets requirements)

Requirements

License Application

eLicense Online (ct.gov)

Contact Information

Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Ave., MS# 12 APP
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
860-509-7603
RN Licensure by Examination (ct.gov)

Nebraska (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Completion of applicable accredited program in LPN
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-License-Applications.aspx

Contact Information

Licensure Unit
Attn: Nursing
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-5026
402-471-4376
DHHS.NursingOffice@nebraska.gov
http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx

Maryland – meets requirements

Requirements

  • Complete a Board approved PN nursing program (LCCC was approved by the Maryland Board in November 2021)
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Pages/Nursing-Guide.aspx

Contact Information

Maryland Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21215-2254
888-202-9861

New Jersey (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Completed a course of professional nursing study in an accredited school of professional nursing as defined by the board and holds a diploma therefrom.
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/pages/applications.aspx

Contact Information

New Jersey Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 45010
Newark, NJ 07101
973-504-6430
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/default.aspx

New York (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Graduate from a nursing education program located in another US state approved by the licensing authority of the state
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseforms.htm

Contact Information

NY State Education Department
Office of the Professions
Bureau of Comparative Education
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000
518-474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 300 (voice)
comped@nysed.gov
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/

Ohio (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Successfully complete a registered nursing education program that is approved by a jurisdiction of the national council of state boards of nursing.
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://nursing.ohio.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/OhioBoardeLicenceInstruction1.0.pdf

Contact Information

Ohio Board of Nursing
17 S. High Street
Suite 660
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-3947
http://nursing.ohio.gov/

Texas (meets requirements)

Requirements

  • Graduate from a board-approved program
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

http://www.bon.texas.gov/forms.asp

Contact Information

Texas Board of Nursing
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701-3944
512-305-7400
http://www.bon.texas.gov/index.asp

Washington – meets requirements

Requirements

  • Graduate from a program approved by another United States nursing board
  • Pass the NCLEX Examination for LPN Nursing

License Application

Washington State Online Application Instructions

Contact Information

Washington State Department of Health
360-236-4703
nursing@doh.wa.gov.
Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission :: Washington State Department of Health

Other States – not determined if meets requirements

Nursing licensure in all other states is determined by their individual state requirements. Please seek out the state board of nursing for application requirements.

Nursing Director

 Karen M. Clark

Karen M. Clark

Director of Nursing
Schnecksville, PA