CERT Practical Nursing Program

Program: Practical Nursing (157)
Award: Certificate 

The Practical Nursing Program (157) participates in a selective admissions process.

Paul D. Camp Community College’s Certificate in Practical Nursing prepares students to take the national licensure examination for practical nursing (NCLEX-PN).  It is each individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate and comply with requirements for the state in which they intend to practice as educational requirements may vary.  To obtain the contact information for the nursing licensing boards please visit the National Council of State Board of Nursing page https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm

Paul D. Camp Community College has not determined if the PN program meets the requirements of all states. Please view our State by State List to review those states that Paul D. Camp Community College has determined either meets or does not meet the state’s licensure requirements.  If Camp has not made a determination that will be noted as well.

Program Purpose:

This program is designed to prepare students to qualify as practitioners of practical nursing in a variety of health care facilities.  After successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply to the Virginia Board of Nursing to sit for the NCLEX-LPN exam.

What will I learn?

Students successfully completing this program will be able to…

• Apply nursing concepts based on bio-psycho-social cultural and spiritual components of individual patients across the life span.
• Utilize legal and ethical principles while providing safe, patient centered care to culturally diverse populations.
• Demonstrate safe and competent care in the performance of basic clinical nursing skills while utilizing information technology.
• Collaborate professionally with members of interdisciplinary health care teams.
• Utilize the concepts of the nursing process that include conducting a focused nursing assessment of the patient status, be able to make appropriate decisions about who and when to inform, identify patient needs, plan for nursing care, implement appropriate aspects of nursing care, and contribute to the evaluation of patient outcomes.
• Demonstrate professional growth and development by acquiring knowledge and skills through lifelong learning.

How long will I need to be in college?

A college-ready student attending Camp full-time can complete this certificate in three semesters. 

What job or career can I get with this certificate?

Upon completion of the certificate, graduates will possess the knowledge and skills required to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam Practical Nurse, which is a requirement to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.  Employment opportunities include staff positions in hospitals, nursing homes, health departments, physicians’ offices, clinics, day care centers, industry, hospices, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health care agencies.

What is the job outlook for graduates of this program?

As of the second quarter of 2023, total employment in the Hampton Roads Workforce Region for Licenses Practical Nurses was 3,870.  There is projected annual demand/need for 308 new entrants into this occupation (Source:  Jobs EQ Occupation Report Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, January  2024).

How much can I earn with this certificate?

Below are the 2023 wages for careers, within the Hampton Roads Workforce Region, that are related to this field.

(Source:  Jobs EQ Occupation Report Wages, January 2024)

Want to know more?  Check out the program map and program requirements in the College Catalog.