Practical Nursing
You will graduate from this nationally accredited one-year program with the knowledge and training you need to thrive as a healthcare professional. Our program's academic rigor, exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art health simulation labs and emphasis on clinical experience is recognized as among the best in the state of Iowa. Graduates have a 96 percent national board pass on the National Council Licensure Examination for the past five years. Employment opportunities in Iowa and throughout the Midwest are very plentiful and graduates have a 100 percent job placement rate. Hands-on health simulation labs, equipped with manikins that exhibit symptoms and vitals of human patients, train you for a range of patient care treatment and medical emergencies.
If you have a passion for helping and caring for others, and want to make a difference in the lives of patients every day, this career is the perfect fit for you. Graduates of the Practical Nursing program may enroll as second-year students in our Associate Degree of Nursing program to become a Registered Nurse.
Paying for the Program
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees: $10,801*
Program Supplies: $2,168
There are many options available for tuition savings. Contact the Admissions or Financial Aid office for more information.
Financial Aid Info- Apply for admission.
- Submit official high school, high school equivalency and/or college transcripts to the Admissions Office of the campus you plan to attend.
- Complete ACCUPLACER® reading and writing assessment and ALEKS® math assessment for course placement. Assessments may be waived based on previous college coursework or submission of valid ACT®, or SAT® test scores. Reading and writing scores are valid for three years, and math scores are valid for two years.
- View the Program Admission Checklist.
Program Admission Requirements
The health sciences programs have additional admission requirements including background checks, health records and training requirements. Please review these requirements for program admission.
In addition to the College admission procedures, applicants must complete the HESI A2 admissions assessment and achieve a score of 80 on both the reading and mathematics portions. The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C- or above within five years from the date of application:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab [BIO:168]
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab [BIO:173]
- Dosage Calculations [PNN:200]
- Intro to Nutrition [PNN:270] or Nutrition [BIO:151]
Students may transfer into the freshman year only after transcript review, space availability and director of nursing approval. All nursing students are required to attend a program orientation prior to entrance into the program. Notification of dates and times will occur after acceptance to the Nursing program. In addition, the following requirements must be satisfied prior to term one of the NICC Nursing program.
Exit requirement
Students are required to pass the established benchmarks on the HESI exam in order to graduate from the program. The established benchmarks are stated in the annual District-Wide Policy and Procedure Manual for the Administration of Nursing Programs.
View the Nursing Program Admission Checklist.
View a sample schedule for this program of study.
Review program courses, admissions and academic requirements.
The Practical Nursing program at Northeast Iowa Community College was awarded full six-year accreditation by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).
The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. #1 Ranked Practical Nursing Program in Iowa.
2023-2024 Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual
Gainful Employment Information
View gainful employment information for this program.
Licensure and Certification Disclosure
Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. Use this state guide to identify the states in which NICC program requirements fulfill the state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.
Simulation Labs
Nursing students have the opportunity to utilize the College's Health Simulation Laboratories at the Calmar and Peosta campuses for hands-on learning experiences.
The Practical Nursing program maintains formal transfer partnerships with the institution listed below. Students are encouraged to speak with their transfer college or university to verify that their planned courses at NICC will meet necessary requirements. Learn more about transferring from NICC.
Dawn Sanderman, M.S.N., R.N.
Associate Dean of Nursing, SIM Coordinator
- Email: sandermand@nicc.edu
- Phone: 844.642.2338, ext. 1280
- Location: Calmar
Sarah Carlson, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNL
Dean of Nursing
- Email: carlsonsa@nicc.edu
- Phone: 844.642.2338, ext. 2209
- Location: Peosta