Practical Nursing

Want to start working with patients in a healthcare setting? The Practical Nursing degree at Forsyth Tech will prepare you to become a certified Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). This one-year program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver safe and high-quality nursing care. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and individualized care and classes meet on weekdays, evenings and weekends to meet your schedule. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam and pursue employment in various healthcare settings, including nursing homes, home health agencies, doctors’ offices and outpatient clinics.

As an LPN you will work under the supervision of a doctor or Registered Nurse (RN) and can do tasks such as taking vital signs, doing bedside and basic wound care, record keeping and administering some types of medication and injections.

Not sure whether to do a Practical Nursing degree and become an LPN or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and become an RN? With an ADN, you will perform many of the same tasks done by an LPN but can also manage a more advanced level of healthcare tasks, including patient assessments, developing care plans and monitoring patient progress. An RN may oversee an LPN and have a higher salary. If you need to start earning money sooner, an LPN takes only one year. When you are ready, Forsyth Tech’s one-year Advanced Placement (LPN-RN transition) bridge program is designed for students who have already met requirements to become an LPN and wish to earn an ADN.

The application for the Practical Nursing (LPN) program will open on January 12, 2026 and the application deadline will be March 13, 2026. If you have questions about the program and any changes, please contact your advisor.

• Nursing skills
• Patient care
• Medical knowledge
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Teamwork