Practical Nursing Certificate Program

Program Overview

Practical Nursing Certificate Program

The Practical Nursing Program curriculum is designed to provide graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to be eligible to attain licensure as License Practical Nurse (LPN) upon successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and allows graduates to provide nursing care in a variety of settings.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at the University of the District of Columbia at the Lamond-Riggs campus, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE, is in candidacy by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000.

The PN program is approved by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing (2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington, DC 20020 202-724-8800.

UDC offers the Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate Program. The curriculum reflects high standards of professional practice and incorporates guidelines from practice trends, professional organizations, and accrediting agencies.

The program’s curriculum helps students develop the knowledge base and clinical competencies required to meet the health care needs of patients across the health continuums. Nurses treat patients of all ages and health statuses – from premature infants to the aged in critical care, acute care, rehabilitation, and home care settings.

Vision

The vision of the Practical Nursing program is to provide a positive, supportive learning environment where students acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and professional values through evidence-based, innovative instruction.

Mission

The mission of the Practical Nursing program is to prepare competent Licensed Practical Nurses to meet the health-related needs of the diverse citizenry of the District of Columbia and the global society at large.

Student Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Good standing with the University, including accounts, academic standing, and other University admission requirements.
Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.8 or higher.
Must be 18 years of age or older
Must be a high school graduate or have a GED equivalency certificate
Will be notified via letter regarding the pre-admission examination status
A valid picture ID (driver’s license, non-driver license, or passport)
An UDC ID
All pre-requisite general education courses (including IGED courses) must be completed with at least a “C” grade.
At least one pre-requisite science course (Lecture and Lab) must be completed with a letter grade of B or above and completed within the most recent five years at the time of application. Transfer students must complete all pre-requisite science courses (including BIOL) with a grade of at least “B.” Transfer students must complete science and BIOL courses within the most recent five years at the time of application.
A grade of “D” or “F” in more than one pre-requisite course (within five years from applying to the program) will disqualify the student’s eligibility; the student will not be accepted into the program.

Prerequisite Courses
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
IGED 120C	Foundation Quantitative Reasoning	3
IGED 110C	Foundation Writing in Arts & Humanities	3
BIOL 111C	Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture	3
BIOL 113C	Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab	1
BIOL 112C	Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture	3
BIOL 114C	Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab	1
NURS 101C	First Year Seminar	1

How to Apply

Practical Nurse Applicants

The Practical Nursing Certificate Program is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 admission from Oct. 10, 2025, through October 31, 2025. Please follow the instructions below to ensure your application package is complete.

Two Professional (i.e., Supervisor, Professor, Assistant Manager or Manager only) recommendation letters should be submitted by the evaluator and emailed to Hector Mendoza Arias at hector.mendozaarias1@udc.edu.
Click here to download the application.
For Application, essay and unofficial transcript(s) submission:
- Click on the link to gain access to the portal: portal.castlebranch.com/IU61
- Click on place order
- Then select IUdmfall: Fall Nursing Applications Document Manager and follow the instructions.
- You will be informed by Dr. Vonda Rogers via email to complete the Global Background Clearance.
Below is the TEAS PSI Registration Guide and Link
- Remember the test must be completed no later than Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
- TEAS at PSI Registration Guide
- TEAS Registration Link

The Office of Admission processes applications to the university. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the Nursing program. Students are not automatically admitted to the Nursing Program by indicating an interest in nursing or declaring nursing as a major. Students must make an application to the program and nursing admission is competitive.

Nursing students are admitted to the clinical nursing courses consistent with the established admission criteria and selection process. Students enrolled in UDC as regular unlicensed nursing students must complete the Pracitical Nursing Certificate Program general education requirements; earn a minimum grade of B in each course on the program of study; and earn a UDC Practical Nurse Certificate Program general education grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or higher to be eligible to make a formal application to the Nursing program. Application packets for the Nursing program are retrieved electronically through CastleBranch and must be returned to the same location announced deadlines respectively to be logged upon receipt.

Applicants are notified in writing or by their UDC email. Eligibility criteria for program admission include but are not limited to the following minimum requirements:

PN General Education Grade Point Average of 2.8 or greater.
Completion of all required pre-requisite courses with a grade of at least a B in one science course (Lec/Lab) and C in the IGED courses.
Satisfactory professional recommendations (i.e., employer, manager, professor).
National Criminal Background Clearance.
Students may only have one repeat in any science courses.
Successful completion of a standardized admission assessment.
The standardized admission assessment score is as follows
- Science: 70%
- English – 70%
- Math – 73.5%
- Reading – 73%
- Overall: Minimum 70%

Students are informed in writing or by their UDC email of their application status. Selected students are given detailed information on the requirements for progression. Accepted students must verify completion of the following requirements prior to agency assignments (a component of all nursing practicum courses):

Acknowledge intent to enroll in writing.
Valid UDC Student Picture Identification.
Proof of purchase of professional liability insurance.
Health clearance by University Health Services.
Drug screening if requested.

Students who are denied admission to the nursing program are informed and assisted to explore other career options or may reapply during the next application cycle. Applications of those not admitted are not retained.

Students are expected to function as accountable, responsible, and self-directed individuals. The course syllabi provide course details and serve as the student-faculty contracts for the course. The course syllabi and modules identify objectives, teaching methods, learning activities, and evaluation criteria to guide students. Course schedules provide testing details, content and/or assignments.

Classroom attendance is expected, and academic integrity is required. Absenteeism jeopardizes academic success. A breach in academic integrity will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
Clinical and Laboratory attendance in nursing is mandatory. All planned learning experiences, whether on-campus or off-campus, are required to meet course objectives. Students are responsible for purchasing and maintaining uniforms and uniform accessories.
Health clearance through the University Health Services is required annually and is a pre-requisite to clinical placement in accord with the healthcare agency policies and D.C. laws.
CPR Certification (American Heart Association Healthcare Providers Card Only) must be maintained by all students enrolled in nursing courses.
Health problems and/or pregnancy, which would interfere with the student’s ability to meet program objectives, will be considered on an individual basis. Students with health problems and/or pregnancy must have written permission from their physician and sign a student release form prior to clinical laboratory and classroom experiences. Specific agency health policies must be observed. Students are required to sign a Student Release Form. This form includes the following statement:
- I hereby release the Nursing Program and the University of the District of Columbia Community College from responsibility for any injury or illness to me (or if I am pregnant, my unborn fetus) while attending hospital or other clinical settings. I understand that risks do exist for me (and if pregnant, my unborn fetus) while practicing nursing in the hospital or other clinical settings and I do assume any and all risks involved.

Transfer Credit Evaluations

All students applying to any allied health program at UDC must submit course syllabi for Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Clinical Microbiology at the time of a completed transfer evaluation. General microbiology courses will not be accepted as a substitute for Clinical Microbiology. However, students may appeal for credit. The appeal should include the course catalog description and syllabus or course outline (from the appropriate year) for each course in question, which, if possible, should include the course’s learning outcomes.

Please note: The nursing and allied health programs at UDC-CC will not accept science courses (Anatomy I, II, Clinical Microbiology, Chemistry, etc.) completed in online, virtual or hybrid formats at other institutions.

Contact Us

Dr. Susie Cato

University of the District of Columbia Community College
5171 South Dakota Avenue NE, Room 310C
Washington, DC 20017
202-274-5914
scato@udc.edu

Practical Nursing Certificate Program