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LPN-to-RN, AAS

Become an RN in 12 Months

Build on your practical nursing experience through advanced coursework, simulation, and clinical training designed to prepare you for greater responsibility in patient care and the NCLEX-RN. Students are required to hold an LPN license prior to enrollment.

Institutionally accredited by ABHES
Credential
Associate of Applied Science
Total Credits
40
Program Length
45 weeks
Format
Classroom, simulation lab, and clinical training
Tuition
$525/credit$21,000 total, before fees
Which of the following do you hold?

Why RN

Build on the nurse you already are

As an LPN, you already understand what it means to care for patients, respond when their condition changes, and support them through difficult moments. Becoming an RN allows you to build on that foundation with broader clinical knowledge, stronger assessment skills, and greater responsibility for planning and coordinating care.

Registered nurses work across nearly every area of healthcare. They assess patients, develop care plans, administer treatments, educate families, collaborate with healthcare teams, and help guide other members of the care team. Advancing to RN can open the door to more clinical settings, areas of specialization, and long-term opportunities in nursing.

$93,600
Median Annual Wage1
166,100
Projected Increase in RN Jobs, 2024-20341
5%
Projected Employment Growth, 2024-20341
An LPN-to-RN student developing advanced nursing skills through hands-on learning and clinical practice

What You'll Learn

Develop the judgment to take on greater nursing responsibility

The LPN-to-RN program develops the clinical reasoning, communication, and advanced nursing skills needed to provide safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care.

  • Conduct comprehensive patient assessments and apply clinical judgment
  • Plan, coordinate, and evaluate patient-centered nursing care
  • Care for patients across medical-surgical, maternal, pediatric, mental health, and community settings
  • Collaborate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams

Curriculum

A 45-week path from LPN practice to RN readiness

Build on your previous practical nursing education through prerequisite coursework, advanced nursing study, simulation, and 180 hours of clinical practicum experience.

  1. Prerequisite Coursework

    Strengthening Your Science Foundation

    Complete required coursework in Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and an approved mathematics course before progressing into the advanced nursing sequence.

  2. Semester 1

    Transitioning to RN Practice

    Begin the transition from practical nursing to registered nursing through microbiology, English composition, mental health nursing, and coursework focused on the expanded role of the RN.

  3. Semester 2

    Advanced and Community-Based Care

    Study biochemistry, maternal care, community health, and advanced medical-surgical nursing while completing your first clinical practicum and simulation lab experience.

  4. Semester 3

    Professional Practice and NCLEX-RN Preparation

    Complete pediatric and advanced medical-surgical nursing, a second clinical practicum, additional simulation training, professional applications, and a dedicated NCLEX-RN preparation course.

    180 clinical practicum hours60 simulation and skills-lab hours
An RN graduate preparing to take the NCLEX-RN exam

After Graduation

Your path to RN licensure

Completing a nursing program does not guarantee eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN. Authorization to test and eligibility for licensure are determined by the state Board of Nursing where you plan to become licensed.

After completing the program, you will earn an Associate of Applied Science and may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

About the NCLEX-RN

85-150
Items
5 hrs
Maximum Time
Pass / Fail
Scoring
CAT
Computer-Adaptive

The NCLEX-RN is a computer-adaptive examination that measures the knowledge, skills, clinical judgment, and abilities required for safe entry-level registered nursing practice. The number and difficulty of items adjust based on a candidate's performance.

A registered nurse providing compassionate care to a patient in a clinical setting

Career Settings

Where an RN career can take you

Registered nurses provide and coordinate care across a wide range of healthcare environments.

  • Nursing homes and residential care facilities
    Physicians' offices and clinics
  • Home healthcare services
    Hospitals and health systems

Expanding opportunities

Registered nurses can pursue different patient populations, clinical specialties, leadership roles, and advanced nursing education as their careers develop.

Your Next Step

Advance to RN. Keep building your nursing career.

Move from practical nursing to registered nursing, then continue toward a bachelor's degree through programs designed to support your next step.

  1. PN

    Practical Nursing

    Diploma

  2. RN

    Registered Nursing

    Associate Degree

    You are here
  3. BSN

    Bachelor of Science in Nursing

    Bachelor's Degree

Approval & Accreditation

Institutionally accredited by ABHES

The Registered Nursing program has initial approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Stepful College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

The Practical Nursing, LPN-to-RN, and RN-to-BSN programs are pre-accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA).

  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accreditation seal
  • Missouri State Board of Nursing seal

Admissions

What you need to apply

Complete the admissions steps below to be considered for the LPN-to-RN program. Contact admissions to confirm current eligibility requirements, deadlines, required documentation, and prerequisite-transfer policies.

  1. LPN licensure documentation

    Provide documentation of your current LPN license. Contact admissions to confirm current license-status requirements.

  2. Practical nursing transcripts

    Submit official transcripts from your practical nursing program for review and evaluation of prior nursing coursework.

  3. Prerequisite coursework

    Complete Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and an approved mathematics course.

  4. HESI entrance exam

    Complete the required LPN-to-RN HESI entrance examination.

  5. Application and admissions review

    Submit your application and required supporting materials, then complete the admissions-review process.

  6. Background check

    Complete the required background screening.

Before clinical training

Additional health and clinical requirements

Before beginning clinical training, students may need to complete health, safety, and clinical-compliance requirements. These may include a physical examination, immunization and tuberculosis documentation, CPR certification, fingerprinting, and drug screening. Contact admissions for the current requirements.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Understand your program costs

Tuition is charged per credit. Additional costs are spread throughout the program and may include textbooks, uniforms, technology, laboratory expenses, clinical requirements, and licensure costs. Financial aid, scholarships, and payment options may be available to eligible students.

$525
Per credit
40
Total credits
$21,000
Tuition before fees or financial aid

Additional cost & aid information

  1. Additional program costs

    Uniforms, drug screening, a student kit, technology fees, laboratory fees, and program-specific expenses are currently estimated at approximately $5,340 across the program.

    These costs are not all due at once.

  2. Textbooks

    Estimated textbook costs are approximately $1,260 across the program.

  3. Admissions and licensure costs

    Current listed costs include a $100 LPN-to-RN HESI entrance exam, a $45 background check, and an estimated $262 post-graduation licensure cost. A $75 enrollment fee applies but is waived for returning students and alumni.

  4. Financial aid

    Federal financial aid and workforce funding may be available to eligible students.

  5. Scholarships

    Stepful College offers institutional scholarships for eligible students, with awards based on each scholarship's requirements and available funding.

  6. Payment options

    Students may be able to arrange a payment plan for balances not covered by financial aid.

Take the next step from LPN-to-RN

Request information to learn more about admissions, upcoming start dates, program scheduling, tuition, and the LPN-to-RN Associate of Applied Science program.

Questions? Call (636) 529-0000