Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing program prepares individuals to provide compassionate, evidence-based nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN); successful completion leads to a Practical Nursing Diploma and prepares students for licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Admission to the program is competitive and based upon selection of candidates who possess the ability to succeed in a demanding and rigorous academic program. MCC currently accepts up to 25 PN students every spring semester.

How to Apply

The application cycle opens on May 26, 2026, and closes on September 18, 2026. Applicants must complete the following:

General Admissions

• Complete the MCC College application
• Submit a high school transcript or GED to Admissions
• Submit all college transcripts to Admissions
• Submit Financial Aid Application
• Complete New Student Orientation

Questions about general admissions and transcripts: (252) 789-0268 or [email protected]

Nursing Program Application

• Complete the Practical Nursing Application Packet and return all documents to admissions by September 18, 2026. No late packets will be accepted.
• Eligible applicants are ranked according to their point score.
• The 25 highest ranked applicants will receive a letter of conditional acceptance.
• There will also be 4 alternate ranked applicants who will receive a conditional acceptance letter.
• Letters of conditional acceptance will be mailed to applicants on September 28, 2026.
• Complete the mandatory Practical Nursing Program Orientation Session on October 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Nursing Classroom (Building 1, Room 10A).
• Accepted applicants will receive an orientation packet that must be completed in its entirety and returned to the Director of Nursing by December 3, 2026. Incomplete packets will not be accepted.

Applicants who do not meet the clinical agencies’ employee health standards, background and screen requirements will be notified. The cost of meeting these requirements can be significant and final acceptance is dependent on meeting the due dates listed in the conditional acceptance letter.

Admission Requirements

According to the North Carolina Board of Nursing Standards, admission requirements shall include assessment of:

• Record of high school graduation, high school equivalent, or earned credits from a post-secondary institution
• Achievement potential through previous academic records consistent with curriculum demands and scholastic expectations
• Physical and mental health indicative of the applicant’s ability to provide competent nursing care to the public

All applicants must also:

• Complete the MCC General Admissions Application, including the Residency Determination Application
• If required, schedule and take placement tests and meet with an advisor to determine eligibility
• Submit all high school and college transcripts for evaluation by the registrar
• Complete a separate nursing program application packet, reviewed by appointment with the PN Program Director
• Anatomy and Physiology courses (BIO 168 and BIO 169) must be taken within the past five years of the application date. The five-year limit is waived for applicants with a bachelor’s degree or an AAS degree that includes two courses of anatomy and physiology.
• Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 in general education curriculum courses from all colleges. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in each PN curriculum course (NUR courses) to progress through the program.

Application Deadlines

Downloads

• Practical Nursing Application Packet (PDF)
• Admission, Progression, Transfer, Readmission, Graduation and Appeals Requirements (PDF)
• Steps for Applying to the Practical Nursing Program (DOCX)