Nursing just might be the most rewarding career of all. (Shhh – don’t tell the other careers. They get so jealous.)
nurse stands next to simulation model
80%
Employed
80% of our recent graduates got a job in the industry.
88%
Student Satisfaction
88% of our recent graduates report they are satisfied with their Madison College education.
$51k
Annual Salary
Our recent graduates of this program reported an average starting salary of $51,444.

Ready to learn more?

If you’d like to learn more about the Practical Nursing program, we’d love to talk with you. We’re here to answer any questions and guide you through our application process step-by-step. Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!

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Practical Nursing
Program Number: 315431
Your Degree:
Technical Diploma
Area of Study:
Health Sciences
Delivery Method:
100% In Person
Some Online/Some In Person
Estimated Time to Complete:
33 Credits | Finish diploma in 1.5 years
financial aid icon Financial Aid Available
question mark and dollar sign illustration
Partial Financial Aid
This program uses a Clock to Credit Conversion to determine financial aid status.

Estimated Program Cost

$6,826.20

Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.
  • Program Overview

    The Practical Nursing (PN) program at Madison College offers training for in-demand jobs in nursing and health care. Students learn from experienced nursing professionals in digital classrooms and modern labs.

    The Practical Nursing (PN) Program prepares graduates to provide basic hands-on nursing care needed by patients in a variety of health care settings. Practical nurses assist with data collection, collaborate on nursing care plans, reinforce teaching provided by RN's or other appropriate health care personnel, and participate as a member of the health care team in meeting basic client needs.

    This is an excellent career for people who enjoy working with people and caring for individuals with physical or emotional concerns. Students must be willing to learn, have effective communication and interpersonal skills, and have an interest in health care as a career.

    Please note that upon admission to the Practical Nursing program, you will be required to complete a background check and provide documentation of current required-immunizations and current Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Clinical placements in the Practical Nursing program may require drug testing and onboarding requirements.

    Program Details

    Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Nursing programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the Health Sciences and Nursing Programs Forms and Policies.

    The Practical Nursing program is available at the Goodman South campus location in Madison, Wisconsin and the Fort Atkinson Campus(Fall admission, full-time required) and is approved as a candidate for initial accreditation by the:

    Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
    3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404.975.5000 http://acenursing.org/

    ACEN Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

     

    The Madison College Practical Nursing (PN) program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services to enroll students in a nursing program.

    Your Advantages at Madison College

    • Learn in leading-edge facilities. Nursing classrooms offer fully-functioning labs, using both low fidelity and simulated patient settings for hands-on learning.
    • Learn the skills, concepts and ethics of the nursing profession with nurse instructors from a wide range of professional backgrounds.
    • Be ready to take your career to the next professional level with Madison College. As an LPN, you may be eligible to advance your educational preparation to become a registered nurse.

    Earning your Practical Nursing technical diploma prepares you for professional work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).

    Career

    After successful completion of the Practical Nursing Program, graduates may be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and practice as an LPN.

    Madison College Practical Nursing Degree 2022 Composite NCLEX Score: 100 percent (ACEN Standard 6)

    National Average: 83.08 percent

    Madison College Nursing programs prepare students to obtain the required licensure to be employed and practice in the state of Wisconsin. The College does not guarantee its curriculum matches the requirements for preparation, examination, or licensure for other states.

    Wisconsin participates in an enhanced, multi-state nursing licensure compact as of January 19, 2018. Multi-state nurses meet uniform licensure requirements for all participating states, meaning that nurses with a Wisconsin license may be eligible to practice nursing in the following states:

    • Alabama
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Idaho
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • New Hampshire
    • New Mexico
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming

    Please refer to the NCSBN website for current information related to licensure, employment and practice regulations in other states.

    For questions related to the enhanced nurse licensure compact (eNLC), contact dsps@wi.gov.

    Resources

    If you need assistance accessing this PDF document, please contact the School of Nursing at 608.246.6780.

    Study Nursing Near Home
    The Practical Nursing program is at our Fort Atkinson and Goodman South campuses.
  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    Pre-Program Courses
    30-543-300
    3 credits
    31-543-356
    2 credits
    31-501-153
    3 credits
    10-801-195
    3 credits
    10-801-196
    3 credits
    First Semester
    31-543-301
    2 credits
    31-543-302
    3 credits
    31-543-303
    2 credits
    Second Semester
  • Admission

    To Apply

    Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.

    • View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
       
    • There is currently 0-2 semesters between acceptance into pre-program and the start of core classes. The estimated time to enter the core-program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
       
    • Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process

    After Acceptance

    Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.    

    Additional Notes

    Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.

    Questions?

    Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Practical Nursing career.

    It's Free to Apply

  • Petition

    After Acceptance

    After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied. 

    Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:

    • Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
    • Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
    • Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
    • Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program

    You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.

    Fall 2023 and Spring 2024  

    Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

    After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core-program courses through the Petition Process.

    Questions?

    Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

  • Career Outcomes

    After completing the Practical Nursing program at Madison Area Technical College you will be able to: 

    1. Integrate Practical Nursing identity reflecting integrity, responsibility, and nursing standards. 

    2. Communicate basic information using multiple sources in nursing practice. 

    3. Utilize theoretical knowledge to participate in decision making.  

    4. Apply the nursing process to basic client care across diverse populations. 

    5. Function as a healthcare team member to provide safe and effective care 

    • Graduate Summary

      Graduate Report Summary Overview

      202020212022
      Number of Program Graduates111313
      Number of Surveys Sent111313
      Number of Surveys Returned589
      Percent of Surveys Returned
      Available for Employment565
      Percent Available for Employment100.00%100.00%55.60%
      Not in Labor Market
      Percent Not in Labor Market0.00%33.30%44.40%
      Available for Employment

      202020212022
      Graduates Employed465
      Percent of Graduates Employed80.00%100.00%100.00%
      Employed in Related Occupation464
      Percent Employed in Related Occupation100.00%100.00%80.00%
      Employed in Unrelated Occupation001
      Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation0.00%0.00%20.00%
      Employed - No Response000
      Percent Employed - No Response0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Seeking Employment100
      Percent Seeking Employment20.00%0.00%0.00%
      Reaction To Training at Madison College

      202020212022
      Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)3.43.73.3
      Number of Satisfaction Responses569
      Very Satisfied (4)245
      Percent Very Satisfied40.00%66.70%55.60%
      Satisfied (3)323
      Percent Satisfied60.00%33.30%33.30%
      Unsatisfied (2)000
      Percent Unsatisfied0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Very Unsatisfed (1)001
      Percent Very Unsatisfied0.00%0.00%11.10%
      Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

      202020212022
      Number of Primary Reason Responses589
      Preparation for Getting a Job203
      Percent Preparation for Getting a Job40.00%0.00%33.30%
      Career Change142
      Percent Career Change20.00%50.00%22.20%
      Improvement of Existing Skills120
      Percent Improvement of Existing Skills20.00%25.00%0.00%
      Preparation for Further Education124
      Percent Preparation for Further Education20.00%25.00%44.40%
      Personal Interest000
      Percent Personal Interest0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Other000
      Percent Other0.00%0.00%0.00%
      When Employment was Obtained

      202020212022
      Number of When Employment Obtained Responses465
      Before Enrollment110
      Percent Before Enrollment25.00%16.70%0.00%
      While Attending the College020
      Percent While Attending the College0.00%33.30%0.00%
      After Training at the College335
      Percent After Training at the College75.00%50.00%100.00%
      Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

      202020212022
      Number of Employment Location Responses455
      In College District455
      Percent In College District100.00%100.00%100.00%
      In Wisconsin, Not in District000
      Percent of In Wisconsin0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Outside of Wisconsin000
      Percent Outside Wisconsin0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Employer Location Unknown000
      Percent Location Unknown0.00%0.00%0.00%
      Salary Trend
      Salary Trend202020212022
      Full Time Employment (Related Job)Full Time Salary Count233
      Average Monthly Wage$3,956$4,365$4,287
      Average Hourly Wage$23.00$25.38$24.92
      Average Work Hours per Week404138.7
      Part Time Employment (Related Job)Part Time Salary Count211
      Average Hourly Wage$27.88$25.00$25.00
      Average Work Hours per Week253232
    • Graduate Employers

      Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022
      Employer(s)Job TitleCity*State**Positions
      Oakwood VillageLicensed Practical Nurse
      UW HealthLicensed Practical Nurse
      UW Health Rehabilitation HospitalLicensed Practical Nurse2

      * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

      ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

      *** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu

Ready to get started?
Your first step is to apply to Madison College. It's easy and free to apply, so get started today!
Contact the School of Nursing

Madison Truax Campus
Health Building, 103

1705 Hoffman Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

nursing@madisoncollege.edu
608.246.6780

Hours

  • Monday – Thursday: 8 am - 4:30 pm
  • Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm (Virtual)