Overview
Career outlook
Employers hire licensed practical nurses to provide basic patient care such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with daily needs under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
Getting in
What Mesa Community College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Prerequisite courses
- Transcripts
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
Fast Track Practical Nursing CCL at the Red Mountain campus (two semesters, NUR160PN and NUR180PN, January or August start). Applicants need a high school diploma/GED, NUR158 or NCE150/151 nurse assisting within 24 months or a current CNA/LNA credential, HESI A2 with 75% or higher in both English composite and math taken together (about $45, retest after 60 days, max 3 per year), a Level One DPS fingerprint clearance card and health and safety documentation. Complete applications are accepted any time through the Maricopa electronic form and placed on a date-stamped district waitlist (typically 6 to 12 months); applications were paused until August 2026 for a district process change. Estimated total program cost $4,608 for Maricopa County residents (24 credits at $97 plus fees, books, background check and drug test); licensure costs about $550 more. Background check and urine drug screen required on admission.
Checked Oct 2026 on the school's site. Requirements change each cycle, so confirm before you apply.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites you'll need to meet to apply to this program at Mesa Community College. Open a category to see each one.