LPN-to-RN Bridge Program

Ready to take the next step in your nursing career? North Central’s LPN-to-RN Bridge program helps Licensed Practical Nurses earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam to become Registered Nurses.

You’ll receive credit for prior learning and build on your clinical experience while developing advanced nursing skills.

Program Highlights

Credit for prior LPN coursework
Focus on safe, patient-centered care
Preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam
Career opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care

Program Format

Complete the program in three semesters and move forward in your nursing career. LPN-to-RN Bridge students join an existing ADN nursing cohort, providing consistent faculty support and strong peer connections.

Enrollment is limited based on available clinical placement space. Class size may vary each year to ensure high-quality, hands-on learning.

LPN-to-RN Program Application

Applications for the LPN-to-RN program must be submitted by May 1 of the year of the anticipated Fall semester entry. Qualified applicants may be placed on a waitlist based on available clinical placement space.

North Central students* can apply to the LPN-to-RN program from the NC Portal:

Log in to the portal.
Select "My North Central."
Select the "Admissions" tab.
Select the Health Science application.

*Prospective students must first complete North Central's general admission application before applying to the LPN-to-RN program.

Questions? I can help!

Brent LaFaive
Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences
blafaive@ncmich.edu
231-348-6696

LPN-to-RN Program Requirements Prior to Admission

To apply to the LPN-to-RN Bridge program, you must meet the following requirements:

Be a graduate of an approved Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program
Hold a current, unencumbered LPN license
LPN education and licensure must have been completed within the past three years*.

*If it has been more than three years: You must provide proof of at least 1,000 hours of LPN work experience within the past two years, verified by your employer.

Credit for Prior Learning

Students entering the LPN-to-RN Bridge program receive 36 credits for prior learning, recognizing previous nursing coursework and experience. These credits apply to required courses in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) curriculum.

General Education Requirements (9 Credits)

The following courses must be completed before beginning 200-level nursing courses:

General Education Requirements (9 Credits)

NUR 199 – Comprehensive Bridge for LPN to RN (3 credits)
- Must earn 80% or higher to continue into NUR 200-level coursework
- Successful completion awards 10 credits for select nursing courses
ENG 111 – English Composition I (3 credits)
COM 111 – Speech (3 credits); OR
COM 170 – Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)

All general education requirements must be completed before starting advanced nursing courses.

Acceptance Into the LPN-to-RN Program

Acceptance emails are sent in mid-June to a student's @student.ncmich.edu email account. Students accepted into the LPN-to-RN program are required to do the following:

North Central Michigan College uses Viewpoint Screening to track and maintain the student requirements for the ADN program.

Accepted students must authorize Viewpoint Screening to perform a background check. Michigan Public Health Act 27, 28 and 29 of 2006 require that clinical agencies perform a background check on all employees, including students who participate in clinical experiences. Certain felonies and misdemeanors may exclude a student from participating in clinical experiences and thus being part of the North Central nursing program.  For an interpretation of these laws, read the Michigan Workforce Background Check Program Legal Guide.

A background check costs approximately $35.

Once the background check is complete, students will receive another link from Viewpoint Screening to set up their health portal with the requirements listed in this document.

NOTE: It is the student's responsibility to keep all health records and immunizations up to date and provide copies to their Viewpoint Screening health portal.

LPN-to-RN Bridge Program