Mid-America College of Health Sciences

Practical Nurse program guide

  • Knowledgeable and nurturing faculty with decades of industry experience
  • Quality hands-on training in laboratory equipped with high-fidelity manikins
  • 3 cohorts (two Weekday and one Blended-Week)
  • Student-centered approach to course delivery
  • Conducive learning environment with supportive staff and faculty members
  • Professional/soft skills embedded in the program to prepare students with skills needed for real-world patient communication
  • Critical thinking focused curricula
  • Multiple clinical sites in Kansas and Missouri that provide opportunities for real-world clinical experiences
  • Two-days of NCLEX-boot-camp to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exam
  • 9 months of intense and fun learning

Program Description

Our Practical Nurse (PN) program is initially approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and the Kansas Board of Regents.

The PN program is designed to prepare students to care for patients in a manner consistent with the Kansas Board of Nursing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) scope of practice and emphasizes the use of appropriate clinical judgment in the role of the LPN. Each student’s clinical experience is a robust hands-on experience throughout our nine-month program starting in our skills lab.  Students are taught hands-on skills to promote and enhance critical thinking and prepare each student to assist and take superior quality care of patients.

The 46 credit-hour curricula will be taught in four modules over a nine-month period for a total of 900 clock hours, and will include hands-on, active learning in class and clinical experiences appropriate for practice in today’s healthcare environment.

Special emphasis is placed on “soft skills” which will allow graduates to not only meet patients’ psychosocial needs but also work effectively as a member of the healthcare team.

In addition, students will be grounded with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of nursing with evaluation at the end of each module.

An applied learning approach to the PN curriculum is used in each module to help students further develop the tactile and critical thinking skills necessary to assist with diagnostic procedures and facilitate the examination and treatment of patients.

The program includes IV Therapy skills, so there will be no need to look for IV certification after graduation.

Our faculty will prepare the students to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Additionally, students are required to participate in a 2-day NCLEX-PN bootcamp facilitated by external NCLEX specialists. 

Upon completion of the program, students are award a Diploma in Practical Nursing and will be prepared to take the NCLEX-PN examination.

Program Topics

  • Foundations of Nursing
  • Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Safe Medication Administration
  • Essential Soft Skills for Nurses
  • Nursing Care of Adults
  • Mental Health Nursing
  • Maternal Child Nursing
  • IV Therapy for PNs
  • Leadership, Roles, and Issues

General Admissions Requirements

Prospective applicants to the Practical Nurse program must meet each of the general admissions requirements:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must have a high school diploma, GED, or degree from accredited United States college. Applicants who have obtained a high school diploma or degree outside of the United States must have their educational credentials evaluated for US equivalency by a professional evaluation agency. Unevaluated foreign high school or college credentials will not be accepted.
  • Valid state ID
  • Valid SSN card
  • Negative tuberculosis (TB) test result
  • Hepatitis B vaccination
  • Plain white scrub set and black scrub jacket
  • Must pass the HESI-A2 entrance exam with a minimum overall score of 70% and a minimum of 60% on the English language section. The HESI exam is especially important to being accepted into the Practical Nurse program. Visit the HESI exam page to learn more and register.
  • Students are required to have a working laptop computer, basic knowledge of Microsoft office suite, and a reliable Internet service. Tablets and iPads are not sufficient to fulfill this requirement.

Copies of all required documents must be submitted to the admissions office. If you cannot obtain each requirement prior to the application deadline, you will need to postpone your enrollment and reapply for the 2026 – 2027 program start.

Enrollment is conditional until all fees, paperwork, and admission requirements have been completed.

Prerequisite Certifications & Courses

Applicants to the Practical Nurse program need to have the following certifications:

  • An active CNA certification.
  • A current CPR/BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA). A CPR/BLS certification from other providers will not be accepted. If you do not have a CPR/BLS certification from the AHA, you can take our  CPR/BLS class.

 

Applicants must also have credits for the following courses:

  • Medical Terminology (2 credits). If you don’t have these credits, you can take our Medical Terminology course.
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 credits). Credits must have been earned within the last 7 years. Our Human Anatomy & Physiology course can be taken to satisfy these credits.
  • Human Growth & Development (3 credits). Our Human Growth & Development course can be used to satisfy these credits.

While not required for admission, additional training in Phlebotomy is strongly encouraged, as it will enhance your overall preparedness for the program.

Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from an accredited program before the application deadline. Existing credits for prerequisite course from other institutions may be transferred. Official transcripts from other institutions can be sent via email mailed to:

Mid-America College of Health Sciences
10000 W. 75th Street, Suite 241
Merriam, KS 66204

 

Note:

Credits for prerequisite courses taken at MACOHS may or may not transfer to other schools.

Registration for the 2026-2027 cohort is closed. Text us at 913-214-8556 to enquire about registration for the 2027-2028 cohort. 

Clinicals and Labs

Clinicals and lab sessions are an integral part of the Practical Nurse program. Clinicals days and times are within the course dates but times may vary to align with a nursing community’s shift schedule. Your instructor will provide you up to date info about the clinicals for your class.

Lab sessions are opportunities for students to practice what they learned in class using high- and low-fidelity manikins in our state-of-the-art lab.

Program Schedule

The Practical Nurse program at Mid-America College of Health Sciences is 9 months long and has three different cohort schedules. Details for each cohort can be seen in the table below.

Each cohort has a maximum class size of 20 seats.

Students may choose the cohort option that best fits their needs; however, they may be required to switch to a different cohort if their preferred option reaches capacity.

Registration for the 2026 – 2027 PN program is closed.

Schedule
Class Time
Clinicals Time
Weekday Gold Cohort (Mon. - Thurs)
7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Weekday Green Cohort (Mon. - Thurs)
7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Blended-Week Cohort (Thur. - Sat.)
7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tuition & Registration

The PN program cost depends on whether you are an in-state resident or out-of-state resident. Consult the sections below for information on the cost and fees that applies to you. 

Payment installment plans are available for this program. Students must meet with our admissions staff and sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement to be approved for a payment installment plan. There is a $50.00 setup fee for payment installment plans. 

To speak with our admissions staff about this program, text us at 913-214-8556 or leave us a voicemail at (913) 708-8323. You can also speak to us in person at 10000 W 75th Street, Suite 241, Merriam, KS 66204.

You are considered an in-state student if you are a resident of the state of Kansas. Cost for in-state students:

  • Non-refundable registration fee: $25.00
  • Tuition: $19,500.00 (does not include out-of-pocket fees)

 

Out-of-pocket fees include but are not limited to: Textbook bundle, NCLEX-PN exam fees, scrubs, CPR/BLS class, TB testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, HESI-A2 entrance exam, and graduation fees.

You are considered an out-of-state student if you are NOT a resident of the state of Kansas. Cost for out-of-state students:

  • Non-refundable registration fee: $25.00
  • Tuition: $20,700.00 (does not include out-of-pocket fees)

 

Out-of-pocket fees include but are not limited to: Textbook bundle, NCLEX-PN exam fees, scrubs, CPR/BLS class, TB testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, HESI-A2 entrance exam, and graduation fees.

Registration for the 2026-2027 cohort is closed. Text us at 913-214-8556 to enquire about registration for the 2027-2028 cohort. 

Free training if you qualify

Mid-America College of Health Sciences is currently not nationally accredited and not positioned to provide federal grants, loans, and work study programs. However, you may qualify for free dental assistant, medical assistant, Nurse Aide, Medication Aide, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician training if you meet the criteria for sponsorship.

Text 913-214-8556 to let us know your program of interest and learn more about sponsorship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our Practical Nurse program received initial approval by the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN). So you’ll find us on this KSBN page (we’re in the second column of the second page).

No. Prerequisite courses must be completed before taking core nursing courses. 

The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) may deny a license to practice as a practical nurse if the applicant has been convicted of a felony or guilty of a misdemeanor involving an illegal drug offense, unless the applicant can demonstrate sufficient rehabilitation to earn public trust. No license will be issued to individuals with a felony conviction of a crime against persons as specified in Article 34 of Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and Acts and Amendments. Additionally, the KSBN will consider patterns of practice and other behaviors indicating an apparent incapacity to practice nursing, as described in section 65-1120 of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. All criminal history must be disclosed to and will be evaluated by KSBN before a license is granted or denied. Please see Kansas Nurse Practice Act for full details. 

Mid-America College of Health Sciences is located in Kansas, and the above information does not reflect other states’ requirements. Applicants are responsible for checking with the Board of Nursing of the state in which they are requesting licensure.

The Mid-America College of Health Sciences (MACOHS) Practical Nurse (PN) program meets the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) requirements for a Practical Nurse license. It has not, however, been determined whether the program meets the state education requirements in any other State, US Territory, or District of Columbia.

Applicants are responsible for investigating requirements prior to accepting an offer of admission to MACOHS for the pre-licensure practical nursing program.

The licensure boards in each state establishes their own requirements for licensure or certification for their state. The state professional licensing boards will make decisions on whether an individual is eligible for license based on regulation in place at the time of application for licensure.

Please see the National Council State Board of Nursing website for more info on Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) | NCSBN.

Yes. You’re required to renew your license every 2 years in accordance with your states Board of Nursing requirements. 

The IV Therapy Certification/initial gets placed on Kansas licenses by KSBN between 7- 10 business days from the date of passing NCLEX-PN exam. 

The following pertains to our Missouri students:

(3) A practical nurse who is currently licensed to practice in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, who is an applicant for licensure by endorsement in Missouri, and is IV-Certified in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, or who has completed a venous access and intravenous infusion treatment modalities course in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, can obtain IV-Certification in Missouri by endorsement upon providing evidence of IV-Certification or completion of a venous access and intravenous infusion modalities course in another state or jurisdiction.

(A) Upon receipt of evidence of IV-Certification or completion of a venous access and intravenous infusion modalities course in another state or jurisdiction the board shall designate IV-Certification on the license record through the coordinated licensure information system.
(B) Upon confirmation of IV-Certification through the coordinated licensure information system, the individual may engage in practical nursing care acts involving venous access and intravenous infusion treatment modalities as specified in the provisions of section 335.016, RSMo, 20 CSR 2200-5.010, and this chapter.
(C) When all other licensure requirements are met, the license issued will state LPN IV-Certified.
This information is available here 

Legal Requirements for Licensure

Admission to the Mid-America College of Health Sciences Practical Nursing (PN) program does not guarantee graduation from the program. Graduation from the PN program does not guarantee eligibility to take the practical nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-PN).

What can prevent you from obtaining licensure?
The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) may deny a license to practice as a practical nurse if the applicant has been convicted of a felony or guilty of a misdemeanor involving an illegal drug offense, unless the applicant can demonstrate sufficient rehabilitation to earn public trust. No license will be issued to individuals with a felony conviction of a crime against persons as specified in Article 34 of Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and Acts and Amendments. Additionally, the KSBN will consider patterns of practice and other behaviors indicating an apparent incapacity to practice nursing, as described in section 65-1120 of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. All criminal history must be disclosed to and will be evaluated by KSBN before a license is granted or denied. Please see Kansas Nurse Practice Act for full details. 

Mid-America College of Health Sciences is located in Kansas, and the above information does not reflect other states’ requirements. Applicants are responsible for checking with the Board of Nursing of the state in which they are requesting licensure.
 
Licensure Disclosure Statement

The Mid-America College of Health Sciences (MACOHS) Practical Nurse (PN) program meets the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) requirements for a Practical Nurse license. It has not, however, been determined whether the program meets the state education requirements in any other State, US Territory, or District of Columbia.

Applicants are responsible for investigating requirements prior to accepting an offer of admission to MACOHS for the pre-licensure practical nursing program.

The licensure boards in each state establishes their own requirements for licensure or certification for their state. The state professional licensing boards will make decisions on whether an individual is eligible for license based on regulation in place at the time of application for licensure.

Please see the National Council State Board of Nursing website for more info on Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) | NCSBN.

Oral and Written English Proficiency

The goal of this policy is to ensure adequate proficiency in written and spoken English necessary for students to benefit from instruction and provide clear oral communication in the clinical area. This policy is intended to evaluate the oral and written English proficiency of applicants.

Mid-America College of Health Sciences uses the Elsevier HESI-A2 entrance exam to determine the oral and written English proficiency of Practical Nurse program applicants. The HESI-A2 assesses students’ academic strengths and identifies areas for improvement to ensure their success in their academic program.

It measures knowledge and skills in three key areas: English Language, Math, and Science. A composite percentage score is calculated by averaging the results of all completed exams. The English Language portion of the exam is comprised of three subject areas: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Vocabulary.

To validate proficiency of the English language, students must achieve a cumulative score of at least 60% on the English Language portion of the exam. Applicants failing to meet the minimum qualifications will be given an opportunity to retake the HESI-A2 exam twice within twelve months of taking it the first time.

Applicants scoring less than 60% on the English Language portion of the exam after the second attempt, will be recommended to purchase and study the Evolve Resources for Admissions Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition.

We also recommend applicants that fail to meet the English proficiency required take a basic English and Reading course at a local college. This will help to improve the applicants written and oral English proficiency prior to retaking the HESI-A2 entrance exam.

Generic & Transfer Students

Students entering the prelicensure Practical Nurse program at Mid-America College (MACOHS) and plan to complete the entire curriculum are defined as “Generic students” in accordance with the KSBN Nurse Practice Act. 

MACOHS does not accept credits or hours for core nursing courses from other institutions. Students may transfer existing credits for general education prerequisite courses from other institutions. The articulation policy and credit transfer policies can be found in the MACOHS PN program student handbook.

A maximum of nine (9) General Education transfer credits will be accepted toward the Practical Nurse Program. Students are required to submit official transcripts for prerequisite courses to the admissions office during enrollment.

Section 60-1-104 of the KSBN Nurse Practice defines generic student, transfer student, and articulation as:

“Generic student” means one who enters at the beginning of a prelicensure nursing program and plans to complete the entire curriculum.

“Transfer student” means one who is permitted to apply nursing courses completed at another institution to a nursing program of study.

“Articulation” means the process by which a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or mental health technician who is enrolled in a nursing program is given credit for previous education in nursing or mental health technology.

The KSBN Nursing Practice Act can be seen here.

Registration for the 2026-2027 cohort is closed. Text us at 913-214-8556 to enquire about registration for the 2027-2028 cohort. 

Happy New Year!

We wish you and your families a joyful, healthy, and prosperous 2026.

To our alumni, thank you for choosing us and allowing us to be part of your healthcare career journey. It has been a privilege to support your growth and celebrate your achievements.

To our current students, your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to your education continues to inspire us. Keep the momentum going – you are building a future filled with purpose and opportunities.

To our prospective students, we look forward to welcoming you in 2026. This is where “I can’t” becomes “I can.” If you are still exploring your career direction, we invite you to come in for a conversation. Together, we will create a clear strategy for your success.

To our staff, thank you for your professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Your leadership, teamwork, and daily dedication are the foundation that make our mission possible and our impact meaningful.

To our business and community partners, thank you for championing our shared mission to serve our communities. Your collaboration helps strengthen the workforce and address critical healthcare needs.

To our state agencies, we extend our sincere appreciation for your guidance, oversight, and partnership. Thank you for entrusting us with the opportunity to serve our communities and for your continued support in advancing quality education and workforce development.

Together, we move forward with purpose, possibilities, and a shared commitment.

Dr. Susan Omare