Award: Certificate in Practical Nursing
No. of credits required: 9 credits of prerequisite courses and 27 credits of Practical Nursing core requirements. 
For more information: Visit http://www.harford.edu/academics/programs-courses/nursing.php or contact the Nursing office, 443-412-2246; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.   

Program Description

The Practical Nursing certificate program is a 12 month, 41-credit certificate program designed to provide both theory and clinical experience in nursing in which students learn to work as members of the health care team under the supervision of the registered nurse and to assist other licensed health care professionals.  The certificate prepares students for the licensure examination for practical nurses, and graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The program also provides opportunities to plan for career mobility through articulation with Harford Community College’s associate degree nursing program as well as other associate degree nursing programs in the state of Maryland. The Practical Nursing Certificate Nursing Program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. 

Program Goals

With the guidance of the Mission, Philosophy & Core Concepts, the graduate of the Practical Nursing Certificate Program at Harford Community College will: 

1. Practice nursing in a caring manner.
2. Collaborate with clients and other members of the health-care team.
3. Use the nursing process to contribute to the development of the nursing plan of care.
4. Demonstrate professional performance within legal, ethical, and regulatory standards of the Practical Nurse.
5. Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, use safe practices and processes to promote high quality outcomes.

Employment Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects growth for practical nurses as faster than average at 9%. BLS anticipates a need for 60,700 additional practical nurses this decade.  The median hourly wage of practical nurses in April 2022 was $23.11 per hour, and the annual median pay was $48,070. The Maryland Department of Labor projects that the annual growth rate for practical nurses in Harford County and the surrounding area to be 0.8% with a ten-year growth rate of 8.1%.    

Transfer Information

The program also provides opportunities to plan for career mobility through articulation with Harford Community College’s associate degree nursing program as well as other associate degree nursing programs in the state of Maryland. 

Certificate Requirements

Students earning a certificate from HCC must complete or demonstrate exemption from the following courses: ENG 003 Reading and Understanding College Textbooks and ENG 012 Basic Writing, or ENG 018 Integrated Reading and Writing, and MATH 020 Pre-Algebra I.  See graduation requirement details in this catalog for further information. 

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Credits
PN 101	Fundamentals of Practical Nursing	6
PN 103	Contemporary Practical Nursing	1
BIO 204	Anatomy and Physiology II (GL)	4
	Credits	11
Second Semester
PN 107	Medical-Surgical Practical Nursing 1	6
PN 111	Mental Health Practical Nursing	3
	Credits	9
Third Semester
PN 113	Maternity and Pediatric Practical Nursing	5
PN 117	Medical-Surgical Practical Nursing 2	6
	Credits	11
	Total Credits	31