LPN-RN Pathway
If you're already a Licensed Practical Nurse, the LPN-RN pathway gives you advanced placement into Shawnee State's Associate Degree in Nursing — so you keep working in the field you know while finishing your RN in fewer semesters
Program Overview
Already an LPN? Take the next step in your nursing journey with Shawnee State University’s LPN-RN Pathway. Designed for working professionals, this program provides licensed practical nurses with advanced placement into our Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. You’ll receive credit for prior learning, with the opportunity to jump directly into second-semester coursework as a result of passing certain courses, accelerating your path to becoming a registered nurse.
At Shawnee State, your experience matters. Our LPN-RN Pathway honors the clinical knowledge you’ve already gained and builds on it with rigorous, hands-on training from expert faculty. Our program is known for its supportive learning environment, close-knit classes, and commitment to student success. You’ll study in labs and clinical settings that mirror real-world conditions, preparing you to meet today’s healthcare demands head-on.
We believe that access to education should lead to opportunity. Shawnee State has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as an Opportunity College, one of only two public universities in Ohio to earn this distinction. Combined with our low tuition, dedicated advising, and nursing scholarships—including awards up to full tuition—you can achieve your goals without unnecessary barriers.
If you’re ready to grow in your career, we’re ready to support you every step of the way. With a valid, active LPN license and completion of a few key general education courses, you can apply for advanced placement today and begin preparing for the RN role you were made for.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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Send Admissions your ACT/SAT scores
If you have a copy of your report, email it to admissions@shawnee.edu. Your high school counselor may also be able to include your ACT/SAT score on your transcript. You may also contact ACT or College Board to have your scores officially sent to Shawnee State. If you listed Shawnee State at the time that you took your test, we will receive your scores automatically.
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Submit the Selective Admission Application
Submit before the deadline to be considered.
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
Admission Requirements
- Official high school or GED test score transcript (along with partial high school transcript), and official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Official transcript from LPN Program
- Achieve an SSU English Placement score or transfer credit equivalent in ENGL 1101 or 1201 and an SSU Math Placement score or transfer credit equivalent in STAT 1150 or 1150A
- Grade C or greater in AHNR 1197, BIOL 1130, and PSYC 1101
- Possess a valid, active, non-restricted LPN license
Contact
Selective Admissions Team
Phone: (740) 351-3187
Email: chhs@shawnee.edu
Schedule an advising appointment
Dr. Kimberley Dinsey-Read
Title: Director, School of Nursing
Email: kdinseyread@shawnee.edu
Phone: (740) 351-3446
At A Glance
LPN-RN Pathway
Degree
A.D.N.
Format
On campus, full-time, cohort
Length
3 semesters (enters in second semester of the ADN)
Class Size
12:1
Location
Main Campus, Health Sciences Building
Why Study LPN-RN Pathway at Shawnee University
Your LPN experience counts. With AHNR 1197, BIOL 1130, and PSYC 1101 complete (each at a C or better), you can enter the ADN in the second semester rather than starting over.
Small cohorts and faculty who've practiced in the field — they'll build on what you already know rather than teach around it.
Clinical placements at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health, the same hospitals that hire many of our graduates.
Accredited by ACEN and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, so your degree leads directly to NCLEX-RN eligibility.
Shawnee State is one of two public universities in Ohio designated an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation.. Paired with affordable tuition and scholarships up to full tuition for qualifying students.
Once you've met the entry requirements as an LPN, you'll join the ADN cohort in its second semester. The remaining coursework focuses on adult, maternal-child, and mental health nursing, plus the transition into the RN scope of practice.
- AHNR 1197 — Transition to Registered Nursing (entry requirement)
- BIOL 1130 — Principles of Anatomy & Physiology (entry requirement)
- PSYC 1101 — Introduction to Psychology (entry requirement)
- Adult health, maternal-child, and mental health nursing
- Pharmacology and pathophysiology
- Clinical rotations and NCLEX-RN preparation
You'll spend significant time in clinical rotations at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health, applying nursing concepts under the supervision of practicing nurses and faculty. The settings are real and the patients are real — and that experience is what turns LPNs into confident, decision-making RNs.
By graduation, you'll be able to:
- Provide safe, patient-centered care as part of an interprofessional team
- Use clinical judgment to manage patient care across the lifespan
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, and care teams
- Demonstrate accountability and professional behavior consistent with the RN role
- Sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam
On campus in the Health Sciences Building, with clinical placements at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health.
Graduates step into RN roles in:
- Acute-care hospitals
- Long-term care and skilled nursing facilities
- Outpatient clinics and physician offices
- Home health and community care
- Specialty units such as ED, ICU, and med-surg
Many graduates continue on to a BSN through Shawnee State's online RN-BSN pathway.
Free Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State's tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
See if you Qualify for Free Tuition
Ohio students can apply to receive a $1,500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted.
Learn More about Choose Ohio FirstLPN-RN Pathway Frequently Asked Questions
You'll need an active, unrestricted LPN license, plus AHNR 1197, BIOL 1130, and PSYC 1101 each completed with a C or better. Other GPA and prerequisite requirements are listed on the program's admissions page.
Most LPN-RN students complete the program in three semesters, entering the ADN cohort in its second semester.
You'll have access to expert nursing faculty, academic advising, tutoring, and career planning support throughout the program.
Many students keep a part-time job, but the clinical and academic load is heavy. We recommend limiting work hours so you can focus on coursework and clinicals.
Program Handbook
Refer to the most current Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook on the School of Nursing site for policies, clinical procedures, and academic requirements.
For more information, view the Nursing Associate Degree FAQs Page
Accreditation
The LPN-RN pathway is part of Shawnee State's Associate Degree in Nursing, which is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Shawnee State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
