NPC’s high-quality, two-year, accredited Registered Nurse (RN) program prepares you to take the Arizona RN examination and excel in the exciting field of professional nursing. Through hands-on experiences working in the classroom, clinicals, and the community, you will receive the education you need to achieve your career goals in the healing profession.
Our holistically-oriented faculty members are careful to provide you with planned experiences and individualized, up-to-date evidence-based instruction. Best of all, your nursing education costs a fraction of what you would pay for comparable nursing programs available elsewhere in Arizona. At NPC you will:
- Be a part of nursing classes small enough that you can take advantage of personal tutoring and help from our highly experienced instructors.
- Choose a nursing program that has nearly all nursing graduates finding employment within six months of graduation!
- Pursue a nursing degree that provides both hands-on labs and clinical experience every semester to gain the practical real-world skills you need to succeed as a nurse.
Students must apply to be admitted into the NPC Nursing program. BEFORE you can be accepted, you must complete certain prerequisite courses (see entry requirements below). Admission to NPC does NOT guarantee admission to the Nursing program.
- For more information about this program, please contact an NPC Academic Advisor. Also, see the current NPC College Catalog and class schedule.
Labs and Classrooms
Required general education courses are offered at all NPC locations. Nursing classes are only offered at the Show Low and Winslow campuses. The LPN to RN and Paramedic to RN Bridge courses are only available at the Show Low campus.
Entry Requirements
1. Applicants must hold a current Arizona Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license.
2. The following prerequisite courses are required BEFORE Nursing program admission and must be completed with a “C” grade or better before July 1 of the admission application year. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is recommended.
- BIO 181 - General Biology I
- BIO 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 202 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 205 - Microbiology
- CHM 130 - Fundamental Chemistry
- ENL 101 - College Composition I
- MATH: Next Gen. ACCUPLACER QAS score of 250+; Classic ACCUPLACER Elem. Algebra score of 57+; ASSET Elem. Algebra score of 41+; COMPASS Algebra score 46+; or ACT Math score of 21; OR completion of MAT 142 or higher with a “C” or better within one year before application to the nursing program.
College credits more than eight years old may be accepted with appropriate documentation and approval. See an NPC academic advisor for details.
3. NPC strongly recommends that you also complete the following general education requirements BEFORE applying to the Nursing program:
- ENL 102 - College Composition II
- PSY 240 - Developmental Psychology
- PLUS, one of the following: ANT 102 - Cultural Anthropology –OR– SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
4. Applications and Information: (PDFs)
- Admission Packet (PDF)
- Nursing Program Application (PDF)
- Nursing Student Handbook (PDF)
Already have your LPN License?
If you have already earned your LPN, either from NPC or from another institution and you wish to return to college to gain your RN credential, you first need to complete an LPN-RN Transition Application. Additional details are available by contacting the NPC Nursing Department. *Note: the LPN to RN Bridge course is only available at the Show Low campus.
Already have your Paramedic License?
If you have already earned your Paramedic License, either from NPC or from another institution and you wish to return to college to gain your RN credential, you first need to complete a Paramedic-RN Transition Application. Additional details are available by contacting the NPC Nursing Department. *Note: the Paramedic to RN Bridge course is only available at the Show Low campus.
- Paramedic to RN Application Packet (PDF)
5. Program Costs: (PDFs)
- LPN to RN in State (PDF)
- LPN to RN Navajo County (PDF)
- LNA to RN in State (PDF)
- LNA to RN Navajo County (PDF)
- Paramedic to RN in State (PDF)
- Paramedic to RN Navajo County (PDF)
See HESI Admission Test information & dates.
Work Environment
Registered Nursing is the largest healthcare occupation. Registered Nurses work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services and nursing care facilities. Others work in schools, outpatient clinics or serve in the military. Home health and public health nurses travel to patients’ homes, schools, community centers and other sites.
Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 6% between 2022 and 2032. Job opportunities for Registered Nurses are expected to be good. However, the supply of new nurses entering the labor market has increased in recent years. This increase has resulted in competition for jobs in some areas of the country.
Generally, Registered Nurses with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than those without it. Employers also may prefer candidates who have some related work experience.
Job opportunities should be good because of the need to replace workers who retire over the coming decade and because of the growing number of people with access to healthcare services.
Potential Job Titles
Accreditation/Affiliations
The Associate Degree nursing program at Northland Pioneer College is accredited by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs
Articulations
Bachelor's of Science in Nursing
After you complete your AAS degree in nursing at NPC you can easily transfer to Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University or Grand Canyon University to finish a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), if desired. We work with you every step of the way to make transferring easy.
Student Outcomes
NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate
- January 2024 – December 2024: 100%
- January 2023 – December 2023: 97%
- January 2022 – December 2022: 92%
- January 2021 – December 2021: 90%
On-Time Graduation Rate
- 2024 Graduates – 78%
- 2023 Graduates – 79%
- 2022 Graduates – 73%
- 2021 Graduates – 79%
Job Placement Rate
- May 2024 Graduates* – 94%(94% response rate)
- May 2023 Graduates* – 97% (100% response rate)
- May 2022 Graduates* – 92%(95% response rate)
- May 2021 Graduates* – 95%(93% response rate)
Contact Information
1001 W. Deuce of Clubs
Ponderosa Center, Nursing Offices
Show Low,
AZ 85901
Northland Pioneer College
Northland Pioneer College
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