If you’re planning on attending nursing school, there are quite a few prerequisites you will need to take.
As it is a science-centric degree, you can expect science and math classes, as well as supplemental nutritional classes and psychology.
Here’s everything you need to know about your LPN prerequisites.
*Disclosure: This article on What Prerequisites do I Need for LPN School may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. For more info, please see my disclaimer.
What Prerequisites Do I Need for LPN School?
In general, you will need science courses such as biology, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. Chemistry and pathophysiology will be covered here as a reference, but you will need to check with your school to find out if they require these courses as often times they aren’t needed for LPN school.
In addition to these, many programs require basic psychology as well as developmental psychology and nutritional classes.
Find LPN/LVN Programs Near You
Use our school search to find schools and get information on the programs that’s right for you. (Don’t worry it’s fast and free!)
LPN Prerequisites
Before you read this list, it’s important to take a deep breath and try not to get overwhelmed. All of these classes are completely doable and you can make it through!
Biology
Biology is, simply put, the study of life! In this class, you can expect to learn about cell theory, plants, the scientific method, and how cellular respiration works. A good tip for this class is to make sure to take good notes and record lectures if possible.
Anatomy
In this class, you will learn the physical location of various parts of the body, as well as be able to identify different layers of the skin, brain, etc. There are tons of anatomy flashcards you can make and many schools have different organs and fake skeletons you can look at to help you study.
- 300 anatomically precise illustrations, clearly labeled and in full color
- 10 interactive anatomical coloring cards
- Detailed description on the reverse side of each card
Physiology
Oftentimes, schools will combine anatomy and physiology into two semesters, so you might have Anatomy and Physiology 1 and then Anatomy and Physiology 2. Either way, physiology is the study of how the body functions. It can be a very demanding class that can take a lot of time, so plan accordingly!
Microbiology
If you love microscopes and germs, the video below is going to be a fun class for you! This class covers life cycles of various organisms and will require you to be able to identify these organisms.
Many classes also require you to find an “unknown”. With this, your professor will give you an organism and throughout the semester, you will complete various tests to try and determine what exactly your unknown is.
Chemistry
This is a fun one! Chemistry is the study of atoms, molecules, and how they all work together. You can expect to learn the periodic table of the elements (so it might help to start brushing up on this before your class starts) and complete various experiments throughout the semester.
Pathophysiology
Once you have understood how the body works in physiology, it’s time to learn how it works when things go wrong. Pathophysiology covers disease processes and is very course-heavy, so make sure you get a good study group in place right from the get-go!
Psychology
This is a fascinating class for most people, and is relatively light compared to the science classes. Psychology studies how the human mind works and why we behave the way that we do.
Developmental Psychology
Similar to basic psychology, developmental psychology follows the human lifespan from birth to death. This class covers various milestones and what to expect from both typical and atypical individuals as they develop throughout life.
Find LPN/LVN Programs Near You
Use our school search to find schools and get information on the programs that’s right for you. (Don’t worry it’s fast and free!)
Nutrition
The last course on our list? Nutrition! This class covers the nutrients and foods that your body needs to function optimally, and what happens to the body when you aren’t meeting these needs.
Again, this may seem like a lot to take in, but you can make it through! There are plenty of study tips online, and forming study groups can also help you get through these LPN prerequisites
Find an LPN or LVN Nursing Program Near You.
Final Thoughts
Are you about to start your prerequisites for nursing school or have you already completed them? How’d it go? Let us know in the comments and give your best study tips for other students to use!
Thanks for sharing the information regarding the Prerequisites for LPN school. Keep Posting. Next time please also share valuable content about How to become a licensed practical nurse.
Glad you liked the article.