Overview
Eligible Program
The two-year online Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) diploma program at Mitchell Tech prepares graduates to enter the nursing profession as practical nurses while staying connected to the communities they call home. This part-time pathway combines online nursing and general education coursework with in-person learning experiences, helping students balance their education with work and family responsibilities.
The program focuses on the art and science of nursing through flexible online coursework and hands-on clinical, lab, and simulation experiences through regional healthcare partnerships closer to home. Under the guidance of nursing faculty, students apply nursing theory and critical thinking skills to patient care situations, developing the clinical judgment, practical skills, and confidence needed to provide compassionate care.
NCLEX preparation is integrated throughout the program, and students receive personalized support from faculty and local healthcare partners invested in their success. Graduates are prepared to begin their practical nursing careers, with opportunities to continue their nursing education.
Graduates find employment in a variety of healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities, home health care agencies, state and federal correctional facilities, private duty nursing, clinics, and acute care settings.
Learn more about Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) as a career.
Curriculum
Award: Diploma
First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester
Requirements
Admission Into Mitchell Tech
- Complete admission application
- Have a high school transcript sent to Mitchell Tech
- If you previously attended college and you have college or technical school transcripts, please arrange to have those transcripts sent to Mitchell Tech
- Scores from schools or agencies for any of the following tests you have taken: ACT or Accuplacer
- If above testing was not completed or scores do not meet program standards, the student must complete an admissions test at Mitchell Tech (no charge for this test)
Admissions Requirements For LPN
| 1. | ACT score of 18 or above in all sections or ACCUPLACER equivalent(s); |
| 2. | High school or college cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above; and |
| 3. | TEAS Exam composite score of 62% or above |
Next Steps For Accepted Students
Once you have been formally accepted into the LPN program, you will be required to perform several tasks.
- Submission of your immunization record with documentation of all required immunizations (at your expense)
- Complete a criminal background check (at your expense)
- Undergo a student physical (at your expense)
- Present proof that you carry health insurance (at your expense)
- Provide proof of a minimum of 120 hours of direct patient care (i.e. CNA, patient care tech, nurses aid, etc.)
- Complete required documents provided to you by program administrator
Licensure Disclosure
Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN and be licensed as an LPN in South Dakota. Students who are not South Dakota residents or South Dakota residents who are seeking employment outside South Dakota should contact that state’s Board of Nursing for any additional requirements (Board of Nursing Professional Licensure Requirements | NCSBN).
*Inquiries and questions may be directed to the South Dakota Board of Nursing or MTC Nursing Program Director.
Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
Mitchell Technical College has made no determination that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
South Dakota is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows a nurse that is licensed and residing in South Dakota to be able to practice in other compact states without obtaining additional licensure. This compact gives multistate rights to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses residing in a member state. The South Dakota Board of Nursing and National Council State Boards of Nursing provides additional details about the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Computer Requirements
This program allows you to bring your own laptop as long as it meets these minimum specifications:
Processor – Intel Core i Series (i3, i5, i7) or AMD Ryzen
Operating System – Windows 10
Webcam Recommended
Memory – 4 GB or more
Internal Storage – 64 GB or more
Microsoft Office is available at no charge as long as enrolled at Mitchell Tech
NO APPLE/MAC COMPUTERS
Accreditation
The Mitchell Tech Licensed Practical Nursing program has been granted Full Approval by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON).
For further information regarding the program’s status with SDBON, please contact:
Dr. Carena Jarding, DNP, RN
Nursing Program Director
Mitchell Technical College
1800 E. Spruce St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
605.995.7148
| Licensure exam rates for Licensed Practical Nursing program graduates National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing | |||
| Exam Year | First-time Candidates | Passing | Percentage Passing |
| 2020 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
| 2021 | 24 | 24 | 100% |
| 2022 | 23 | 22 | 96% |
| 2023 | 18 | 18 | 100% |
| 2024 | 16 | 16 | 100% |
| 2025 | 21 | 21 | 100% |
| Completion rate for Licensed Practical Nursing program | |||
| Cohort Year | Number Beginning Program | Number Graduating in 150% of Normal Time to Graduate | Completion Rate |
| 2019-20 | 29 | 17 | 59% |
| 2020-21 | 37 | 25 | 68% |
| 2021-22 | 33 | 22 | 67% |
| 2022-23 | 30 | 18 | 60% |
| 2023-24 | 25 | 16 | 64% |
| 2024-25 | 38 | 22 | 58% |
| Placement rate for Licensed Practical Nursing program graduates | |||
| Year Graduated | Number Responding Graduates | Number Employed or Continuing Ed within 6 Months of Graduation | Placement Rate |
| 2020 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
| 2021 | 23 | 23 | 100% |
| 2022 | 19 | 19 | 100% |
| 2023 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
| 2024 | 21 | 21 | 100% |
| 2025 | 22 | 22 | 100% |
Outcomes
- Demonstrate effective therapeutic communication to foster collaborative inter-professional teamwork and safe patient care across the lifespan.
- Integrate professional nursing standards, clinical judgment, code of ethics, and accountability with one’s own nursing practice.
- Demonstrate competence of nursing skills while providing culturally sensitive relationship-centered patient care.
- Provide thorough assessment, observation, monitoring, and reporting of patient health status.
- Demonstrate the ability to prioritize and implement patient care for multiple patients using technology and evidence-based practice under the direct supervision of the registered nurse.
- Incorporate physical and psychosocial assessment data into creating and revising patient’s plan of care in collaboration with the registered nurse.
Annual Program Review
Check out the 2025-26 Annual Program Review for information on how faculty ensure the quality and effectiveness of the program.
Faculty
Nursing Instructional Technician
Instructor
Instructor
Program Coordinator
Assistant Program Director
Cost
Other Required Costs
Books / Tools (estimated) $218
Scholarships
Mitchell Tech offers a variety of scholarships to qualified applicants. The application period runs from October 1 through November 1 for current students and January 1 through March 31 for incoming students.
Other Related Programs
If you’re interested in Licensed Practical Nursing, you might also be interested in these other health science programs at Mitchell Tech.
Social Services
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Radiologic Technology
Registered Nursing (LPN to RN)
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
