Skip to content

Practical Nursing Program

Follow Your Passion and Become a Nurse

Request Info

Request Information

Practical Nursing

PRACTICAL NURSING

The Practical Nursing Program at Sumner College can fast-track you to a new career as an LPN in just 13 months. If you are compassionate about others and want to make a difference in the field of healthcare, Sumner College may be the right choice for you.

What sets us apart? Let’s start with small class sizes, exceptional clinical opportunities, and employer partnerships that hire over 72% of our students at facilities where they complete their capstone clinical experience. Quarterly Career Fairs and our own Sumner College Medical Club allow students the opportunity to network with employers while attending school.

According to the Oregon State Board of Nursing, 47% of graduates sat for the NCLEX- PN in the state of Oregon in 2022 were Sumner College graduates.

We also provide every student in the program with a Lenovo laptop computer and the support services that foster student success. With a 97% retention rate for the current reporting year, we know what it takes to help that Dream of becoming a nurse a reality for our students.

Ready to take the next step? Download an Information Packet and contact us to set up a tour today!

Classes start every 10 weeks.

WHAT SETS US APART?

  • New Term Every 10 Weeks
  • 13 Month Program
  • 97% Program Retention
  • Over 100 Clinical Sites
  • 24 Students: Average Class Size

Our Program

PRACTICAL NURSING

Sumner College is committed to providing a strong foundation for our students who are committed to excellence and prepared to begin their journey in a career that provides professional growth and advancement opportunities, while truly making a difference in people’s lives.

Our program embraces the mission of delivering high quality instruction in classroom, skills lab, and clinical settings that ensure students are equipped with the knowledge needed to contribute to the profession and the health care needs of the community.

This program allows students the opportunity to enter into a nursing program without completing prerequisite courses, and term schedules are set up by the college to assure students who complete all of the required courses can graduate in just over a year.

The Practical Nursing Program at Sumner College is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) and the Department of Education. We are authorized by the Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) to award diplomas and degrees, and accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

If your Dream includes advancing your practice in the future, we’ve got options for you to consider.

Dream It. Do It. At Sumner College.

PROGRAM INFORMATION 

  • Application Fee: $50
  • Registration Fee: $100
  • Lab and Technology Fee: $2,600
  • Program Tuition: $30,578

Total Cost of Program: $33,328

Book an Accuplacer Exam:

Career Outlook

NURSING CAREER

The field of nursing is an occupation that has continued to grow on an annual basis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of licensed practical nurses is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018-2028, much faster than average for all occupations. As the baby-boomer population ages, the overall need for healthcare services is expected to rise. That age demographic, in addition to many procedures that could only be done at hospital are now being down outside of hospitals, creates a demand in other settings such as outpatient care centers.

The average median starting salary of our own graduates during the 2020-2021 reporting year was $56,100.

Where Grads Work

  • US Dept of Veteran’s Affairs
  • Sono Bello
  • Prestige Care
  • Avamere
  • Vibra Specialty Hospital
  • Fresenius Medical Care
  • Marquis Companies
  • Naphcare
  • Action Healthcare
  • Clackamas County Corrections
  • Columbia River Mental Health
  • Fort Vancouver Acute Care
  • Frontier Rehab & Extended Care
  • The Children’s Clinic
  • Vancouver Clinic
  • Beacon Bill Rehabilitation
  • Columbia Asthma & Allergy
  • Hampton and Ashley Inn
  • Brookdale Senior Living
  • Regency Gresham
  • Mirabella
  • Washougal School District
  • Cascade Park Care Center
  • Trilogy Home Center

To find out more about our program, download the Program in Nursing Information kit below and reserve a seat to attend an upcoming Information Session.

 

PN Program Info Packet

Why Sumner College

  • No prerequisites required to apply
  • Program designed to be completed in 13 months
  • Small lab classes provide individual attention and support
  • Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam
  • Program starts new cohorts every 10 weeks
  • Financial Aid for those who qualify
  • Hands-on program promotes strong critical thinking skills
  • Offering career-focused education since 1974
  • 97% Program Retention -2021-2022 reporting statistics annualized
  • Over 100 Clinical Sites offer a broad range of learning experiences
  • College grants awarded based on academics and attendance
  • Career Services Department assists in career placement after graduation

Traci F.

Traci F.

LPN | Charge Nurse & Preceptor

“...if somebody wants to make a career change but is hesitant, I would encourage them to GO FOR IT!”

Read Full Spotlight
Previous TestimonialNext Testimonial

Start Your Nursing Career in 2025!

🎄Enroll Now & Start Your Nursing Career in 2025! 🎄 As the holiday season approaches, there's no better time to give the gift of a

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

A Second Career in Nursing

It’s never too late to begin! Regardless of your stage in life, nursing is an excellent option. There is always a demand for dedicated nurses,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Average Nursing Salary in Oregon

Did you know? Nurses in Oregon make an average salary of about $114,694, or $55 an hour. In the Portland area this is about 264%

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

5 Nursing Trends Heading into 2025

In an ever changing career its important to know what may be coming your way. Here's 5 things to look for in theNew Year! The

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH | DECEMBER 2024

Congratulations Kymra for being the December 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Congratulations on your accomplishment!

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Continuing Your Education with a BSN

Many individuals enter the nursing profession driven by a desire to help others. As they gain experience, many seek to advance their careers to provide

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Sumner College! We are grateful to all of our students for entrusting us with taking their nursing dreams to reality.

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Upcoming Info Sessions

Looking for some more information on our programs? Join us for an info session! Our upcoming info sessions are all at 11am, November 26, December

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Why Become a Nurse?

A career in nursing offers one of the most exciting, rewarding, and dynamic paths in the healthcare field. With over 4 million registered nurses in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Welcome New Class Start November 18!

Happy first day, and welcome, to our newest class starting today, November 18! Thank you for choosing Sumner College to continue your educational career! Dream

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

What Are Clinicals?

If you have been researching nursing schools, you may have seen the word "Clinicals" before but not known what they are. Clinicals are a safe

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month | November 2024

Congratulations Olga for being the November 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Olga was inspired to join Sumner College's nursing school after hearing about

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month | October 2024

Congratulations Benjamin for being the October 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Benjamin is a compassionate nursing student who learned about Sumner College through

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Thank you, Veterans

Sumner College thanks and values our veterans on this honorable day. If you or someone you know has an interest in continuing education, please see

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing in the 21st Century

21st Century nursing is the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Paying for Nursing School- Scholarships

Sumner College understands that every student’s financial situation is unique. Our financial aid department can provide you with more information about Oregon financial aid options

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

How to Prepare for Nursing School

Nursing school can be intimidating, but here are some helpful tips for you to make the most of your time and studies. As always, feel

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Bend, Oregon, Our New Home!

In a recent article with the Bend Bulletin, our School President Joanna Russell shared how we are enrolling for February 24, 2025 at our newest

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

RN to BSN – Career Upgrade!

Here at Sumner College we offer a program for current Registered Nurses, to further their education in a flexible schooling style and get a Bachelors

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Niche Award!

Exciting news! Sumner Nursing College was recently ranked by Niche, listed as #1 in Best Value Colleges in Oregon, #1 in Best Value Colleges in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Check Out Our New Campus!

Welcome to our new campus in Bend, Oregon! We are excited to be welcoming the first BSN cohort February 24th, 2025. Stay tuned as we

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Upcoming Info Sessions

On the fence or have questions about starting your education at Sumner College? Check out our upcoming BSN Info Sessions! Available for on-campus in Portland

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

All About TEAS

If you're considering enrolling at Sumner College (or other nursing schools!) you will be required to take the TEAS Exam. This stands for Test of

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing School Study Tips

Nursing school is known to be extremely difficult, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself! NursingWorld.org suggests a few different things to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

$5,000 Education Award Available!

Exciting news! DiversityNursing.com is offering a $5,000 education award, with easy entry and no essays, why not enter for a chance to win $5,000 to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New Member Bend Chamber of Commerce

Sumner College is proud to share we are new members of the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon our official ribbon cutting and social

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Spirit Week!

Happy Spirit Week! Stop by the Lobby or Front Desk throughout the week to say hi and show some school spirit! Monday: Meal Prep and

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month | September 2024

Congratulations Kristina, for being the September 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kristina completed the LPN program from Sumner College and recently returned to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Virtual Tour: SIM Lab 202

Welcome to Sumner College! Before you head in to our Portland Campus take a virtual tour where you can see our Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulator,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New Campus Alert!

We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new additional campus location in Bend, Oregon! Conveniently located just around the corner from Bend's

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Dream It! Do It!® Request Info