Anatomy and Physiology I
Self-paced online Anatomy and Physiology I course (Biology 211). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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LPN to RN in Colorado: prerequisite checklist and time limits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
LPN to RN in Colorado starts with the same prerequisites as the associate degree in nursing. At Front Range Community College that means Biology Foundations, A&P I with lab, English Composition, Human Growth and Development, then Microbiology with lab and Nutrition, each at C or higher, with sciences within 10 years. Check your own programme's list first.
The prerequisite checklist
Use FRCC's published list as a starting point, then swap in your own programme's list. FRCC splits courses into those finished before you apply and those that may still be in progress.
| Course | When at FRCC | UPI Study option |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Foundations | Before applying | Intro to Biology 1 (ask first) |
| A&P I with lab | Before applying | A&P I and A&P I Lab (NCCRS-recommended; ask first) |
| English Composition I or II | Before applying | English Composition 1 or 2 |
| Human Growth and Development | Before applying | None |
| Microbiology with lab | May be in progress | None |
| Nutrition | May be in progress | None |
Time limits on science courses
FRCC requires every science prerequisite to be completed no more than 10 years before admission. It also counts only the first two attempts at a course.
If your LPN programme was long ago, your anatomy course may be past the limit. Check the date on your transcript against the admission term, not the application date.
- List each science course with the term you finished it
- Count back from your admission term
- Plan to retake any course outside the window
Grades, GPA and the entrance exam
FRCC wants a C or higher in each prerequisite and a 3.0 GPA across them. Because only the first two attempts count, a weak first grade leaves one more chance, so plan the retake with care.
There is also the HESI A2 exam with an 80 percent average across its sections. Plan study time for it alongside any course you retake.
Getting outside credit onto the right transcript
FRCC requires transfer credit to be visible on its own transcript when you apply. Evaluation can take up to 30 days after the registrar has the official transcript and the transfer form.
For a course from UPI Study, that means two steps: a college such as TESU or UoPeople posts the credit on its transcript, then FRCC evaluates that transcript. Start early, and ask FRCC in writing whether it would take the course before you begin.
A simple plan for the next six months
Start with the dates. Pick your target admission term, then count back to the application deadline and the date your transfer credit must show on the programme's transcript. At FRCC that is before you apply, and evaluation can take up to 30 days.
Next, sort your list into three groups: courses already done and inside the time limit, courses done but too old, and courses not yet taken. Retakes and new science courses with labs usually go to a community college. General education such as English Composition can come from wherever your programme has agreed to in writing.
Finally, book the HESI A2 for a date after your hardest science course, so the material is fresh. Keep a single sheet with each course, its grade, its term, and the written answer you got about it.
- Month 1: get the programme list and send your questions in writing
- Months 1-4: take or retake the courses you have a yes for
- Month 4: send official transcripts for evaluation
- Month 5: sit the HESI A2
- Month 6: apply with every course already posted
Where the LPN license helps
Some Colorado programmes have an advanced placement or bridge option for licensed practical nurses that shortens the nursing sequence. Your LPN license is a nursing credential; the prerequisites above are separate academic courses. Ask your programme about its LPN pathway, its own list, and its deadlines.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your Colorado nursing programme in writing, course by course, whether it would take each UPI Study course via a college transcript, including any online lab, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
What is the time limit for science prerequisites in Colorado LPN to RN programmes?
It varies. Front Range Community College requires science prerequisites to be completed no more than 10 years before admission, counting only the first two attempts. Other programmes set their own window, so check the current page for your programme and admission term.
Can I take Microbiology online for a Colorado LPN to RN programme?
UPI Study does not offer Microbiology. If you find an online microbiology course elsewhere, ask your programme in writing whether it takes that course and its lab before you enrol; many programmes want the lab in person.
What grade do I need in nursing prerequisites at FRCC?
FRCC asks for a C or higher in each prerequisite and a minimum 3.0 GPA across them, and it counts only the first two attempts at a course. Check the current admissions page for your term, because these rules can change from one cycle to the next.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Intro to Biology 1
Self-paced online Intro to Biology 1 course (Biology 100). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Get your programme's written answer first, then start with Statistics, Psychology and English.
Sources
- Front Range Community College: Westminster nursing associate degree admissions (official)Prerequisites BIO1010, BIO2101 A&P I with lab, ENG1021 or 1022, PSY2440; BIO2104 Microbiology with lab and a nutrition course may be in progress; C or higher and 3.0 GPA; sciences within 10 years; transfer courses must already show on the FRCC transcript. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- CU Anschutz College of Nursing: CU Bridge nursing bachelor's admissions (official)Traditional BS pathway lists anatomy, physiology, microbiology, statistics, general chemistry, psychology, developmental psychology, nutrition and more; one science lecture needs a lab; C or better; most courses taken at CU Denver, up to 9 prerequisite credits transferred in. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.