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.
See the course →IowaNursing
LPN to RN in Iowa: prerequisite checklist and time limits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
For LPN to RN in Iowa at DMACC, you need a current LPN license, a B or higher in A&P I, A&P II and Developmental Psychology, a C or higher in Statistics and Composition I, and an ATI score. DMACC recommends science courses from the last five years. Courses must be taken for college credit and evaluated from official transcripts.
DMACC's advanced standing checklist
DMACC's LPN-to-RN route lets current LPNs enter the RN year of its ladder. The checklist, updated April 2026, lists:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| License | Current LPN license |
| Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 168) | B or higher, or equivalent |
| Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 173) | B or higher, or equivalent |
| Developmental Psychology (PSY 121) | B or higher, or equivalent |
| Statistics (MAT 156) | C or higher, or equivalent |
| Composition I (ENG 105) | C or higher, or equivalent |
| Test | ATI PN Predictor 92% or higher, or ATI TEAS composite 65% |
Time limits
DMACC's checklist says it is recommended that science courses be taken within the last five years. That is a recommendation, not a fixed cut-off, so ask the admissions office how it treats older A&P. Once you are in the ladder, DMACC's manual says the associate degree must be conferred within five years from the start of the plan of study.
Other Iowa programmes set their own limits. Ask each one directly.
Which courses UPI Study can help with
These are the courses to ask DMACC about before you enrol:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II, each with a lab (NCCRS: 3 + 2 credits each).
- Principles of Statistics (ACE and NCCRS).
- English Composition 1 (NCCRS).
What you must take elsewhere
UPI Study does not offer Developmental Psychology, so DMACC's PSY 121 has to come from a college. UPI Study also has no Microbiology, Nutrition, Lifespan Psychology, Organic Chemistry or Pharmacology. None of this replaces your LPN license, the ATI test or clinical work in the RN year.
Plan the B grades carefully. If you take A&P anywhere, aim well above the minimum so a single test does not push you under.
Steps in order
Attend DMACC's nursing information session and apply for the Nursing-Advanced Standing AAS. Ask admissions in writing whether each outside course you plan will count as equivalent, and whether an online lab is acceptable. Take only the courses they agree to and move them via a college transcript; TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Send official transcripts for transfer evaluation, take the test, and you go on the standby list once every item is met.
DMACC notes that courses may still be in progress when you apply, so you do not need every grade in hand before you start the application. You also do not have to be enrolled at DMACC to keep your place on the standby list. Seats are filled as they open, which is why getting your transcripts and test score in early matters more than any single course.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your nursing programme's admissions or transfer office in writing which courses it will count, at what grade and from which transcript, 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 grade do i need in a&p for dmacc lpn to rn
A B or higher in A&P I and A&P II, or their equivalents, according to DMACC's advanced standing checklist. Developmental Psychology also needs a B. Statistics and Composition I need a C or higher.
do my science courses expire for lpn to rn in iowa
At DMACC it is recommended that science courses be taken within the last five years. Ask admissions how it treats older courses. Other Iowa programmes set their own limits, so check each one.
what test do i need for dmacc lpn to rn
Either an ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor score of 92% or higher, or an ATI TEAS composite score of 65% taken in person at a DMACC testing center, according to the April 2026 checklist.
how long does dmacc lpn to rn take
The RN year is two terms, 3 and 4 of the ladder. Seats depend on availability: DMACC places qualified applicants on standby and admits them four to six months before each cohort starts.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Anatomy and Physiology 2
Self-paced online Anatomy and Physiology 2 course (Biology 212). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Principles of Statistics
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Take only the courses your programme has agreed to in writing, then move them via a college transcript.
Sources
- DMACC Nursing Student Policy Manual, Ladder Program 2026-2027 (official)Entry requirements: BIO 168 Anatomy & Physiology I (4), BIO 173 Anatomy & Physiology II (4), PSY 121 Developmental Psychology (3), ENG 105 Composition I (3); MAT 156 Statistics co-requisite; grade of C (not C-) in all support courses; transfer credits approved by the Credentials office and recorded on the transcript before the term; AAS within five years of starting PNN 108; 65 program credits. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- DMACC Advanced Standing (LPN to RN) Nursing Program Application Checklist (updated 16 Apr 2026) (official)Current LPN license; B or higher in A&P I, A&P II and Developmental Psychology or equivalents; C or higher in Statistics and Composition I; courses taken for college credit; science courses recommended within the last five years; official transcripts for transfer evaluation; ATI PN Predictor 92% or ATI TEAS composite 65%. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.