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 →MarylandNursing
LPN to RN in Maryland: prerequisite checklist and time limits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
LPN to RN prerequisites in Maryland are set by each programme. Expect A&P I and II with labs, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, Psychology and English, with grade minimums and science time limits; UMSON and Towson use 10 years. Check each item against your school's sheet and ask in writing before you take any course online.
Who sets the rules for an LPN to RN move
The Maryland Board of Nursing approves nursing education programmes under COMAR 10.27.03 and licenses nurses. It does not publish one prerequisite list. Each community college and university decides what an LPN must complete before an RN or BSN programme, including any advanced-placement route for LPNs.
Prerequisite checklist
Use this as a working list and tick each item against your own programme's sheet.
- Anatomy and Physiology I with lab
- Anatomy and Physiology II with lab
- Microbiology with lab (not offered by UPI Study)
- Chemistry with lab
- Statistics or college math
- Introduction to Psychology
- English Composition
- Human growth and development and Nutrition on some lists (not offered by UPI Study)
- An entrance test such as the TEAS where the school uses one
Time limits on sciences
Time limits are the item LPNs most often miss, because their A&P may date from their LPN course years ago.
| School | Time limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland School of Nursing | Chemistry, Microbiology, A&P I and II within the last 10 years | Waived for actively licensed nurses; ask whether an LPN licence counts |
| Towson University (BSN) | Science and math prerequisites within 10 years of applying | C or higher, no more than two attempts |
| Community colleges | Set by each college | Check the current nursing admissions page |
Grades, repeats and timing
Towson asks for a C or higher in each prerequisite, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and no more than two attempts at any prerequisite. That repeat rule makes it worth choosing a format you can finish well the first time. UMSON says all prerequisites must be finished before the programme starts, so count back from the start date, not the application date.
A simple timeline working back from the start date
Write down the programme's start date and the application deadline, then work backwards. Leave time for the school to answer your email, for each course, and for transcripts to arrive. Transcripts sent late are one of the most common reasons an otherwise complete application is held.
If you need several sciences, take them one or two at a time so your grades stay strong, since Towson counts repeats and every school looks at the grade. Put the course that the most schools ask for, usually A&P I with lab, first.
- Start date and deadline on your calendar
- Email to admissions sent and answered
- Each course started and finished
- Transcript ordered and received
Where online courses can fit, and what to ask
If your programme agrees in writing, an LPN could use UPI Study's A&P I and II with labs, Chemistry with lab, Statistics and Psychology. A&P carries an NCCRS recommendation only. Ask admissions: would this named course meet this named prerequisite via a college transcript, and does the online lab count? Without a yes, take that course at a Maryland community college, where CCBC county residents pay $124 per credit hour for 2026-27.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your Maryland nursing programme's admissions office in writing whether each named UPI Study course, including any online lab, would meet a listed prerequisite via a college 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
does my lpn licence waive the science time limit in maryland
It depends on the school. UMSON waives its 10-year limit for actively licensed nurses, and you should ask whether that includes an LPN licence. Other programmes may not waive it at all, so get the answer in writing from admissions.
how long does lpn to rn take in maryland
It depends on the programme and on how many prerequisites you still need. Finishing outstanding sciences first, with the school's written approval of each course, keeps the programme itself on its published schedule.
can an lpn skip anatomy and physiology for an rn programme
Rarely. Most Maryland RN programmes list A&P I and II with labs, and a time limit may mean an old course no longer counts. Ask admissions whether your LPN-era A&P is still inside their limit before you retake it.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Chemistry Lab
Self-paced online Chemistry Lab course (CHEM 111L). NCCRS recommends 1 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Ask your programme in writing first, then take A&P I and II with labs, Chemistry and Statistics at your own pace.
Sources
- Maryland Board of Nursing: Nursing Education (official)The Board approves and lists Maryland nursing education programmes under COMAR 10.27.03; prerequisite lists are published by each school, not by the Board. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- University of Maryland School of Nursing: Admissions Policies and FAQs (official)Chemistry, Microbiology and A&P I and II must be completed within the last 10 years (waived for actively licensed nurses); online courses must include a lab component, which can also be completed online; CLEP, AP or IB scores may meet prerequisites; ACE and NCCRS are not mentioned. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Towson University catalog: Department of Nursing (official)BSN applicants need a C or higher in every nursing prerequisite, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, science and math prerequisites within 10 years, no more than two repeats of a prerequisite, and a TEAS score of Proficient or higher. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Community College of Baltimore County: Tuition and Fees (official)Baltimore County residents pay $124 per credit hour (academic year 2026-27), the same rate online, in person or hybrid; other Maryland residents pay $246. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.