Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
Self-paced online Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab course (Biology 212L). NCCRS recommends 2 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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LPN to RN in North Dakota: prerequisite checklist and time limits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
For LPN to RN in North Dakota, NDSCS's AAS lists A&P I and II with labs, Microbiology with lab, Nutrition, Developmental Psychology and an English or communication elective, each at C or higher, plus a 2.25 cumulative GPA and an active LPN licence. Some programmes set time limits on sciences. Each programme decides what transfer credit it takes.
The NDSCS checklist
NDSCS publishes one of the clearest LPN to RN prerequisite lists in the state. The table shows its prerequisite and general education courses. The 14 LPN transfer credits bring the subtotal to 35, and the full degree is 61 credits.
| Course | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology I with lab | BIOL 220 and 220L | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology II with lab | BIOL 221 and 221L | 4 |
| Concepts of Microbiology with lab | MICR 202 and 202L | 4 |
| Principles of Nutrition | NUTR 240 | 3 |
| Developmental Psychology | PSYC 250 | 3 |
| English or communication elective | 3 |
Admission rules beyond the courses
NDSCS asks for an active, unencumbered LPN licence and graduation from a board-approved practical nursing programme. Prerequisites need a C or higher and the cumulative GPA must be at least 2.25. Applicants with less than two years of LPN experience take a selection exam; those with more can send an employer letter of recommendation instead. IV therapy certification is due by the start of the programme, and selection is point-based.
At least 16 of the final 24 credits must be taken at NDSCS. That residency rule means transfer credit fills the prerequisite part, not the end of the degree.
- Active LPN licence
- C or higher, 2.25 GPA
- Selection exam or employer letter
- IV therapy certification
Time limits
NDSCS's LPN to RN page does not state a time limit for sciences. Other programmes do: Bismarck State's catalog asks for A&P II within the last seven years, and Dakota College at Bottineau sets seven years for pharmacology. If your sciences are older than five years, ask the programme in writing whether they still count before you plan around them.
Time limits can also apply to the LPN licence itself or to the entrance exam score. Read the full admission page, not only the course list.
Where UPI Study can and cannot help
UPI Study offers A&P I and II with labs, which carry an NCCRS credit recommendation, and general education such as English composition and introductory psychology. Credit reaches your record only when a college posts it via a college transcript, and the nursing programme decides whether it takes it.
UPI Study has no Microbiology, Nutrition or Lifespan Development (Developmental Psychology) course. Those three are on the NDSCS list, so plan to take them at a college or another provider your programme confirms in writing. UPI Study does not offer nursing courses or clinical hours.
A simple plan
List each prerequisite, what you already have, the grade and the year. Mark anything below C or older than the programme's limit. Email the programme with your planned courses and ask which it would take. Then take the confirmed courses in the order the programme suggests, with sciences close to your application date if time limits apply.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Email the nursing programme and ask in writing whether it would take each course you plan, from the transcript you would send, 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
Do I need to retake A&P for LPN to RN in North Dakota?
It depends on the programme and on how old your A&P is. NDSCS's page does not state a time limit, while Bismarck State's catalog asks for A&P II within seven years. Ask your programme in writing.
Can I use my LPN programme credits?
NDSCS counts 14 LPN transfer credits toward its LPN to RN degree. Other programmes handle LPN credit differently, so ask how many of your practical nursing credits they would count.
Is Developmental Psychology the same as Intro to Psychology?
No. Developmental or lifespan psychology covers growth across the lifespan, and NDSCS lists it as PSYC 250. An introductory psychology course does not replace it unless the programme says so in writing.
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 →
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
Take statistics, psychology, composition and A&P with ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations, moved via a college transcript, after your programme confirms in writing what it will take.
Sources
- NDSCS catalog: Registered Nursing (LPN to RN) AAS (official)Active LPN licence; C or higher in prerequisites; cumulative GPA 2.25; selection exam if under two years of LPN experience; prerequisites BIOL 220/220L, BIOL 221/221L, MICR 202/202L, NUTR 240, PSYC 250 and an English/communication elective, plus 14 LPN transfer credits (35 total); 61 credits in all; at least 16 of the final 24 credits at NDSCS; no time limit stated on the page. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-12.1, Nurse Practices Act (official)43-12.1-09: licensure by examination needs an official transcript verifying completion of a board-approved nursing education programme and a board-approved examination. 43-12.1-17: the board sets standards for and approves in-state nursing education programmes. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.