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 Wisconsin: prerequisite checklist and time limits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
LPN to RN prerequisites in Wisconsin are set by each programme. Chippewa Valley Technical College, for example, admits LPNs to the third semester with a Wisconsin or Minnesota licence, seven general education courses with a C or better, and HESI A2 scores of 75. Check your programme's own list, ask about time limits, and get a written yes before taking anything online.
The checklist from one published example
Chippewa Valley Technical College lists these for its LPN advanced placement route. Tick each item against your own programme's current page.
- Current Wisconsin or Minnesota LPN licence, with its expiry date.
- Practical Nursing transcript.
- General Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Anatomy and Physiology, each with a C or better.
- Microbiology with a C or better (take this at a college; UPI Study does not offer it).
- Developmental Psychology with a C or better (not offered by UPI Study).
- English Composition 1 and a speech or communication course.
- Introduction to Psychology or Psychology of Human Relations.
- HESI A2 scores of 75 or higher in A&P, Math and English.
After the prerequisites
CVTC also lists steps that come later: an Academic Preparedness Verification form once prerequisites are done, a one-credit Re-entry to Nursing Practice course with a B- or higher the semester before core courses, health and immunisation records, a criminal background check, and a current CPR BLS Provider card from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. CVTC does not take online-only CPR certificates.
Science time limits
CVTC's LPN admission page does not state a time limit on sciences. Other programmes do set one, often 5 to 7 years for A&P and Microbiology. LPNs who took A&P for their practical nursing diploma years ago should ask how the programme counts the date: from the end of the course, or from the application deadline.
A time limit also matters for the HESI A2. The test's science section draws on A&P, so an LPN whose A&P is many years old may find the test harder even where the course itself still counts. Some LPNs choose to refresh A&P before the test for that reason alone, even when no retake is required.
What to ask in writing
Send these to the programme before you enrol in any prerequisite.
Write to the nursing advisor rather than general admissions, and name the exact courses and course numbers. If you plan to take a course online, say so plainly, and mention that the credit would come via a college transcript. A short, specific email gets a clearer reply than a general question about transfer credit. Save each reply as a PDF with the date, because rules and staff change.
- Does my practical nursing coursework count toward any RN prerequisite?
- How old may my A&P credit be when I apply?
- Do you count ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit recorded via a college transcript, and online labs?
Planning the year before you apply
Retake any science outside a time limit first, because science sections fill fastest. Take the HESI A2 after General A&P, as CVTC suggests, so the material is fresh. Finish English and Psychology with strong grades. UPI Study does not offer Microbiology, Nutrition, Developmental or Lifespan Psychology, Organic Chemistry or Pharmacology, so plan those at a college. The full picture is on the page Wisconsin nursing prerequisites online: what to check with your programme first.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your nursing programme in writing whether it will count each course and its 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
Do LPNs have to retake anatomy and physiology for an RN programme in Wisconsin?
Only if the programme's time limit or grade rule says so. CVTC's LPN page states no time limit, but asks for a C or better. Ask your programme to review your transcript and tell you in writing which courses still count.
Can an LPN licence from another state be used for advanced placement?
At Chippewa Valley Technical College, the advanced placement route takes only Wisconsin or Minnesota LPN licences. Other programmes set their own rules, so ask the programme you plan to apply to before you start prerequisites.
What if I do not reach 75 on the HESI A2?
CVTC offers another route: enrolling in and passing a set of HESI preparatory courses. Other programmes have their own retake and alternative rules, so check them before you book the test, and prepare with A&P fresh in mind.
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 only the courses your programme confirms in writing.
Sources
- Chippewa Valley Technical College: Nursing (Associate Degree) advanced placement admission requirements (official)LPN advanced placement needs a Wisconsin or Minnesota LPN licence; General A&P, Advanced A&P, Microbiology, Developmental Psychology, English Composition 1, Oral/Interpersonal Communication or Speech, and Introduction to Psychology or Psychology of Human Relations, each with a C or better; HESI A2 scores of 75 or higher in A&P, Math and English. No time limit on sciences is stated. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.