Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Colleges: Requirements and Career Pathway

Nursing offers a fulfilling career path with ample opportunities for professional and personal advancement. Choosing the right educational path is crucial to starting your nursing career on a solid foundation. Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a quicker and less expensive route compared to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), making it an attractive option for those eager to enter the nursing profession swiftly.

What is a Licensed Practical Nurse?

A licensed practical nurse is a healthcare professional who provides basic patient care and comfort. LPNs are vital to the patient experience, working closely with RNs and physicians. They play a crucial role in monitoring patients' conditions, managing basic care needs, and maintaining accurate medical records. LPNs perform essential tasks such as:

Taking vital signs
Administering medications
Inserting catheters
Dressing wounds
Implementing healthcare instructions from RNs, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team

It's important to note that Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) have similar job duties and educational requirements; the primary difference lies in the title, which varies depending on the state of employment. Compared to LPNs, RNs undergo more extensive training, which leads to greater responsibilities.

Steps to Becoming an LPN

Becoming an LPN is a relatively fast way to start a nursing career. The process to become an LPN takes at least a year. Before starting your education or employment, you might need to pass a background check or a basic skills test.

LPN Training Program

An LPN training program through a community college or technical school typically runs for about twelve months. LPN education encompasses both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for nursing. The LPN program offers a challenging curriculum that cultivates your ability to apply knowledge, think critically, and communicate effectively.

Curriculum Overview

LPN programs generally include coursework covering:

Medical surgical nursing
Mental health nursing
Pediatric nursing
Geriatric nursing
Maternal infant nursing

These courses incorporate hands-on practice in nursing simulation labs and clinical sites. In the courses, you’ll focus on proper procedures to collect and organize healthcare data, coordinate with other nurses and healthcare providers to provide patient care, contribute to the care plan, and identify and understand common health problems in patients. You'll learn fundamental skills for helping to promote, maintain, and restore patient health and independence.

NCLEX-PN Examination

After completing the LPN training program, graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) to obtain licensure. Thorough preparation for the exam is essential, and candidates should check for testing dates and locations in their area. Practical/Vocational nurses are prohibited in all states from practicing nursing until the examination is successfully completed and licensure has been granted. Specific information regarding licensure will be provided to the student during the last quarter of the nursing program.

Admission Requirements for LPN Programs

General Admission

All applicants must meet the requirements for general admission to South College. General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the School of Nursing. Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive and dependent upon class size.

Academic Prerequisites

In addition to general admission requirements, specific academic prerequisites may be required. For example, Atlanta LPN applicants must successfully complete College Algebra (MAT 1100), English Composition (ENG 1201), General Psychology (PSY 1811), and Medical Terminology (AHS 1010) with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher. Students may transfer one or more of these courses into South College if they meet the existing South College transfer requirements. The combined GPA of all four courses must be a 2.50 GPA.

Read also: LPN Education Requirements

Mitigating Circumstances

Applicants who are not in good academic standing from a previous nursing or allied health program (e.g. Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, EMT, etc.) or who have been dismissed from such a program must submit the required School of Nursing Mitigating Circumstances Form and provide supporting documentation of the mitigating circumstances to be considered eligible to apply to the South College School of Nursing.

ATI TEAS Assessment

Applicants are required to take the ATI TEAS Assessment as part of the application process.

Transfer Credits

For a nursing class (or classes) to be considered for transfer into a South College Nursing program, the class must have been completed within the past 18 months prior to the cohort start date. Only nursing courses with a grade of A or B are considered for transfer and a course description or syllabus may be required to evaluate equivalency. Prospective students must meet the following requirements to be admitted without stipulation.

Health and Background Requirements

Prospective students must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice nursing effectively. Health care facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience. All nursing students must comply with communicable diseases/blood-borne pathogen requirements that the clinical agencies require.

Common communicable disease immunization or immunity, including:

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MMR (2 in series if born after 1957)
TDaP (booster required every 10 years)
Varicella vaccine (2 in series)
Hepatitis B immunization (3 in series) or the HEPLISAV-B, (2 in a series one month apart) or completed Declination Form for Hepatitis B Vaccination depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. The Declination Form must only be used for medical reasons and must be documented by student’s primary care provider.
Annual Flu immunization or completed Declination Form for Influenza Vaccination depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate.
Acceptable drug screen.* Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptance drug screen per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. In any case where a drug screen is positive and no authorized prescription is produced to validate the presence of the drug in the individual’s system, continuation in the program will be denied. Upon notification of the drug screen results, the student will have 5 working days to provide prescription validation.
Acceptable criminal background check for a minimum of past 15 years. Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptance criminal background check per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. If the background check reveals previous criminal convictions, admittance into the program will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Marijuana, or its metabolite, is not an accepted substance in drug screens and will result in a positive drug screen. Prospective students whose drug test results are positive for marijuana, or its metabolite, will be offered one additional opportunity to reapply for admission into the next admission cohort after the initial positive results.
Additional immunizations (such as COVID) and or Titers may be required per clinical facility.

Students who choose not to meet the requirements of clinical sites will not be able to participate in clinical experiences as a student at those sites. This includes students who have received partial vaccinations but who are not fully immunized or students awaiting action on a clinical facility exemption request, if applicable.

Functional Capacities

Prospective students must demonstrate specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards, or technical standards. Prospective students who believe that they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation or modification must notify the PN Program Director, and a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will compromise nursing care, or that will put patients or other students at risk.

Midlands Technical College Requirements

In addition to the college’s placement test, students must meet one of the following criteria to be admitted to the Nursing Program:Ensure all required prerequisite courses are completed in order to submit a competitive Nursing program application.

LPN Prerequisite Courses:

ENG 101
PSY 201
PSY 203
BIO 210 (must be completed within 5 years of starting NUR 134 or NUR-203)
BIO 211 (must be completed within 5 years of starting NUR 134 or NUR-203)
MAT 102 or higher

Beginning with the Summer 2025 cohort, "W"s in prerequisite courses will not count as an attempt.Open Application Dates for Competitive Nursing Applications- Open Application dates for Fall Semester starts are January 15 - May 15.Applications will be accepted for ADN, LPN, and Transition.Notification of acceptance or denial into the Nursing program will be received by June 15.- Open Application dates for Spring Semester starts are May 25 - August 25.Applications will only be accepted for ADN and LPN.Notification of acceptance or denial into the Nursing program will be received by September 15.- Open Application dates for Summer Semester starts are September 15 - December 15.Applications will only be accepted for ADN and LPN.Notification of acceptance or denial into the Nursing program will be received by January 25.Additional RequirementsHigh school or college credits in biology and algebra are recommended.Emotional and physical ability to carry out normal activities of nursing care as determined by physical examination.Cleared background check; negative drug screen; physical exam; immunizations such as Hepatitis B, Tdap, Varicella, and MMR; a two-step TB skin test (PPD) or Quantiferon Gold; and CPR (American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers) are required to enter clinical courses.Qualified applicants must attend a two-part orientation session.Applicants must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all Midlands Technical College course work for entrance into and progression through the nursing curriculum.The Nursing Student Handbook outlines other policies relevant to students in the program.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a crucial factor when selecting an LPN program. Accreditation means your school has met national standards and is giving you the training and education you need to work in the field. It ensures that the program meets specific standards and provides quality education and training. Accreditation doesn’t just affect the education you get. It also affects how you’ll pay for it and what you can do with it. Your school needs to be accredited for you to qualify for federal financial aid. Accreditation can also help you later. Credits from an accredited school are much more likely to transfer to another school or state. LPN/LVN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Some programs are approved by your state’s board of nursing but not accredited. If you attend one of these programs, you’ll be able to take the NCLEX and get your LPN/LVN license in your state.

Several institutions, such as South College and Durham Tech, hold accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for their Practical Nursing programs.

South College Accreditation Details:

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Asheville Campus located in Asheville, North Carolina is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing A (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Atlanta Campus located in Atlanta, Georgia is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at South College - Atlanta Campus located in Atlanta, Georgia is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Indianapolis Campus located in Indianapolis, Indiana is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Knoxville Campus located in Knoxville, Tennessee is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), , 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at South College - Knoxville Campus located in Knoxville, Tennessee is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Nashville Campus located in Nashville, Tennessee is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at South College - Nashville Campus located in Nashville, Tennessee is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Pittsburgh Campus located in Pittsburgh, PA is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at South College - Pittsburgh Campus located in Pittsburgh, PA is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is initial accreditation.

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at South College - Orlando Campus located in Orlando, FL is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at South College - Orlando Campus located in Orlando, FL is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is initial accreditation.

Durham Tech Accreditation Details:

Durham Tech's Practical Nursing program, located in Durham, North Carolina, that is in accordance with ACEN records, is accredited by the:Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326(404) 975-5000www.acenursing.orgThe most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.Accreditation Review Site VisitDurham Tech will host a site visit for continuing accreditation of its Practical Nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Review the Admissions Checklist.

Costs and Financial Aid

The cost of an LPN program varies depending on the institution and program type, ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. Financial aid options, including federal aid and grants, are available to help offset the costs. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is essential to determine eligibility for financial assistance. Some healthcare systems and hospitals offer LPN programs that cover tuition costs in exchange for a commitment to work for them post-graduation.

Additional Costs

Students are required to take standardized tests at an approximate cost of $195 a semester. The approximate cost for taking the licensure exam (NCLEX-PN) upon completion of the program is $350. Students must purchase liability insurance each semester at a cost of approximately $5. Students must purchase a uniform, special equipment and clinical documentation sessions in the first semester (the approximate cost is $350). Skills packets, learning packets, and books must be purchased at the bookstore for nursing courses.

The NCLEX-PN Exam

After completing an accredited LPN program, graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN exam to obtain licensure. Before you can take the test, you’ll need permission from your state board of nursing. This is called an Authorization to Test (ATT). Generally, you’ll need to send some information to your state licensing board to get your ATT. Once you have your ATT, you can take the NCLEX. There are 205 questions on the exam and you’ll answer a minimum of 85. The test is computerized. You’ll receive your results in about six weeks after you take the exam. Passing the NCLEX will allow you to receive your license as long as you’ve also met any other requirements and paid all the fees. The NCLEX-PN is a computerized exam that assesses the candidate's competency to practice as an LPN/LVN.

LPN Certification

While not mandatory, obtaining a certification can demonstrate expertise in a specific area of nursing. Certifications for LPNs are available from organizations like the National Association of Licensed Professional Nurses (NALPN) Education Foundation or the National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Services (NAPNES).

Career Advancement: LPN to RN

Licensed practical nurses often transition into registered nursing. You can go back to the technical school or community college for an additional year to earn an associate’s degree, which will qualify you to become a Registered Nurse after taking the NCLEX exam in your state. Another way to become an RN is to enter an LPN to Baccalaureate program. Some colleges have special LPN programs which will allow you to get credit for some of your prior courses, and then go on to earn a BSN degree and RN. LPN/LVNs looking to become an RN may also consider earning a bachelor’s degree. Schools offering these programs tend to focus on nursing courses where students learn better leadership skills. LPNs/LVNs seeking career advancement can pursue further education to become Registered Nurses (RNs) by enrolling in LPN-to-RN programs, which provide accelerated pathways to earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An associate’s program includes courses in anatomy, nursing, nutrition, chemistry, microbiology, among others.

Job Outlook and Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual salaries for LPNs rest at $62,340. The job outlook for LPNs is promising, with projected growth in employment opportunities across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, clinics, and physician offices.

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