LPN/LVN Programs 2026: Practical Nursing Schools & Pay

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn a median salary of $64,400 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and the occupation is projected to produce about 54,400 openings each year over the coming decade (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34). Practical nursing programs prepare students to provide hands-on patient care under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. Most programs award a diploma or certificate and combine classroom instruction with skills-lab practice and supervised clinical rotations. Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN and obtain a state license before working as an LPN, or as an LVN in California and Texas, where the title is “licensed vocational nurse.”

What Is a Practical Nursing Program?

A practical nursing program is a diploma or certificate program that trains students to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or, in California and Texas, licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). The two titles describe the same role: a nurse who monitors patients, administers medications and treatments within their scope, assists with daily living activities, and reports changes in condition to the registered nurse or physician overseeing care.

Programs are offered by community colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and some hospital-based nursing schools. The curriculum follows a sequence set by the state board of nursing, and much of it takes place in a skills lab, where you practice procedures on manikins, and in supervised clinical rotations at real healthcare facilities.

The most important thing to verify before enrolling is that the program is approved by the state board of nursing in the state where you plan to practice. Board approval is what makes graduates eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN. A program that is not board-approved cannot lead to licensure, no matter how it is marketed.

What You’ll Learn

• Nursing fundamentals: vital signs, patient assessment, infection control, and documentation
• Anatomy and physiology as they apply to patient care and common disease processes
• Pharmacology, including medication calculations, administration routes, and safe medication practices
• Medical-surgical nursing for adults with acute and chronic conditions
• Maternal and newborn (obstetric) nursing
• Pediatric nursing and care of children across developmental stages
• Geriatric nursing and long-term care, including mobility, skin integrity, and dementia care
• Mental health nursing concepts and therapeutic communication
• Nutrition and its role in recovery and chronic disease management
• Legal and ethical responsibilities of the practical nurse, including delegation and scope of practice
• Clinical skills such as wound care, catheterization, specimen collection, and IV therapy where permitted by the state
• NCLEX-PN preparation and test-taking strategies

How Long Does Training Take?

Practical nursing diploma and certificate programs are generally structured as full-time programs lasting around a year, though part-time and evening tracks that stretch over a longer period are common at community colleges. Programs that award an associate degree in practical nursing, which exist in some states, follow a longer two-year structure that adds general education coursework.

Expect a demanding schedule. Lectures, skills-lab sessions, and clinical rotations run concurrently, and clinical days often start early at a hospital or nursing facility. Many programs also require prerequisite courses before the nursing sequence begins, which adds to the total time from application to graduation. When comparing programs, focus on clinical placement sites, faculty-to-student ratios in lab and clinical, and whether the schedule fits your life for the full duration.

Admissions & Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• Placement or entrance exam, commonly the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) or a school-specific assessment
• Prerequisite coursework in anatomy and physiology, math, or English at some schools
• Minimum grade requirements in prerequisite courses, set by each program
• Criminal background check and drug screening, required by clinical sites and later by the board of nursing
• Immunization records, TB screening, and a physical exam for clinical placement
• CPR certification (BLS for Healthcare Providers) before clinical rotations begin
• Physical ability to lift and reposition patients, stand for long shifts, and respond quickly in emergencies
• Prior healthcare experience is not usually required, though CNA experience can strengthen an application at competitive programs

Programs at public colleges are often competitive, with more applicants than seats. Applying early, completing prerequisites with strong grades, and preparing for the entrance exam can improve your standing.

Licensing & Certification

Every state requires practical and vocational nurses to hold a license issued by the state board of nursing. Licensure requires graduating from a board-approved practical nursing program and passing the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses), which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. You will also submit a licensure application to the board, which includes a background check and, in many states, fingerprinting.

Beyond state approval, practical nursing programs should hold accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation matters for transfer credit, and many LPN-to-RN bridge programs only accept graduates of accredited programs. Verify accreditation status directly with the accreditor rather than relying on a school’s marketing materials.

Scope of practice for LPNs and LVNs varies by state. Some states allow practical nurses to perform additional tasks after extra training or certification, while others reserve those tasks for registered nurses. Your program will teach the scope that applies in its state; if you plan to move, check the receiving state’s nurse practice act. The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses licensed in a participating state to practice in other participating states.

Career Outlook & Salary

According to BLS OEWS data for May 2025, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn a median annual wage of $64,400. The lowest 10 percent earn $49,740 or less, and the highest 10 percent earn $83,440 or more. Wages at the upper end are typically associated with experience, specialty settings, shift differentials for nights and weekends, and higher-cost regions. The BLS counts 648,410 LPNs and LVNs employed nationwide (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

BLS Employment Projections for 2024-34 show employment growing 2.6 percent over the decade, with about 54,400 openings projected each year. Most openings come from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations, including LPNs who advance to registered nursing, or who leave the labor force. Demand is closely tied to the aging population and the number of people with chronic conditions who need ongoing care in long-term care and home health settings.

Practical nursing is also a common stepping stone. LPN-to-RN bridge programs award credit for practical nursing coursework and experience, allowing licensed LPNs to complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing on a shortened track, often while continuing to work.

Where You’ll Work

The largest employers of LPNs and LVNs are nursing and residential care facilities, where practical nurses are often the primary licensed nurses on the floor, managing medications, treatments, and care plans for residents. Hospitals employ LPNs on medical-surgical and rehabilitation units, though hospital roles vary by region and facility policy. Physicians’ offices and outpatient clinics use LPNs for patient intake, injections, wound care, and care coordination. Home health agencies are a growing setting, and other employers include correctional facilities, schools, hospice organizations, dialysis centers, and Veterans Affairs medical centers. Long-term care and hospital positions typically involve shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays, while clinic and school positions tend to follow business hours.

Online vs In-Person Options

Practical nursing cannot be completed fully online. State boards of nursing require supervised clinical hours in real healthcare settings, and hands-on skills such as medication administration, wound care, and patient assessment must be demonstrated in a skills lab before you are allowed to perform them with patients. What some programs do offer is a hybrid format in which lecture content, such as pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and nursing theory, is delivered online while lab and clinical components are completed on campus and at clinical sites.

Hybrid programs can reduce commuting for the lecture portion, but they do not reduce the clinical hours required. When evaluating one, confirm state board approval, ask whether the school arranges clinical placements or expects you to find them, and be cautious with any program advertising an “online LPN” pathway without a clear explanation of how the clinical requirement is met.

Browse by Location

• View all locations: Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) by state

Career Guide

Practical nursing sits within a ladder of healthcare roles that build on each other. Many students start as a certified nursing assistant, move into practical nursing, and later complete an LPN-to-RN bridge. Understanding how these credentials connect can help you plan a path that matches your timeline and goals.

Read the Licensed Practical Nurse career guide for a detailed look at day-to-day responsibilities, work settings, advancement options, and how to evaluate the LPN-to-RN transition. If you are comparing entry points into patient care, explore related program hubs for certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, and patient care technician training.

Compare This Program

Not sure this is the right path? See how it stacks up against similar programs:

• LPN vs CNA
• LPN vs Medical Assistant

Career Questions

Common questions people ask before enrolling, answered with BLS data:

• CNA to LPN: How the Bridge Program Works
• How Long Is LPN School?
• Is Becoming an LPN Worth It?
• LPN to RN: How the Bridge Program Works
• Medical Assistant to LPN: How the Bridge Program Works

FAQs

What is the difference between an LPN and an LVN?

There is no difference in the role. “Licensed vocational nurse” is the title used in California and Texas; every other state uses “licensed practical nurse.” Both complete a state-approved practical nursing program, pass the same NCLEX-PN exam, and are licensed by their state board of nursing. Job postings and schools in California and Texas will use the LVN title, so search with both terms when comparing programs.

How do I know if a practical nursing program is legitimate?

Check two things. First, confirm the program is approved by the state board of nursing in the state where it operates; boards publish lists of approved programs on their websites. Second, look for accreditation from ACEN or CCNE, which you can verify on the accreditor’s website. Board approval is required for NCLEX-PN eligibility, and accreditation affects whether your credits will transfer into an LPN-to-RN bridge program later.

Can I work as an LPN in a different state from where I trained?

Yes, with some steps. If both states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, a multistate license lets you practice across participating states. Otherwise you apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state, which typically involves verifying your existing license and education and completing a background check. Scope of practice can differ between states, so review the new state’s nurse practice act before you start.

What is the NCLEX-PN?

The NCLEX-PN is the national licensing exam for practical and vocational nurses, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. It uses computer-adaptive testing and covers safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. You become eligible to register for the exam after graduating from a board-approved program, and your program’s NCLEX preparation coursework is designed around the exam’s test plan.

Is practical nursing a good path toward becoming an RN?

For many students it is. LPN-to-RN bridge programs credit practical nursing coursework and licensed experience, so the remaining path to an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing is shorter than starting from scratch. If you already know you want to become an RN and can commit to a longer program now, a direct ADN or BSN program may be more efficient; if you want to work in licensed nursing sooner, the LPN route keeps the RN option open.

Salary and employment data reflect U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for May 2025 and BLS Employment Projections for 2024-34 (SOC 29-2061, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses). Actual salaries vary by location, experience, and employer. Program availability, approval, and accreditation vary by school and state.

Browse Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) Schools by State

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Notice an update we should make?
We strive for accuracy. Contact us here if you see incorrect or outdated info on this page.