Top LPN Programs and Schools in the Country
LPNs (licensed practical nurses) provide nursing care to patients under the direction of a physician or a registered nurse. LPNs are known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states.
The scope of practice for LPNs depends on the state in which they are licensed. However, licensed practical nurses are generally allowed to administer various medications, obtain patient’s vital signs, assist with activities of daily living (ADL), collect samples of blood and bodily fluids for lab tests, and utilize medical equipment, such as IV and feeding pumps.
To become an LPN, you must first complete high school or obtain a GED. Then, you can apply to a licensed practical nursing program. These programs are usually offered at community colleges or technical colleges. It is important to choose a program that is both regionally accredited and approved by the state. Acceptance to LPN programs is competitive and usually involves the completion of an entrance exam to measure general knowledge, reading, and math ability prior to starting the program.
LPN programs generally last one to two years and include lectures, skills labs, and clinical experiences. Nursing curriculums are designed to provide a variety of educational experiences in order to instill students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become safe and knowledgeable nursing professionals.
Upon completion of the program, graduates receive a certificate from their school and are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) exam. In order to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination, candidates must submit proof of completion of an LPN program and a testing fee. Successfully passing the NCLEX-PN indicates that candidates have the minimum required competency needed for licensure.
The graduate must then apply for licensure with the Board of Nursing in the state they wish to practice. Nursing licensure applications involve an additional fee (separate from the NCLEX-PN testing fee) and a background check. Nursing licenses must be renewed according to state regulations, usually every two years, and require either proof of employment in a clinical setting or completion of a certain number of hours of continuing education. The specific requirements vary by state.
The following five LPN programs are considered some of the best in the country due to recently achieving an impressive NCLEX-PN pass rate of 100%:
Location: Houston, Missouri
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Program Duration: 1 year
Accredited? Yes
Student-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Texas County Technical College is a private technical college that provides students with the opportunity to become an LPN in just one year of study. For those students who would like to continue on to become an RN, Texas County Technical College also has an LPN-to-RN bridge program.
According to the school’s website, their graduates are also IV certified, meaning they are trained to start IVs and administer IV fluids while enrolled in the program.
Texas County Technical College is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
The Texas County Technical College campus is located in Houston, a small, rural town in central Missouri. The population was 2,079 at the 2020 census.
Location: Elizabeth City, North Carolina
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Program Duration: 1 year
Accredited? Yes
Student-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
College of the Albemarle is a public community college that provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide nursing care to both adults and children. Their graduates go on to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, doctor’s offices, and more.
The college is part of the North Carolina Community College system. It has a main campus and three additional satellite campuses.
College of the Albemarle is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The College of the Albemarle’s main campus is located in Elizabeth City, a small town in North Carolina. It is the largest city in Pasquotank County, with a population of 18,629, according to the 2020 census data.
Location: Bemidji, Minnesota
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Program Duration: 1 year
Accredited? Yes
Student-Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Northwest Technical College is a public technical college that prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. In the practical nursing program, students learn how to provide basic nursing care and how to interact effectively and compassionately with patients.
Northwest Technical College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Northwest Technical College campus is located in Bemidji, a small town in Minnesota. The population was approximately 14,574 at the 2020 census.
Location: Logan, Utah
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Program Duration: Less than 1 year (Two semesters)
Accredited? Yes
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Bridgerland Technical College is a public technical college that provides hands-on, competency-based education to practical nursing students via classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction. Nursing theory and skills are taught concurrently by their nursing faculty.
For those who want to continue on into an RN program, they also offer an LPN-to-RN bridge program.
The college is part of the Utah System of Technical Colleges and has a main campus and two additional satellite campuses.
Bridgerland Technical College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Bridgerland Technical College’s main campus is located in Logan, Utah. It is the largest city in Cache County, with a 2020 census population estimate of 52,778.
Location: Marietta, Georgia
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Program Duration: 1 year
Accredited? Yes
Student-Faculty Ratio: 22:1
Chattahoochee Technical College is a public technical school that provides a strong foundation for nursing practice through their practical nursing program. The primary goal of the program is to prepare students to become safe, competent providers of nursing care.
They also have an LPN-to-RN bridge program for those wishing to further their nursing education.
Chattahoochee Technical College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Chattahoochee Technical College is located in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. According to 2020 census data, the city is home to approximately 60,972 people.
