The Best Online LPN Programs
LPNs (licensed practical nurses) provide nursing care to patients under the direction of a physician or registered nurse. LPNs are known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas. Although their scope of practice varies by state, LPNs are generally allowed to assist patients with eating, bathing, and dressing, administering medications, communicating changes in the patient’s condition to nurses, physicians, and family members, and documenting in the patient’s medical record.
After obtaining a high school diploma or GED, you can apply to a licensed practical nursing program. Most LPN programs are offered at community or technical colleges. Acceptance to these programs is competitive and usually requires the completion of an entrance exam prior to being accepted into the program.
LPN programs usually last one to two years, depending on whether you pursue full-time or part-time study. Nursing curriculums are designed to provide you with a variety of educational experiences, including lectures, skills labs, and clinical rotations. These diverse learning experiences will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a safe nursing professional.
Once you complete an LPN program, you will receive a practical nursing diploma. You will also be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) exam. Successfully passing the NCLEX-PN exam indicates that candidates have met the minimally required competency standards for licensure.
After passing the NCLEX-PN, you must then apply for licensure with the Board of Nursing in your practicing state. Nursing licenses must be renewed according to state requirements, usually every two years. Specific renewal requirements vary by state.
Can You Complete an LPN Program Online?
Yes, you can, but it will be in a hybrid format. Online LPN programs allow students to complete their lectures and much of their coursework online. However, because nursing is a hands-on profession, students must attend skills labs and faculty-supervised clinical rotations in person. The amount of hands-on clinical time students are required to have is dictated by the state’s Board of Nursing.
Most online hybrid LPN programs take the same amount of time to complete as traditional programs, usually between one and two years.
Online vs. Traditional LPN Programs: Which Is Right For You?
Both online and traditional LPN programs can provide you with the education and training necessary to become an LPN.
Traditional LPN programs offer more opportunities to interact directly with your instructors and peers and provide a more rigid schedule for those who need it. Online programs offer greater flexibility and convenience, but may not be a good fit for those who are unskilled with technology or prefer face-to-face classroom instruction.
Ultimately, the choice between an online or traditional LPN program usually comes down to the way the student prefers to learn and how much flexibility they need in order to manage school and other obligations.
The following five online LPN programs are considered some of the best in the country, due to achieving NCLEX-PN pass rates significantly higher than the national average of 79.9%.
Location: Watertown, South Dakota
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96.2%
Online/Hybrid Option? Yes
Accredited? Yes
Lake Area Technical College is a public institution offering a practical nursing “e-degree”. In this hybrid format, students engage in online learning for classroom instruction while completing required skills labs and clinical learning experiences in person. The hybrid practical nursing program takes 11 months to complete for full–time students and 22 months to complete for part-time students.
Lake Area Technical College has a total enrollment of 2,245 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1.
The college is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Location: Goodman, Mississippi
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 97.2%
Online/Hybrid Option? Yes
Accredited? Yes
Holmes Community College is a public institution providing both traditional and hybrid tracks in the practical nursing program. The hybrid option offers online lectures, but skills labs and clinical rotations must be completed in person. The hybrid track typically takes 5 semesters (about a year and a half) to complete.
Holmes Community College has a total enrollment of 5,678 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Ashland, Kentucky
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94%
Online/Hybrid Option? Yes
Accredited? Yes
Ashland Community and Technical College is a public school offering a practical nursing diploma via a hybrid learning format. The program offers some nursing lectures online, while still requiring in-person attendance for lab and clinical hours. The program takes approximately a year to complete for full-time students. For those who are interested in continuing their nursing education, the college also has an LPN-to-RN bridge program.
Ashland Community and Technical College has a total enrollment of 2,542 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Clearwater, Florida
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 91.2%
Online/Hybrid Option? Yes
Accredited? Yes
Pinellas Technical College is a public institution providing both traditional and online hybrid learning formats for its practical nursing program. The hybrid program offers the majority of nursing lecture content online, but lab and clinical hours must be completed face-to-face. It takes students approximately 15 months to earn their practical nursing diploma.
Pinellas Technical College has a total enrollment of 663 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1.
The college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
Location: Thief River Falls, Minnesota
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 91.1%
Online/Hybrid Option? Yes
Accredited? Yes
Northland Community and Technical College is a public institution that offers portions of its practical nursing program in an online hybrid format. Students can complete their prerequisite general education courses online as well as some of the nursing theory courses. Students must participate in all skills labs and clinical experiences in person.
Northland Community and Technical College has a total enrollment of 3,500 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education (NLNCNE).
