Top LPN/LVN Programs
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision and direction of physicians and registered nurses to provide basic nursing care to patients. In order to become one, you’ll need to complete an LPN program that combines classroom education and hands-on patient care training. We've rounded up the top LPN/LVN programs for 2025.
Fast Facts About LPN/LVN Programs |
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| Salary | The median LPN salary is $59,730 annually or $28.72 per hour (BLS) |
| Program Length | One year |
| Requirements | Must be 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. |
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Top LPN/LVN Programs 2025
1. Helena College, Helena, Montana
This public community college teaches its LPN students practical nursing skills through lectures, simulations, hands-on practice, and independent study.
This program allows enrollment for only eight students per year during the spring semester and awards certifications at the end of the fall semester.
The most recent NCLEX pass rate for the school’s LPN program is 100%, the same for its job placement rate within six months of graduation.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (406) 447-6900
- Email: Admissions@helenacollege.edu
2. River Valley Community College, Claremont, New Hampshire
This public community college has campuses throughout western New Hampshire and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Their licensed practical nurse program combines in-class learning with simulation laboratory activities to prepare students for a healthcare career.
This program also offers graduates the chance to continue to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Eight percent of students who enter the program graduate with an ADN within three years of initial admission. Also, graduates’ first-time pass rate equals or exceeds the national pass rate.
Within six months of graduation, ninety percent of River Valley Community College’s nursing program work in their first professional jobs.
- Application Deadline: September 30th
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Email: dgifford@ccsnh.edu
3. Bridgerland Technical College, Logan, Utah
This public community college is part of the Utah System of Technical Colleges and includes the main and two satellite campuses.
This program awards an LPN certificate after completing hands-on training, classroom instruction, and laboratory simulations.
Graduates can also continue into nursing school by integrating with the Weber State University Practical Nurse-to-Registered Nurse program on Bridgerland’s main campus.
The program is completed by 92% of students in two years and has a job placement rate of 98%. Graduates’ pass rate for the licensure examination is 100%.
- Application Deadlines
- Fall: June 1st
- Spring: November 1st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (435) 750-3140
- Email: jangell@btech.edu
4. Holmes Community College, Goodman, Mississippi
Holmes Community College has offered classes in Goodman, Mississippi, for over 100 years. It is home to several campuses and satellite campuses that offer both:
A full-time day track practical nursing program that spans three semesters and a hybrid option that spans five consecutive semesters.
- Program Length
- Full Time: 3 Semesters
- Part Time: 5 Semesters
- Application Deadline: April 30th
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (662) 472-9098
- Email: peeples@holmescc.edu
5. Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, Minnesota
This public, two-year community and technical college has an LPN program in Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
Students benefit from hands-on training in various clinical settings and classroom and laboratory education. Northland also offers a distance/hybrid program.
- Application Deadlines
- Spring: October 1st
- Fall: March 1st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (218) 683-873
- Email: trfpn@northlandcollege.edu
6. Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, South Dakota
Lake Area was South Dakota’s first public community college. Since its founding in 1965, it has expanded to include 30 programs of study, including 15 online degrees.
The Licensed Practical Nursing program offers four paths to a diploma, including:
- A full-time campus option
- A part-time campus option
- A full-time online option, and
- A part-time online option
The full-time options take 11 months to complete and begin with the fall term, while the part-time options start in January and take 22 months.
The program’s most recent licensure examination pass rate is 83.03% nationally and 92.61% in the state of South Dakota. The program’s job placement rate is 99%.
- Program Length
- Full Time: 11 Months
- Part Time: 22 Months
- Application Deadline: December 15th
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (605) 882-5284 ext. 230
- Email: SheltonD@lakeareatech.edu
7. Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon
Founded in 1949, Central Oregon Community is the oldest two-year college in Oregon. Its main campus is on the west side of Bend, but the college has several other campuses throughout the Central Oregon Region.
The school’s practical nursing certification program encompasses two years, though students can exit after one year and qualify for the national licensure exam. Those who remain for and complete the second year will graduate as registered nurses without having to meet or satisfy any additional application requirements.
- Application Deadlines
- Fall: December 15th
- Winter: March 23rd
- Spring: June 15th
- Summer: August 31st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (541) 383-7569
- Email: dbowman2@cocc.edu
8. Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, North Carolina
This public community college first opened its doors in 1962 to 47 students, but today it educates over 14,000 students each year. Practical nursing was one of the first full-time programs offered, and it continues to be one of its most popular programs.
The practical nursing curriculum includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical practice. In addition, the school offers an ADN program and an Advanced Standing program for LPNs who want to earn their ADN and become registered nurses.
- Application Deadline: April 1st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (919) 739-6770
- Email: jpgrant@waynecc.edu
9. Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, Virginia
This two-year branch of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers a practical nursing certificate program over five sequential semesters, including a summer semester.
Students start with two preclinical semesters and finish with three clinical semesters. Classes are held two days per week for the first two semesters at the school’s Crossroads Institute location in Galax, Virginia, followed by four days per week during the last three semesters.
- Application Deadline: Waistlist-based
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (276) 744-4984
- Email: Jevans@wcc.vccs.edu
10. Rowan College of South Jersey, Mantua, New Jersey
This public community college boasts two campuses. Originally known as Gloucester County College, it was renamed in 2014 and expanded in 2019. The school offers both a practical nursing certificate and an LPN-RN track.
- Application Deadline: February 1st
- School Type: Public
- Contact Information
- Phone Number: (856) 468-5000 ext. 4732
- Email: Dconroy1@rcsj.edj
Types of LPN Programs
Technology has introduced tremendous flexibility for students to continue working and managing family responsibilities while pursuing their education. As a result, many LVN and LPN students take advantage of online or distance programs.
Online LPN Programs
Because LVN students must expand their knowledge of nursing theory, ethics, and similar classroom-based lessons and engage in hands-on training with actual patients in clinical settings, online LPN programs will still need to require some in-person clinicals. Still, many schools – including some of those listed above – offer hybrid programs that give students access to didactic material online.
In-Person LPN Programs
Others exclusively offer their programs in a traditional, in-person format and setting. Choosing the nursing school program that is right for you will depend upon your specific needs and circumstances.
What to Expect in an LPN/LVN Program
Choosing to start your nursing career as an LPN or LVN means you’ll have a quick entry into healthcare. Most programs take just one year or less to complete and offer financial aid. Although they do not lead to a degree, they provide an invaluable base of healthcare knowledge to build on.
Upon graduation, some students continue their education by attending nursing school to achieve an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN) while working in the field.
LPN Classes
These nursing courses consist of classroom education and clinical training in a healthcare setting. In class, your instructors will cover such topics as:
- Basic nursing theory
- Nursing ethics
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Human growth and development
- Basic nutrition
- Pediatric patient needs
- Geriatric patient needs
- Patient assessments
- Medical records keeping
- Medication administration
- Patient communication
- Hygiene
- Ambulation and mobility
LPN Clinicals
LPN/LVN students will eventually move on and have clinical experiences working with patients under the supervision of registered nurses, providing care that may include:
- Administering medications including oral, topical, rectal, and ophthalmic and otic solutions
- Measuring and charting vital signs
- Insertion and removal of nasogastric tubes, as well as cleaning these tubes and using them to feed patients
- Helping patients with basic needs, including feeding, hygiene, toileting, dressing, and transferring from bed to chair, chair to bed, and chair to toilet.
- Performing basic assessments
- Caring for patients with tracheostomy tubes and ventilator tubes
- Treating wounds and changing wound dressings
- Collecting urine, stool, and blood samples
- CPR training
- Acting as a liaison between patients, their families, and the care staff
LPN programs usually provide didactic lessons and laboratory training during the first semester and move into hands-on clinical training during the second semester.
LPN Career Growth
Between 2022 and 2032, the LPN field will grow by 5%, according to BLS reports. We can expect a need for 34,900 new LPNs during that period. This growth is faster than average compared to all other occupations nationwide.
For some, working as an LPN or LVN is the perfect way to make a difference in people’s lives, while others view the position as a stepping-stone to higher-level positions in the medical field, like an LPN to RN. Either way, becoming an LPN or LVN can be an excellent investment in your healthcare career.
FAQs About LPN Programs
| LPN Career Overview >> | LPN to RN Programs >> | Top Online LPN Programs >> |
