Becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) takes 12 to 18 months from enrollment to licensure, making it one of the fastest paths into a healthcare career. The process has three core steps: complete an approved practical nursing program, pass the national licensing exam (NCLEX-PN), and apply for a state license. Here’s what each step involves and what to expect along the way.
What LPNs Actually Do
LPNs provide hands-on patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. Day to day, that means checking vital signs like blood pressure and temperature, changing bandages, helping patients bathe and dress, documenting health records, and reporting changes in a patient’s condition to the care team. In some states, LPNs with additional training can administer medication or start IV lines.
The work looks different depending on the setting. In a nursing home, you might help residents eat. In a hospital, you could be collecting lab samples. In home health, you travel to patients’ homes and may also teach family members how to provide care between visits. About 651,400 LPNs held jobs in the U.S. in 2024, with the largest share (37%) working in nursing and residential care facilities. Hospitals employed 16%, while home health services and physician offices each accounted for 12%.
Prerequisites Before You Apply
Most practical nursing programs require a high school diploma or GED, plus a handful of prerequisite courses. Specific requirements vary by school, but a typical list includes college algebra, English composition, general psychology, and medical terminology. Programs commonly set a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 across those prerequisites. Some schools also require a passing score on an entrance exam like the TEAS or HESI, and many run a criminal background check as part of the admissions process.
If you’re still in high school, taking biology, anatomy, and algebra courses will give you a head start. If you’ve been out of school for a while, community colleges often offer the prerequisite courses individually so you can complete them before formally applying to a nursing program.
Choosing an Approved Nursing Program
Practical nursing programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, and some hospitals. They typically run 12 to 18 months and award a certificate or diploma rather than a degree. Coursework covers anatomy, pharmacology, nutrition, and nursing fundamentals, paired with clinical rotations where you practice skills on real patients in supervised settings. Clinical hours vary by state, and each state’s board of nursing sets its own minimums for the number of hours and types of clinical settings required.
Accreditation matters more than most applicants realize. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is the main body that accredits practical nursing programs. Attending an ACEN-accredited program makes you eligible for federal financial aid and grants, and it’s often required if you later want to transfer credits into a registered nursing (RN) program. Some state licensing boards also require graduation from an accredited school. Before enrolling anywhere, verify the program’s accreditation status directly through ACEN’s website.
Passing the NCLEX-PN Exam
After graduation, you need to pass the NCLEX-PN, a computerized exam administered by Pearson VUE. The test uses adaptive technology, meaning the difficulty of each question adjusts based on your previous answers. It covers four main areas: safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. The minimum number of questions is 85, and the exam shuts off once the software determines with enough statistical confidence whether you’ve passed or failed.
You register for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE’s website after your nursing program confirms your graduation to your state board. Most candidates receive their results within 48 hours. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam, though states set rules on how long you must wait (typically 45 days) and how many times you can attempt it.
Applying for Your State License
Licensing is handled at the state level, so the exact process and fees depend on where you plan to work. In New York, for example, the license and first registration fee is $143. You submit your application to the state education department, and the board verifies your education and exam results. Most states require a criminal background check and fingerprinting as part of the application.
One detail that catches some applicants off guard: if more than four years have passed since you graduated from nursing school, some states require you to complete an approved infection control course before they’ll issue your license. If you haven’t yet taken the NCLEX-PN but need to start working, certain states offer a limited permit that allows you to practice under direct supervision while you prepare for the exam.
In Texas and California, the same role is called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) rather than LPN. The education, exam, and licensing process are essentially the same.
Keeping Your License Active
LPN licenses must be renewed on a regular cycle, typically every two years. Renewal requires completing continuing education (CE) hours. Florida, for example, requires 24 CE hours per two-year renewal period, covering specific topics: prevention of medical errors, state laws and rules, recognition of impairment in the workplace, human trafficking awareness, and safe prescribing of controlled substances. If your license wasn’t issued for a full two-year cycle, you generally need one CE hour for each month you held the license.
Some required topics recur every renewal, while others come up less frequently. Florida mandates a domestic violence course every third renewal cycle, and an HIV/AIDS course is a one-time requirement before your first renewal. Requirements differ by state, so check your own board of nursing’s website for the exact breakdown.
Post-Licensure Certifications
Once you’re licensed, optional certifications let you specialize and often lead to higher pay or more job opportunities. The National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES) offers certifications in IV therapy, long-term care, and pharmacology. The IV therapy certification in particular is a credential many employers ask for by name, especially in states where LPNs are permitted to administer IV medications. These certifications involve passing a national exam that measures your knowledge against a standardized benchmark.
LPN Pay and Career Growth
The average annual wage for LPNs in the U.S. was $63,540 as of 2024-2025. That’s significantly less than registered nurses, who averaged $98,430 over the same period, but LPNs also spend far less time and money on education. Many LPNs use the role as a stepping stone, working as an LPN while completing an RN bridge program. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes about two additional years, and a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) takes up to four years total, with BSN holders earning the highest nursing salaries on average.
Some experienced LPNs move into supervisory roles instead. Several states allow seasoned LPNs to oversee other LPNs or unlicensed medical staff, which opens the door to charge nurse or team lead positions in nursing homes and long-term care facilities without going back to school.