Nursing is a rapidly growing career field. This is due to several factors, the biggest being that a majority of nurses are set to retire soon, and positions are opening up that need to be filled. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of licensed practical nurses (LPN) and licensed vocational nurses (LVN) is projected to grow at a much faster rate than the national average for employment growth. There were 728,900 jobs for LPN/LVNs in 2018, with the most substantial portion (38%) working in nursing or residential care facilities. Prospects are especially favorable for licensed practical nurses willing to work in rural and medically underserved areas or those willing to earn certifications in specialty areas such as IV therapy.

There are different types of nursing occupations, each with their own educational requirements and job responsibilities.

  • LPN/LVNs require the least amount of education.
  • RNs (registered nurses) or NPs (nurse practitioners), require more advanced schooling.

For those who are thinking about longer-term career goals, many opportunities are available for a licensed practical nurse to advance through education bridge programs.

Those wanting a practical nursing online program have many options. With almost 400 accredited online nursing schools alone, you can receive a high-quality education at schools for practical nursing. However, no accredited vocational nursing school offers wholly online LPN programs, so you can expect to do some of your work on-site at the school for certain classes or in a local clinic or hospital for your clinical hours.

In this guide, you can:

  • Find answers to frequently asked questions
  • Read about featured practical nursing online schools
  • See an overview of the online LPN program or the online LVN program
  • Gain information on the career outlook
  • Learn more about certifications, exams and professional organizations associated with being a licensed practical nurse

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference between these two types of nurses is actually just the name. They are essentially the same job, but the term LVN is used in California and Texas, while the rest of the United States uses LPN. Depending on the state you live in, some minor responsibilities may vary.
Yes. A licensed vocational nurse is the first level of nursing. They are licensed but require a less intensive education program than other RNs.
It depends on the circumstances. While no state requires this, some LPN/LVN programs may require or strongly encourage you to have a current CNA certificate to enter their practical nursing online program.
While a fair amount of coursework can be completed online, no LPN/LVN programs are 100% online because these programs require hundreds of hours of clinical work.

Students can expect a strong practical nursing online program to have the following:

  • A reasonable NCLEX-PN pass rate, preferably with pretesting support
  • Accreditation, but at minimum, approval from the National Council of State Boards of Education
  • Suitable clinical practicum locations
  • Professional faculty with nursing experience
While a school itself can be accredited, you may want the practical nursing program you choose to be accredited as well. There are currently four accrediting agencies for nursing programs, but only the ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits LVN/LPN programs. A fifth newer and lesser-known accreditation agency is the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation or NLN CNEA.

Featured Online Colleges to Become an LPN/LVN in 2019-20

With so many accredited online schools for practical nursing, how do you decide which one is right for you? On the following list of featured schools that offer a practical nursing online program, you can find information about the school itself, insight into its LPN/LVN programs and how each school supports online students. This can give you a good overview of how a school might meet your needs as you pursue an LPN/LVN program.

Visit our methodologies page to learn more about how we use official data to evaluate schools.

1

Holmes Community College

Tuition & Fees
$3,110
Distance Education Participation
51%
Location
Goodman, MS
School Type
2-year
  • HCC 's Academic Focus: Holmes Community College prepares nursing students by providing university transferable credits of core program requirements so that they may be successful moving on to a bachelor's program.
  • Featured Resource: The school offers SmarterMeasure, which is a program to determine if online learning is your best option and if their practical nursing online program may be the right fit for you. After determining that you'd be a good candidate, the program offers resources to help you succeed in your studies.

LPN / LVN Program at Holmes Community College

A.A.in Pre - Nursing

  • The A.A.in Pre - Nursing program prepares students to begin their career as an LPN right after graduation or to transfer into a BSN program
  • Two years(four semesters) with a total of 65 credits earned
  • Fully approved and accredited by the ACEN
2

Ashland Community and Technical College

Tuition & Fees
$4,248
Distance Education Participation
58%
Location
Ashland, KY
School Type
2-year
  • ACTC 's Academic Focus: Ashland Community and Technical College is one of 16 institutions in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and has three campus locations in Boyd County. ACTC states that they intend to become a college of excellence in providing educational pathways leading to student success in technical, transfer, and workforce education.
  • Featured Resource: Students can access Student Self-Service Tutorials which provide quick reference guides and short videos showing how to quickly enroll in classes, print class schedules, and much more.

LPN / LVN Program at Ashland Community and Technical College

A.A.S.

  • Programs are approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
  • A.A.S.degree can be completed in two years
  • Associate degree includes four - credit clinical practicum during the summer session
3

Hopkinsville Community College

Tuition & Fees
$4,248
Distance Education Participation
63%
Location
Hopkinsville, KY
School Type
2-year
  • HCC 's Academic Focus: HCC was founded in 1965 and is part of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. Educational programs at Hopkinsville Community College are designed to help students successfully transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
  • Featured Resource: KCTCS Online allows distance learners to choose from 100-percent online courses with courses starting every week, or a learn-by-term option where students take traditional semester-long courses offered by one of the system's 16 member institutions.

LPN / LVN Program at Hopkinsville Community College

A.A.S.

  • HCC 's diploma in practical nursing is an 11-month program running from August through June
  • The LPN to RN bridge program runsfor three semesters and culminates in an A.A.S.in nursing degree
  • Both programs are approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
4

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Tuition & Fees
$4,248
Distance Education Participation
40%
Location
Paducah, KY
School Type
2-year
  • WKCTC 's Academic Focus: WKCTC's degree programs are geared toward meeting transfer requirements of undergraduate baccalaureate degrees,while its diploma programs are designed with community partners to meet the state 's current workforce needs.
  • Featured Resource: Distance learners can take courses offered through Kentucky Community & Technical College System Online. In 2018 the system had a total enrollment of nearly 78,000 students - and 26,680 of them enrolled solely in 100-percent online classes.

LPN / LVN Program at West Kentucky Community and Technical College

A.A.S.

  • WKTCT offers a three - semester diploma program in practical nursing
  • Students complete a four - credit clinical practicum in their final semester
5

Lake Area Technical Institute

Tuition & Fees
$5,332
Distance Education Participation
32%
Location
Watertown, SD
School Type
2-year
  • LATI 's Academic Focus: Lake Area Technical Institute's practical nursing program curriculum is very comprehensive,and the school indicates that their program has a 100 percent job employment ratefor graduates in South Dakota.The school also offers the option to add on six more classes equaling 21 credit hours;this results in an associate degreefor those in the LVN program who eventually want to work as RNs.
  • Featured Resource: Because the school admits students that already have a path decided, LPN/LVNnursing students go through the practical nursing program with a cohort that provides a family atmosphere of support.The school may also pay instructors to teach a remedial course one - on - one after school so it doesn 't interfere with a student's ongoing LPN program work.

LPN / LVN Program at Lake Area Technical Institute

A.A.S.

  • Practical Nursing E - Degree Program with two program tracks
  • The full - time track typically takes 11 months to complete
  • The part - time track may take 23 months to complete
  • Forty - seven credit hours plus approximately 496 clinical hours
  • Fully approved and accredited by the ACEN
  • The practical nursing online program is only available to residents of Nebraska,South Dakota,North Dakota,Minnesota and Iowa.
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

LPN/LVN Program Overview

  • Medical Terminology

    When participating in a practical nursing online school, you can expect to learn an abundance of medical terminology to prepare you for your career as a practical nurse. This terminology is needed to communicate effectively with doctors, nurses, and patients, as well as to write your reports. Knowing this terminology can play a critical part in your success as a licensed practical nurse.

  • Anatomy

    Human biology and anatomy courses can help you identify cell and muscle function along with the different parts of the body. You can also expect to learn about tissues, membranes, organs and systems and how they function. Understanding these things is essential in working with patients to help identify their symptoms and pain points. As a licensed vocational nurse, you'll need to know this information when it comes to tasks such as inserting an IV, catheter or nasogastric tube.

  • Psychology

    Learning psychology basics is important to understanding patient needs, especially when they cannot communicate with you. Knowing how the mind works in addition to how the body functions allows for better patient care as you may be able to anticipate their needs. You can expect to learn both normal and abnormal psychological conditions at schools for practical nursing.

How to Become an LPN/LVN

Becoming an LPN/LVN can be achieved through a few paths. The amount of time it takes to complete your online LPN program depends on the type you choose and how much time you can devote to it. The general steps to becoming an LPN/LVN are listed below.

  • You can apply to a practical nursing online school any time after completing high school. Most community colleges and vocational schools offer LPN/LVN programs.
  • Once you are accepted and have completed the certification program, you can apply for Authorization to Test through your local board of nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
  • Once authorized to test, you can take the NCLEX-PN exam and you should receive your results within 48 hours.
  • If you pass the exam, your official results and your license are mailed to you. Now is when you can start applying for a job.

If you know you want to continue your career down the line, you may want to choose to earn an associate degree in nursing rather than doing the certification program. Both allow you to be an LPN/LVN, but an associate degree program has an added benefit. Although this route can take twice as long, it may be easier to transition to be an RN or even an NP with an associate degree.

If you want to stay on the path of being a licensed vocational nurse, you can further your career by earning a specialty certification, which may give you more opportunities to work in areas such as Emergency Room LPN. Specialized skills are also helpful to become certified, such as an Advanced Life Support certification.

Career Outlook

With the growing need for nurses, especially the high need in certain locations and specialties, these online LPN programs are promising for students preparing for a career as an LPN/LVN. Keeping in mind that hospitals are not the leading employers of LPN/LVNs may help with knowing where to focus your job application efforts. Below, we cover precisely what an LPN/LVN does and how to work toward becoming one.

LPN/LVN

What Does an LPN/LVN Do?

As an LPN/LVN, your main job is to support registered nurses and doctors as they care for their patients. You may also need to provide support to patients' family members. As a licensed practical nurse, you are directly involved with patients' most basic care and aim to ensure that they are well cared for. Basic job duties vary by state, but may include:

  • Questioning the patient to determine the reason for the visit
  • Recording patient history, asking about symptoms and taking vital signs
  • Administering basic nursing care, such as placing IV lines, changing bandages, etc.
  • Giving patients medication
  • Helping with basic tasks, such as dressing and grooming
  • Explaining procedures to patients and their family members
  • Gathering testing instruments

LPN/LVN Certifications and Exams

The National Council Licensure Examination is the main exam that all students must take and pass to gain licensure and work as a licensed practical nurse.

Requirements: Once you finish your online LPN program, you must contact your state's nursing regulatory body to request authorization to test. Each NRB has its specific requirements for testing. Once that is approved, you can then register to sit for the test. Your test must be completed within the validity dates of your authorization.

Exam Format: Six-hour time allotment, alternative item format (more than just multiple-choice, including fill-in-the-blank and other assessment options), and computer adaptive where items are based on each candidate's ability

Certification Terms: In most states, the exam can be taken up to eight times per year with a 45-day waiting period in between attempts. Upon passing, you receive a permanent license. Each state determines the renewal period and amount of continuing education that is required to maintain your license, if any.

Earning certifications in various skills can help you appeal to multiple employers. Over 20 different types of certificates are available to licensed practical nurses, with IV Therapy as one of the most popular. It is one of the post-licensure credentials that is often required by employers.

Requirements: Pay the registration fee and the testing fee, and then pass the test with 80% or higher score

Exam Format: Multiple-choice, time-limited

Certification Terms: The certificate is valid for three years from the issue date

As one of the available 20 certifications, the Long-Term Care certification is another popular one, which may be because the highest number of licensed vocational nurse jobs are in nursing homes. Becoming certified in this area may make you more marketable to those employers.

Requirements: Pay the registration fee and the testing fee and then pass the test with 80% or higher score

Exam Format: Multiple-choice, time-limited

Certification Terms: The certificate is valid for three years from the issue date

Professional Organizations

Joining a professional nursing organization can give you the opportunity to connect with others who are pursuing the same or similar career path. Being part of a nursing organization can also provide you with the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals. Here are a few organizations you can join:

This organization is dedicated to the professional development of nursing students and has 60,000 members nationwide. Read More
By giving a voice to nurses and working to advance the voice of the profession, this organization works to transform health policy and practice. Read More
This organization, founded in 1949, works to serve the nursing community and promote nursing education. Read More
Not only can you join as a member and enjoy one of the oldest associations that advocates for LPN/LVNs, but you can also earn certifications from this organization to further your nursing career. Read More

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