Training and Licensing Requirements for LPNs
If you're interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), be aware that there are certain steps you must take in order to pursue this career. Read on to learn more about the basic steps; what you will encounter in an LPN training program; and what to expect when you take the NCLEX-PN.
Basic Steps
- First, a high school diploma or its equivalent is required to even be accepted into an LPN program.
- A state-approved LPN training program usually takes about one year to complete.
- After completing an LPN training program, graduates must take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
- After passing the NCLEX-PN, graduates may begin their LPN careers.
LPN Program Length
In most states, LPN training programs can be completed in one year. There are exceptions, however.
- North Dakota: In this state, it takes aspiring nurses more than two years to complete an associate's degree in practical nursing.
- Connecticut: LPN programs in this state last for just 230 days.
Which Degree Should You Pursue?
All LPN training programs lead to:
- An associate's degree
- A certificate
- Or a diploma
For those who are interested in pursuing other nursing careers, earning an associate's degree is probably the smartest option. With an associate's degree, you will have the opportunity to obtain advanced degrees, such as a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Licensed practical nurse programs are typically offered at community or junior colleges, through hospitals, or at technical colleges. For those who work full time, classes are often available in the evenings or on weekends. Students are typically exposed to a combination of classroom lectures and clinical learning. First, they learn the fundamentals of nursing, which offers students a solid foundation on which to build.
LPN Coursework
Beyond the fundamentals, students take a wide variety of courses. Staple courses include:
- Anatomy and physiology (the human body and its functions)
- Nutrition and diet (how nourishment affects the body)
- Pharmacology (the study of drugs).
Beyond the staple courses, LPN programs might look at specific nursing specialties. For instance:
- Medical/surgical nursing courses discuss the care of those with medical or surgical conditions and situations.
- Psychiatric nursing deals with the care of those who are mentally ill or distressed.
- Maternal nursing encompasses care before, during, and after the birth of a child.
- Pediatrics involves the nursing care of children.
- Depending on the state, there may also be some intravenous (IV) therapy education, which teaches nurses how to administer IVs.
Clinical work, which occurs outside of the classroom, is supervised by either an instructor or a working nurse. This time is usually spent doing different rotations in a hospital setting. By the end of an LPN training program, students should be prepared to take the NCLEX-PN, the last major step toward becoming licensed as a nurse.
The NCLEX-PN
After completing an LPN training program, students should receive their Authorization to Test (ATT), which will allow them to register for the NCLEX-PN. Taking this exam is the final step for aspiring nurses. It is not an easy step by any means. Students must prepare for this exam as they would for any other stringent test, such as the SATs.
Some basic information about the NCLEX-PN:
- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is responsible for developing the NCLEX-PN.
- The NCLEX is not offered in pen-and-paper or oral exam formats.
- The exam is a computer adaptive, variable length test.
- It has between 85 and 205 test questions.
- About 25 questions are pre-test questions that are not scored.
- Most questions are multiple choice, although there are other formats.
- Time limit: five hours
- On average, the NCLEX takes two-and-a-half hours to complete.
- When a candidate has answered enough questions to prove his or her ability is above or below the passing standard, the exam will stop, and the candidate will pass or fail.
The NCLEX exam is designed to test the knowledge and abilities of entry-level nurses. To do this, there are four major areas tested in this exam:
- Safe and Effective Care Environment
- Health Promotion and Maintenance,
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Physiological Integrity
The NCLEX-PN costs $200 in the U.S., although there may be additional fees required by different boards of nursing. To register for this exam, visit the Pearson VUE website.
Article Resources:
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
NCSBN: 2010 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin
Kaplan: NCLEX Overview and Structure