Accredited Online LPN Programs & Schools 2026

<p>Online LPN programs involve both online and on-site components to prepare students to work as licensed practical nurses. Students can complete some coursework online but they're required to do clinical practice hours on-site at specific locations, and they may also need to attend some campus meetings. </p> <h3 id="section---LPNProgramPrerequisites">LPN Program Prerequisites</h3> <p>Admission requirements vary by school but often include many of the same fundamental prerequisites. </p> <ul><li><b>Previous Education</b> - LPN programs require students to have earned a high school diploma or an equivalent, and may also require a qualifying GPA. </li><li><b>Exams</b> - Students may need to have earned a qualifying score on the ACT or SAT. In addition, most schools require students to take college entrance exams and earn a specific score. These exams can include literacy and/or math assessments, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE). </li><li><b>Medical</b> - Due to the nature of the clinical practice component of LPN programs, students often need to meet certain medical requirements. These may include having valid medical insurance, up-to-date immunization records and valid CPR certification. </li><li><b>Other</b> - Students might also need to complete and pass a background check as well as a drug screening. </li></ul><h3 id="section---Length">Length</h3> <p>The length of an online LPN program varies by student. Students taking classes full-time can finish in one year, and students studying part-time can finish in two or more years. Students who have prior college credits that are transferred into their program can finish in under one year. LPN programs may consist of 40 to 50 credits of coursework, plus a certain number of clinical practice hours. </p> <h3 id="section---PracticalRequirements">Practical Requirements</h3> <p>Depending on the program, students may need to complete as many as 700 hours of clinical practice as well as on-campus sessions. Clinical practice hours involve students working under the supervision of registered nurses and/or instructors, providing assistance to healthcare professionals and caring for patients. Students may complete clinical requirements in various settings including hospitals, physicians' offices and nursing homes. </p> <p>On-campus requirements can involve lab exercises, lectures, networking and/or assessments. Some online LPN programs only require students to attend campus sessions a few times within their degree curriculum, while other programs require students to come to campus multiple times each semester. </p> <h3 id="section---OnlineLPNProgramRequirements">Online LPN Program Requirements</h3> <p>In online LPN programs, most coursework is completed online. At the beginning of a program, students usually need to complete some type of introduction to their online learning portal. This may be offered as a video, tutorial, or in another format. Students are required to complete these items prior to the beginning of their courses to ensure they are familiar with the learning platform. </p> <p>The learning platform is often provided by a third-party site and may include a variety of program resources. Students often use these portals to view lectures, reading assignments, complete homework items, take tests, and communicate with peers and instructors. Depending on their course format, students may be able to access and complete items at their convenience during certain time frames (such as weekly), or they may be required to log in at scheduled times for some course components (such as live lectures or scheduled exams). </p> <h3 id="section---CommonOnlineLPNCourses">Common Online LPN Courses</h3> <p>Although LPN programs may contain a wide range of courses, many have some of the same foundational classes. </p> <ul><li><b>Anatomy</b> - Students learn about the functions, structure and health processes of the various systems in the human body, such as the muscular, skeletal and immune systems. </li><li><b>Medical Terminology</b> - Within this course, students develop a foundational understanding of suffixes, prefixes and roots that are used in medical terms and abbreviations. </li><li><b>Intro to Nursing</b> - Students explore the basic roles of nurses and patient needs, and may learn basic nursing skills and practices (such as taking vital signs). </li><li><b>Composition</b> - This course provides students with an overview of entry-level college writing expectations and practices, and usually involves one or more research paper assignments. </li><li><b>Nursing Foundations</b> - Students learn theoretical foundations of nursing and how to provide quality and professional care for patients of various populations. </li><li><b>Maternal Nursing</b> - This course provides students with a deeper understanding of health needs and care for women during and after childbirth. </li><li><b>Nursing Concepts</b> - In this course students study various practical nursing topics which may include infections, glucose monitoring, ostomies, catheters and client education. </li><li><b>Surgical Nursing</b> - Topics covered in this course may include nutrition, IV skills, feeding tubes, wound drainage, staples, testing and how to handle patient distress. </li><li><b>Nursing Transition</b> - Students learn more about nursing practice in the healthcare system, focusing on topics such as leadership, professionalism, licensure preparation and professional organizations. </li><li><b>Pharmacology</b> - This course gives students a basic understanding of various drug therapies as well as their uses, limitations and classifications. </li></ul><h2 id="section---HowToChooseAnOnlineLPNProgram">How to Choose an Online LPN Program</h2> <p>There are a few things that you should keep in mind when choosing a school for your online LPN program, several of which are discussed below. </p> <h3 id="section---ResidencyRequirements">Residency Requirements</h3> <p>One of the most important considerations in choosing your LPN program and school are the residency requirements. Regardless of which school you choose, you'll at least need to complete clinical practicum hours. When reviewing your schools, see if these hours can be completed near your geographic area or if they're offered at specific locations near the school. If clinical hours are, in fact, only available near the school, see if they are done in sessions (for example, a two-week block) or if they last throughout a semester. You may be able to complete a program with clinical practicum locations far from you if they can be done in blocks of time. </p> <h3 id="section---Flexibility">Flexibility</h3> <p>Some schools offer online LPN programs in both full-time and part-time options, while other schools may only offer one or the other. You should consider your time commitments and availability to decide which plan of study will work best for you. Also, review the in-person clinical components to assess how they will work with your schedule. </p> <h3 id="section---Accreditation">Accreditation</h3> <p>Schools and programs can be accredited separately by various organizations. LPN programs can be accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Attending an accredited school or program helps to qualify students for financial aid, transfer credits in future degree programs, and may also aid with employment. Graduating from an accredited nursing program has the same benefits, and may be required for licensure as an LPN. </p> <h3 id="section---Cost">Cost</h3> <p>The cost of an LPN program completed in hybrid format can vary by school but can range from $3,000 to $7,000 or more. Students in online LPN programs can apply for various types of financial aid, potentially having the entire program costs covered. Students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the first step in looking for financial aid resources. </p> <h2 id="section---TopSchoolsWithOnlineLPNPrograms">Top Schools with Online LPN Programs</h2> <p>When considering an online LPN program, you should consider several factors such as residency requirements, program length flexibility. Several top schools with online options for LPN programs are listed below. </p> <p>Learn.org's school ranking methodology categorizes and assesses data from schools and other reliable sources, such as the U.S. Department of Education, and weighs the information based on quality, cost, value and other factors critical to students' academic decisions. </p> <h3 id="section---1.PinellasTechnicalCollegeClearwater">1. Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Clearwater, FL </td><td>$5,020 </td><td>47%</td></tr> </table><p>Pinellas Technical College in Clearwater, Florida, is a leading distance-education provider in the state and has over 250 industry and business partners who help to guide programs and students towards gainful employment. The practical nursing program is available in a hybrid format, with courses offered primarily online. Students complete a total of 1350 hours: 675 hours of theory/coursework and 675 hours of clinical practice. Students will complete some of the coursework hours on-campus, such as lab work or educational sessions, typically offered in the evenings. The clinical hours are usually offered on the weekends or evenings at facilities that are local to PTC-Clearwater. </p> <h3 id="section---2.LakeAreaTechnicalInstitute">2. Lake Area Technical Institute</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Watertown, SD </td><td>$5,332 </td><td>92%</td></tr> </table><p>The Practical Nursing E-Degree at Lake Area Technical Institute is available to residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Students can complete the program in 11 months of full-time study or 22 months of part-time study. All coursework can be completed online except for 4 classes, which can be taken on campus at LATI or at another accredited community college. Students are required to complete 496 clinical hours; 144 hours near LATI and 352 hours in other communities (arranged by instructors). Students interested in pursuing an associate's degree after earning their LPN can complete an additional 39 credits, including 8 nursing courses, at LATI to qualify for RN licensure. </p> <h3 id="section---3.NorthlandCommunityAndTechnicalCollege">3. Northland Community and Technical College</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Thief River Falls, MN </td><td>$5,549 </td><td>87%</td></tr> </table><p>Students of Northland Community and Technical College can earn their nursing diploma and prepare for LPN licensure in three semesters. Students focus on holistic care for diverse populations. The practical nursing diploma program consists of 44 credit hours of coursework that students can complete primarily online. Students will attend on-campus skill sessions at select times for four courses as well as complete clinical hours at the East Grand Forks, MN, campus. </p> <h3 id="section---4.HolmesCommunityCollege">4. Holmes Community College</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Goodman, MS </td><td>$3,110 </td><td>91%</td></tr> </table><p>The hybrid practical nursing program at Holmes Community College consists of 45 credit hours and takes five semesters to complete. Students take coursework and complete clinicals in the spring semester of each year, finishing after five springs. HCC has three campuses throughout Mississippi, giving students more flexibility to complete their on-site requirements. </p> <h3 id="section---5.MontgomeryCommunityCollege">5. Montgomery Community College</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Troy, NC </td><td>$2,537 </td><td>77%</td></tr> </table><p>The hybrid practical nursing program at Montgomery Community College consists of 48 semester credit hours and 480 hours of clinical practice. Most curriculum can be completed online and the program takes a total of one year. MCC boasts an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8-to-1 and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. </p> <h2 id="section---StepByStepGuideToBecomingALicensedPracticalNurse">Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse</h2> <p>To become a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Personal_Care_Assistant_PCA_License_Answers_to_Your_Questions.html">licensed practical nurse</a>, there are several steps that you'll need to take including completing a qualifying program and obtaining licensure. </p> <h3 id="section---Step1CompleteAPracticalNursingProgram">Step 1: Complete a Practical Nursing Program</h3> <p>To qualify for an LPN position, you will first have to complete a state-approved diploma program. Students should check with their state's nursing board to confirm that their school choices meet the criteria for curriculum and practical requirements. Students who graduate from non-approved programs are not eligible to take the national licensure exam. </p> <h3 id="section---Step2.GettingLicensed">Step 2. Getting Licensed</h3> <p>After completing a state-approved program, students can apply for an Authorization to Test (ATT) with their state nursing board. Once they have been approved to take their exam, candidates should register to take the NCLEX-PN at an approved testing center. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides LPN candidates with resources for testing centers, fee payment, and practice tests. </p> <p>Results are officially sent to test-takers six weeks after they've taken their exam. Those who did not pass will receive a performance report that explains which areas need to be improved; they can retake the exam up to eight times each year. Nurses who do pass will receive either a state license, which is valid in their specific state only or a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license, which is valid in most states. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3.ContinuingEducation">Step 3. Continuing Education</h3> <p>To maintain licensure, LPNs will need to renew their license every few years. License renewals will require some continuing education and employment, although the specific requirements and license validity periods vary by state. </p> <h2 id="section---ProfessionalOrganizationsForLPNs">Professional Organizations for LPNs</h2> <p>There are a variety of professional organizations available to licensed practical nurses, several of which are discussed below. </p> <ul><li><b>National Association of Licensed Professional Nurses (NALPN)</b> - NALPN is the primary professional organization for LPNs, offering membership to students, employers, as well as current and retired LPNs. The organization has over 3,500 members, 125 scholarships, and various partner associations and awards. </li><li><b>The American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN)</b> - LPN membership in AAMN gives members the ability to vote and serve on committees. Both male and female nurses are eligible to join. The association has the primary objective of advancing men in nursing. </li><li><b>American Academy of Nursing (AAN)</b> - AAN has over 2,400 members, or fellows, who are leaders in the field of nursing, working in roles such as management, research, and academia. New members must be recommended and approved. </li><li><b>American Nurses Association (ANA)</b> - Members of ANA have access to various discounts, educational resources and publications. Members also gain state-specific resources and communications from their state associations. </li></ul><h2 id="section---LicensedPracticalNurseSalaryOutlook">Licensed Practical Nurse: Salary &amp; Outlook</h2> <p>Licensed practical nurses work directly under the supervision and direction of doctors and registered nurses, providing basic healthcare services to patients. They may be responsible for tasks such as changing bandages, monitoring blood pressure and bathing patients. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this job to grow 11% between 2018 and 2028. In 2018, they had a median salary of $46,240, with the highest-paid LPNs earning more than $62,160. </p> <h2 id="section---OtherCareerOptionsForLPNProgramGraduates">Other Career Options for LPN Program Graduates</h2> <p>LPN program graduates may pursue or advance to other careers, several of which are compared below. </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalAssistants">Medical Assistants</h3> <p>Medical assistants aren't always required to have specific college training, so LPN graduates may have an advantage over other candidates. Medical assistants are responsible for various clinical and administrative duties that can include taking vital signs, patient histories and examining patients. They had a median salary of $33,610 in 2018 and are expected to see a 23% job growth from 2018 to 2028. </p> <h3 id="section---PsychiatricTechnicianOrAide">Psychiatric Technician or Aide</h3> <p>Psychiatric technicians are often LPNs, needing at least a college certificate, while psychiatric aides often require a high school diploma or equivalent. Psychiatric technicians can be responsible for monitoring and restraining patients, guiding patients, administering treatments and assisting patients with daily tasks. Psychiatric aides have similar duties with fewer responsibilities; they can't treat patients or monitor medical statuses. These jobs are expected to increase by 12% between 2018 and 2028 and had a median salary of $30,860 in 2018. </p> <h3 id="section---RegisteredNurses">Registered Nurses</h3> <p>LPNs can become registered nurses by completing an LPN to RN program, which typically leads to a bachelor's degree. As registered nurses, they have more responsibilities and independence while caring for patients. Registered nurses had a median annual salary of $71,730 in 2018 and are expected to see a 12% job growth between 2018 and 2028. </p> <p><i>Salary and outlook information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i></p>