How to become an LPN

1. 1Meet the entry requirements

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: VariesSources 1

   Practical nursing programs ask for a high school diploma or GED, and many require an entrance test, a criminal background check, a drug screen, immunization records and CPR certification before clinicals. Some programs want you to be a certified nursing assistant first, or give admission preference if you are. Community college programs can have waiting lists, so apply early and compare start dates at more than one school.

2. 2Complete a state-approved practical nursing program

   Time: About 12 months full timeCost: $4,616 a year (median public tuition)Sources 1, 2

   Choose a program approved by your state board of nursing; without that approval you cannot sit for the licensing exam. Coursework covers nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, maternity and pediatrics. You also complete supervised clinical rotations in nursing homes, hospitals or clinics. Programs are offered by community colleges, technical schools and some high school career centers.

3. 3Apply to your state board and register for the NCLEX-PN

   Time: 2-8 weeksCost: $200 NCLEX fee plus state application feeSources 3, 4

   Near graduation, apply for licensure with the nursing board in the state where you want to work and register for the exam with Pearson VUE. The board confirms you are eligible and issues an Authorization to Test, after which you schedule your exam. Many boards also require fingerprints for a background check. The NCLEX registration fee is $200 now and becomes $350 on Feb. 1, 2027.

4. 4Pass the NCLEX-PN

   Time: One exam day (up to 5 hours)Cost: Included aboveSources 5, 11

   The NCLEX-PN is a computer adaptive exam that tests safe, entry-level practical nursing. You answer between 85 and 150 items in up to five hours, and the test stops once it is confident you have passed or failed. It includes clinical judgment case studies built around realistic patient scenarios. If you fail, you must wait at least 45 days (some boards require longer), then reregister with Pearson and pay the fee again.

5. 5Get licensed and start work

   Time: Days to weeks after passingSources 6, 7, 12, 13, 1

   Once your results are posted, the board issues your license and you can work as an LPN or LVN. If your home state belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, you may qualify for a multistate license that lets you work in other compact states. Some employers require or prefer Basic Life Support (CPR) certification. Licenses must be renewed on the board's schedule, and some states require continuing education.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Medication accuracy

On a long-term care unit an LPN may pass medications to dozens of residents in one round, and every dose has to match the order and be charted.

Noticing changes in condition

LPNs are often the first licensed nurse to see that a resident is confused, short of breath or running a fever, and a quick report to the RN can prevent a hospital transfer.

Wound and skin care

Pressure injuries, surgical wounds and diabetic ulcers are a large part of the work in nursing homes and home health.

Physical stamina

The job means 8 to 12 hours on your feet, plus helping lift, turn and transfer patients.

Calm communication

LPNs explain care to anxious patients and families and give clear direction to nursing assistants during busy shifts.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension, critical thinking.

Training cost

$4.8K–$9.4K

Before financial aid

Time

18 months

Typical path

Median pay

$64,400

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: one year at the Scorecard median public in-state tuition for practical nursing certificates ($4,616) + NCLEX registration ($200). High: two years at the same tuition for part-time or longer programs ($9,232) + NCLEX ($200). Not included: uniforms, books, background check, state license fees, and private or for-profit school tuition, which is often much higher. The NCLEX fee rises to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Registered nurse$97,550 median

  The most common next step. LPN-to-RN bridge programs give credit for LPN training, leading to an associate or bachelor's degree and the NCLEX-RN.

• Nurse practitioner$132,300 median

  After becoming an RN and earning a BSN, a nurse can complete a master's or doctoral NP program and pass a national certification exam.

• Paramedic$60,600 median

  LPNs drawn to emergency care can train as EMTs and then paramedics; patient assessment skills carry over, but paramedic programs and NREMT exams are separate.

• Physician assistant$135,880 median

  Hands-on patient care hours from LPN work can count toward PA program admission, but you also need a bachelor's degree and a master's-level PA program.