To become an LPN (licensed practical nurse), you'll complete a state-approved practical nursing program, which typically takes about a year, then pass a licensing exam and get licensed by your state board of nursing. Programs run at community colleges, technical schools and some high schools.
It's one of the fastest ways into nursing, and the same job is called an LVN (licensed vocational nurse) in some states. Here's the path, the exam and what you can expect to earn.
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook and the NCLEX registration rules, read on 26 October 2026.
How to become an LPN, step by step
- Find a state-approved program. Your state board of nursing keeps the list. Certificate and diploma programs are the most common.
- Complete the program. Expect subjects such as nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, plus supervised clinical experience. Most programs take about a year.
- Apply to your state board. The board confirms you've met its education rules and makes you eligible to test.
- Register for and pass the licensing exam. You can't work as an LPN until you've passed it and been licensed.
- Add useful certifications. Some employers require or prefer CPR or basic life support certification.
Watch the exam registration clock
The NCLEX, the national nursing licensure exam, has a rule worth knowing before you register. Registrations stay open for 365 days while you wait for your state board to make you eligible. If the board hasn't made you eligible within that time, you forfeit both the registration and the exam fee and have to pay again. Once you're eligible, you must test within the dates on your Authorization to Test email.
So don't register months before you've finished your program and applied to the board. Get your board application moving first, then register.
Where LPNs work and what they earn
| Workplace | Share of LPN jobs | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 37% | $68,020 |
| Hospitals | 16 in every 100 | $61,160 |
| Home healthcare services | 12 in every 100 | $63,580 |
| Offices of physicians | 11 in every 100 | $59,520 |
| Government | 6 in every 100 | $68,970 |
Those figures are as of October 2026. The surprise is that hospitals paid LPNs less than nursing and residential care facilities did, so don't assume a hospital job is the best-paid option. Overall, the median for LPNs and LVNs was $64,400, with the lowest 10% earning less than $49,740 and the highest 10% more than $83,440.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of LPNs and LVNs to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 51,800 openings each year. There were 666,900 jobs in 2025. As the population ages, demand for care in nursing homes and patients' own homes keeps rising.
Shifts, travel and moving up
Most LPNs work full time, and because care runs around the clock, some work nights, weekends, holidays and shifts longer than eight hours. Some travel around the country to fill gaps where there aren't enough healthcare workers. Optional certifications in areas like gerontology, wound care and IV therapy can lift your value to employers.
Many LPNs later move up through an LPN-to-RN program. When you're ready, our guide on how to become a registered nurse covers that next step, and this piece on qualifying for remote LPN jobs looks at roles away from the bedside.
What LPNs do on shift
BLS lists these typical duties for LPNs and LVNs:
- Checking blood pressure, temperature and other vital signs
- Providing basic care and comfort, such as changing bandages and helping with bathing or dressing
- Talking with patients and listening to their concerns
- Reporting patients' status to registered nurses or physicians
- Documenting care and keeping health records
The job changes with the setting. In private homes, LPNs may reinforce a registered nurse's instructions to family members. In hospitals, they might collect samples and run routine lab tests. In nursing homes, they may feed patients who need help eating. BLS highlights compassion, attention to detail, multitasking across several patients and the physical stamina to bend over patients for long periods.
Questions to ask before you enroll
- Is the program on my state board's approved list? If it isn't, you may not be allowed to sit the licensing exam.
- Does it include enough clinical hours? Supervised clinical experience is part of every approved program, so ask where placements happen.
- Can I handle shift work? Nights, weekends and long shifts are common because care never stops.
- Do I want to become an RN later? If so, ask whether the school offers or partners with an LPN-to-RN program.
Getting these answers before you pay a deposit saves you from the most common and expensive mistakes new students make.
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My verdict
Becoming an LPN is one of the quickest routes into paid nursing work, about a year of training plus the exam. Choose a state-approved program, time your exam registration carefully and look beyond hospitals when you compare job offers. If you want to keep climbing, the LPN license is a solid first rung toward becoming an RN.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become an LPN?
Most state-approved practical nursing programs take about a year, followed by the licensing exam and your state license.
What's the difference between an LPN and an LVN?
They're the same role under different names. BLS groups licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses together.
How much do LPNs make?
BLS reports a median of $64,400 a year for LPNs and LVNs in May 2025.
Where do LPNs earn the most?
Among the top employers BLS lists, government paid a median of $68,970 and nursing and residential care facilities $68,020.
Can an LPN become an RN?
Yes. Many complete an LPN-to-RN education program to become registered nurses.
What happens if my exam registration expires?
NCLEX registrations stay open 365 days awaiting eligibility. If you aren't made eligible in that time, you forfeit the fee and must register again.
Do LPNs work nights?
Some do. Care runs around the clock, so nights, weekends, holidays and shifts longer than eight hours are common.
Where do most LPNs work?
Nursing and residential care facilities employ 37% of LPNs and LVNs, the largest share in the BLS data.
Can you train to be an LPN in high school?
Some high schools offer approved practical nursing programs, alongside community colleges and technical schools.
