Virginia, VA | LPN Nursing Program Information

Before applying to a Licensed Practical Nurse program, prerequisite college courses must be completed. This takes around six months and usually results in around 30 credit hours of completed study. Both scientific topics such as biology and chemistry, as well as arts classes such as sociology and English must be taken, as nursing requires both scientific knowledge and good interpersonal skills. It is necessary to do well in these courses—although minimum requirements for entry can be as low as a C average, entry into nursing programs is highly competitive and grades are the biggest factor in deciding who gets into the best programs.

Once prerequisites have been successfully completed, it is time to apply to a nursing school with a state-approved Licensed Practical Nurse program, which takes around a year to complete. It is advisable to identify a school that has a good nursing program before taking prerequisites—that way, you know they will recognize those courses already taken. And while LPN programs are available statewide in colleges, universities and private institutions, there is significant variance in entry requirements based on school guidelines, so it is good to be familiar with what is expected of a prospective LPN before applying to your school of choice.

Every nursing school has its own admission procedures but, once admitted, LPN programs typically require around 60 credit hours of schoolwork, which takes a year of full time study.  The most efficient route to an LPN is through a diploma program, but it is also possible to take the National Counsel Licensing Examination-Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) after the first year of an Associate Degree, Nursing. No matter which route you take, The Virginia Board of Nursing charges a $130 application fee before taking to NCLEX-PN in addition to the $200 examination fee charged by exam administrator Pearson Vue.

Once a student has received their official passing results from the Virginia Board of Nursing, they are eligible to begin working as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Virginia. Virginia LPN licenses must be renewed every two years at a cost of $95, which can be done online.