How to Become an LPN in North Carolina
Review our detailed hand-picked list of state approved LPN courses available throughout North Carolina. All of the LPN programs listed enjoy Full Approval status from the North Carolina Board of Nursing and our website provides direct links to the Practical Nursing page on each school’s website, along with contact information for each college. The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) regulates the nursing field within the state. The NCBON issue new licenses, renew existing licenses and reinstates licenses that have lapsed or experienced suspension and revocation for registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN).
There are rules and regulations in place that establish nursing standards and policies and validate knowledge, skill and competency for nurses. To become an LPN in North Carolina, the candidate must be accepted to an LPN program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the NCBON. Acceptance standards vary with each school, but typically applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
Most LPN programs take 3 semesters to complete, and graduates receive a diploma or certificate. An LPN program is a combination of class work and clinical training. Class work includes nursing fundamentals, medical terminology, biology, anatomy, pharmacology, nursing practice and standards. Clinical training, which takes place at a local healthcare facility, provides students with the opportunity to participate in hands on patient care. Classes and clinical training will be taught by registered and certified nursing instructors. Students must pass the class work and training to successfully complete the program.
North Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. That means once an LPN is licensed in their home state of a participating Compact member, they can practice nursing in other Compact states without taking the licensing exam. All LPNs must be registered in the state of North Carolina to legally practice nursing. Upon completion of the LPN program, the graduate must submit an application to test to the NCBON. The application will include a fingerprint card and a criminal background check and a passport type picture. The NCBON will approve the application if it is complete and the applicant will register to test with Pearson VUE, the exam administrator.
Graduates must keep in mind the NCBON does not issue temporary licenses to LPN graduates to allow them to work as an LPN while in the exam process. The application to test can be completed online, but the fingerprinting must be completed by a Live Scan Center. The graduate will receive an authorization to test (ATT) from the NCBON and the exam can be scheduled with Pearson VUE. The applicant can choose the most convenient testing center to take the exam. It is also possible to schedule the exam in another state if that is the most convenient testing center. The LPN will be notified of exam pass or fail via email. LPN graduates passing the exam will be added to the active nursing list on the NCBON within five days of the exam.
LPN licenses are valid for two years and expire on the last day of the birth month. A renewal notice will be mailed to the licensee 3 months prior to the expiration of the license. Licenses can only be renewed during those three months. LPNs are required to complete 15 hours of approved continuing education hours to renew an LPN licenses and LPNs will have to provide documentation the continuing education requirements have been completed.
The field of nursing, especially for LPNs, is growing in record numbers. Through the year 2020, nursing positions will increase by 22%, making nursing a very attractive field. LPNs make up 16% of the total nursing workforce in North Carolina, and additional qualified LPNs are always in demand.
The average LPN salary is $55,000 annually, based on a 40 hour work week. Additional benefits may include health insurance, long term disability, tuition reimbursement, time off compensation and pension and/or 401K participation. Entry level LPN salaries average $28,000 to $30,000, based on a 40 hour work week.
LPNs perform a variety of nursing duties including dispensing medication, dressing wounds and changing dressings, implement and maintain patient care plans, monitor patient progress, track vital signs and prepare patients for discharge.
LPN Schools in North Carolina
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Approved North Carolina LPN Training Programs
Asheville – Buncombe Technical Community College
340 Victoria Rd.
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (704) 254-1921 Ext. 261
Beaufort County Community College
5337 Hwy. 264 E.
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: (252) 940-6205
Bladen Community College
7418 Hwy. 41 W.
Dublin, NC 28332
Phone: (910) 879-5632
Brunswick Community College
P.O. Box 30
Supply, NC 28462
Phone: (910) 755-7350
Cape Fear Community College
411 N. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 362-7447
Carteret Community College
3505 Arendell St.
Morehead City, NC 28557
Phone: (252) 222-6112
Coastal Carolina Community College
444 Western Blvd.
Jackson, NC 28546
Phone: (910) 938-6206
Central Carolina Community College
1105 Kelly Dr.
Sanford, NC 27330
Phone: (919) 718-7281
Cleveland Community College
137 S. Post Rd.
Shelby, NC 28152
Phone: (704) 669-4075
College of The Albemarle
1208 N. Rd. St.
Elizabeth City, NC 27906
Phone: (252) 335-0821 Ext. 2308
Craven Community College
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562
Phone: (252) 638-7341
Davidson County Community College
1205 Salisbury Rd.
Mocksville, NC 27028
Phone: (336) 249-8186
Durham Technical Community College
1637 Lawson St.
Durham, NC 27703
Phone: (919) 686-3675
ECPI University Charlotte
4800 Airport Center Pkwy., #100
Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: (704) 399-1010 Ext. 66288
ECPI University Greensboro
7802 Airport Center Dr.
Greensboro, NC 27409
Phone: (336) 665-1400
ECPI University Raleigh
4101 Doie Cope Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27613
Phone: (919) 571-0057
Edgecombe Community College
2009 W. Wilson St.
Tarboro, NC 27886
Phone: (252) 823-5166 Ext 280
Fayetteville Technical Community College
2201 Hull Rd.
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone: (910) 678-8355
Forsyth Technical Community College
2100 Silas Creek Pkwy.
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: (336) 734-7582
Gaston College (Lincoln Campus)
511 S. Aspen St.
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Phone: (704) 748-5202
Guilford Technical Community College
601 High Point Rd.
Jamestown, NC 27282
Phone: (336) 454-1126 Ext. 50548
Halifax Community College
P.O. Drawer 809
Weldon, NC 27890
Phone: (252) 536-6384
Isothermal Community College
286 ICC Loop Rd.
Spindale, NC 28160
Phone: (828) 395-1446
James Sprunt Community College
P.O. Box 398
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 296-2450
Lenoir Community College
P.O. Box 188
Kinston, NC 28502
Phone: (252) 527-6223 Ext. 803
Mayland Community College
100 Mayland Dr.
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Phone: (828) 766-1350
McDowell Technical Community College
54 College Dr.
Marion, NC 28752
Phone: (828) 652-0645
Montgomery Community College
1011 Page St.
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: (910) 576-6222 Ext. 305
Nash Community College
522 N. Old Carriage Rd.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 451-8211
Richmond Community College
Honeycutt Center
600 McLean St.
Laurinburg, NC 28352
Phone: (910) 410-1831
Robeson Community College
5160 Fayetteville Rd.
Lumberton, NC 28360
Phone: (910) 272-3398
Rockingham Community College
P.O. Box 38
Wentworth, NC 27375
Phone: (336) 342-4261 Ext. 2293
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
North Carolina Research Campus
399 Biotechnology Lane
Kannapolis, NC 28081
Phone: (704) 788-3197
Sampson Community College
1801 Sunset Ave.
Clinton, NC 28329
Phone: (910) 592-8081
Sandhills Community College
3395 Airport Rd.
Pinehurst, NC 28374
Phone: (910) 695-3924
South Piedmont Community College
680 Hwy. 74 W.
Polkton, NC 28135
Phone: (704) 290-5281
Southeastern Community College
4564 Chadbourn Hwy.
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 642-7141 Ext. 293
Southwestern Community College
447 College Dr.
Sylva, NC 28779
Phone: (828) 339-4307
Surry Community College
630 S. Main St.
Dobson, NC 27017
Phone: (336) 386-3368
Vance-Granville Community College
P.O. Box 917
Henderson, NC 27536
Phone: (252) 738-3457
Wayne Community College
P.O. Box 8002
Goldsboro, NC 27533
Phone: (919) 735-5152
Wilson Community College
P.O. Box 4305
Wilson, NC 27893
Phone: (252) 246-1333
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