How to Become an LPN in Pennsylvania
The field of nursing continues to be a growing career and will continue to be strong. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in Pennsylvania make up 23% of the nursing workforce in the state. Becoming an LPN is the fastest route to becoming a nurse.
Nursing as a career is very rewarding, but it can also be one of the toughest career choices. Anyone choosing to be a nurse must have the compassion to take care of patients no matter the age, illness or injury and the stamina to carry out a busy work day. Nursing is a 24 hour job and nurses work one of three shifts and the work week includes holidays and weekends.
LPN Education Requirements
LPNs are required to complete an accredited LPN program. Most programs take eight to twelve months to complete and offer a diploma or certificate upon completion. There are two year LPN programs that offer an Associate’s degree in Nursing upon completion. Programs can be found at community colleges and vocational training schools as well as two and four year colleges and universities.
An LPN program includes class and clinical training and both are taught by certified nursing instructors. Class room subjects include nursing fundamentals and administration, pharmacology, anatomy, nutrition, obstetric, pediatric and geriatric care, psychology, biology and communication skills. Clinical training will include hands on patient care in a healthcare facility.
LPN candidates are also required to obtain a CPR card and pass the National Council for Licensure Examination for LPNs (NCLEX-PN). At the completion of the program, the graduate is required to apply to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to take the exam. Most LPN programs include a CPR class as part of the course of study.
The Pennsylvania LPN Licensing Procedure
Graduate LPNs are required to be licensed by the state of Pennsylvania before holding a nursing position. To take the NCLEX-PN exam, the graduate must apply to the PA State Board of Nursing and upon application approval, register with Pearson VUE, the exam administrator. Once the Nursing Board has approved the student’s application, Pearson View will give the applicant a 90 day window to take the exam. The student will choose from the available dates and times and sign up for the exam. If the exam is not taken within the 90 days, a new application will have to be submitted. The application includes a finger print card and a criminal background check.
LPN licenses expire on 30 June of even numbered years and all LPNs are required to renew their licenses every two years. There are no required continuing education hours to be completed as a requirement to renew a license, but the PA State Board of Nursing requires all nurses to stay current with the latest and newest nursing methods and encourage all nurses to take classes and attend seminars on a regular basis.
LPN Salaries in Pennsylvania
An LPN salary averages $19.85 per hour and $41,300 annually. Salary for a newly licensed LPN with no to little experience averages $25 to $28,000 annually. In addition to salary, an LPN compensation package may include health insurance, long term disability, life insurance, pension and/or 401K participation, compensated time off and tuition reimbursement.
The high end of the LPN salary scale is about $70,000 annually. Salary increases through the career of an LPN depends on the number of years of experience, the type of facility and the level of responsibility.
LPNs will find employment opportunities in nursing homes and hospitals, home care and hospice organizations, visiting nurse organizations, assisted care facilities, clinics, private medical practices, educational facilities, incarceration establishments and temporary nursing staffing companies.
LPN Schools in Pennsylvania
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List of Approved PA Practical Nursing Schools
Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940
215-968-8316
Bucks County Community College – Perkasie Campus
One Hillendale Road
Perkasie, PA 18944
215-968-8316
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County Practical Nursing Program
3201 Rockwell Avenue
Scranton, PA 18508
570-346-8728
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology
540 North Harrison Road
Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
814-359-2582
Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center
1339 Saint Mary Street, Suite 2
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-768-4960
Clarion County Career Center LPN Program
490 Career Lane
Shippenville, PA 16254
814-226-5857
Clearfield County Career & Technology Center Practical Nursing Program
1620 River Road
Clearfield, PA 16830
814-765-4047
Community College of Beaver County LPN Program
1 Campus Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
724-775-8561, Ext. 199
Crawford County Career & Technology Center
860 Thurston Road
Meadville, PA 16335
814-724-6028
Delaware County Technical School LPN Program
200 Yale Ave
Morton, PA 19070
484-423-7003, ext.6675
District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund
100 South Broad Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19110
215-568-2220, Ext. 264
Eastern Center for Arts & Technology LPN Program
3075 Terwood Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
215-784-4835
Eastern – ACTS, Inc. Satellite LPN Program
ACTS, Inc. Special Services Building
812 Bethlehem Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
215-784-4805
Eastern – Park House at Providence Point Satellite LPN Program
1600 Black Rock Road
Royersford, PA 19468
215-784-4805
Eastern – Peter Beck Community LPN Program
434 Schoolhouse Road
Harleysville, PA 19438
215-784-4805
Erie Business Center LPN Program
246 West 9th Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-456-7504
Fayette County Area Vocational Technical School
175 Georges Fairchance Road
Uniontown, PA 15401
724-437-2724, Ext. 124
Fortis Institute Erie Campus
5757 West Ridge Rd
Erie, PA 16506
814-838-7673, ext. 5039
Fortis Institute Scranton Campus
517 Ash Street
Scranton, PA 18509
570-558-1818
Franklin County Career & Technology Center LPN Program
1015 Philadelphia Avenue
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-263-5667
Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center LPN Program
1500 Fourth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
814-946-8490
Greater Johnstown Area Vocational & Technical School LPN Program
445 Schoolhouse Road
Johnstown, PA 15904
814-269-4393
Admiral Peary Satellite
948 Ben Franklin Highway
Ebensburg, PA 15931
814-472-6490, Ext. 155
Monroeville Satellite
339 Old Haymaker Rd.
Monroeville, PA 15401
412-380-1416
Greene County Career & Technology Center LPN Program
60 Zimmerman Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
724-627-3106, Ext. 201
Hanover Public School District Practical Nursing Program
403 Moul Avenue
Hanover, PA 17331
717-637-2111
Harrisburg Area Community College LPN Program
One HACC Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-780-2380
Harrisburg Area Community College – Lancaster Campus
1641 Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-358-2880
Hazleton Area Career Center Practical Nursing Program
1451 West 23rd Street
Hazleton, PA 18202
570-459-3178, Ext. 407
Huntingdon County Career & Technology Center Practical Nursing Program
Vo Tech Drive, P.O. Box E
Mill Creek, PA 17060
814-643-6525
Indiana County Technology Center
441 Hamill Road
Indiana, PA 15701
724-349-6700
Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School Practical Nursing Program
565 Lewis Run Road
Jefferson Hills, PA 15025
724-349-6700
Institute for Caregiver Education
162 Farm Credit Drive
Chambersburg, PA 17202
717-263-7766
Jefferson County-Dubois Area Vocational Technical School Practical Nursing Program
576 Vo-Tech Drive
Reynoldsville, PA 15851
814-653-8420
Kaplan Career Institute Practical Nursing Program
933 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-338-4770
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Practical Nursing Program
1730 Hans Herr Drive
P.O. Box 527
Willow Street, PA 17584
717-464-7063
Lebanon County Career & Technology Center
833 Metro Drive
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-273-8551, Ext. 2220
Lehigh Carbon Community College
4525 Education Park Drive
Schnecksville, PA 18078
610-799-1525
The Morgan Center Satellite Campus
234 High Street
Tamaqua, PA 18252
570-668-6880
Lenape Area Vocational Technical School Practical Nursing Program
83 Glade Drive
Kititanning, PA 16201
724-545-7311, Ext. 227
Lawrence County Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing Program
750 Phelps Way
New Castle, PA 16101
724-658-3583, ext. 7112
Lincoln Technical Institute Allentown
5151 Tilghman St
Allentown, PA 18104
610-398-5300, ext. 40742
Lincoln Technical Institute Northeast
2810 Hornig Rd., Building A
Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-969-0869
Lincoln Technical Institute Philadelphia
3600 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-382-1553
Mercer County Career Center
776 Greenville Road
Mercer, PA 16137
724-662-3000, Ext. 1405
Mercyhurst University
16 West Division Street
North East, PA 16428
814-725-6238
Mifflin-Juniata Career & Technology Center
700 Pitt Street
Lewistown, PA 17044
717-447-0394
Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, PA 18020
610-861-5376
Monroe County Career & Technical Institute
Monroe County Satellite Campus
Bartonsville, PA 18321
570-619-6272
Northern Tier Career Center
RR 1, Box 157 A
Towanda, PA 18848
570-265-8113
Penn Commercial Business Technical School
242 Oak Spring Road
Washington, PA 15301
724-222-5330
Pennsylvania College of Technology (Credit)
One College Avenue
Williamsport, PA 17701
570-327-4525
Pennsylvania College of Technology (Non-Credit)
North Campus Outreach Services
12880 Route 6
Wellsboro, PA 16901
570-724-7703
Pennsylvania Institute of Health & Technology
P.O. Box 278
Mount Braddock, PA 15465
724-437-4600
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
800 Manchester Ave.
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1568
Pennsylvania State University Lehigh Valley Campus
2809 Saucon Valley Road
Center Valley, PA 18034
610-849-0270
Penn State University Berks Campus
The Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
South Parkside Drive & Museum Road
West Reading, PA 19611
610-849-0270
Pennsylvania State University Hazleton Campus
76 University Drive
Hazleton, PA 18201
610-849-0270
Pittsburgh Technical Institute
1111 McKee Road
Oakdale, PA 15071
412-809-5100
Princeton Information Technology Center
140 South Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038
215-576-5650
Prism Career Institute
8040 Roosevelt Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19152
215-331-4600
Reading Area Community College
10 South Second Street Programs, Box 1706
Reading, PA 19603
610-372-4721, Ext. 3944
Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus
101 Technology Drive
Frackville, PA 17931
570-874-1034, Ext. 4881
Somerset County Technology Center
281 Technology Drive
Somerset, PA 15501
814-443-3817
Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center
P.O. Box 100
Dimock, PA 18816
570-278-6759
Venango County Area Vocational Technical School
1 Vo-Tech Drive
Oil City, PA 16301
814-677-3097, Ext. 207
Western Area Career and Technology Center
688 Western Avenue
Canonsburg, PA 15317
724-746-2890, Ext. 117
Westmoreland County Community College
400 Armbrust Road
Youngwood, PA 15697
724-925-4028
Indiana County Community College Center of WCCC
45 Airport Road
Indiana, PA 15701
724-357-1404
Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center
350 Jumper Road, P.O. Box 1699
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705
570-822-6539, Ext. 112
York County School of Technology
2179 South Queen Street
York, PA 17402
717-741-0820, Ext. 2302
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