The curriculum of an LPN program is divided into classes such as human anatomy and physiology, pediatric nursing, pharmacology, patient relationships and medical-surgical nursing. Each class runs for a certain period of time. For example, the human anatomy and physiology portion of the LPN program at Surry Community College in North Carolina is one semester long, and is divided into classroom learning and lab experience. The number and intensity of courses and clinical experience determine the overall curriculum length.
Full-time programs will have a shorter curriculum length, which is usually 12 months, such as the full-time day program offered at Orlando Tech in Florida. The same school offers a part-time evening LPN program that is 18 months long, while the part-time program at Princeton Information Technology Center in Pennsylvania is 20 months long.
If you are already trained as a certified nurse assistant, or CNA, you may be able to skip some of your LPN program classes, which would shorten your curriculum. To see if you can use your training in place of a class, your school may ask you to pass an equivalency exam.