A licensed practical nurse provides patients with basic care such as giving baths, recording vital signs and monitoring treatments. Other duties include developing a patient's care plan and handling administrative duties such as making appointments or filing records. An LPN is also qualified to supervise a nursing assistant.
A candidate is expected to have at least a high school diploma or a GED before applying to an online school for LPN training. Students can expect to take classes such as anatomy, introduction to nursing, nursing as a profession and medical terminology. LPN training programs can last anywhere from a year to 18 months. Some online schools offer classes in five-week, eight-week and 15-week formats.
Tuition can cost between $186 and $534 per credit hour, depending on the school. Online schools typically give students the choice to use a payment plan and, like traditional schools, they frequently offer some form of financial aid.
Upon graduation, a certificate or diploma is awarded. Online schools for LPN training also award students with an associate's, a bachelor's or a master's degree. To obtain licensing, you must graduate from an accredited program, then apply for and pass the National Council Licensure Exam for an LPN.
The salary range for an LPN is about $26,000 to $50,000 a year. The average LPN can earn about $34,000 annually. Only a small percentage of LPNs earn $50,000 per year.