For a student to be accepted into a Licensed Practical Nursing program, they must have a high school diploma or a GED and basic proficiency in elementary science and mathematics. For students lacking any of these prerequisites, adult continuing education or general education courses at a community college can get you up to speed. To become a Licensed Practical Nurse, a student must complete two years of coursework and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to achieve certification.
Numerous community colleges, such as Citrus College in Glendora, California, offer full certificate training programs for Licensed Practical Nursing, structured in such a way as to provide the courses and lab experience to sit for and pass the NCLEX-PN exam. Other community colleges only offer basic coursework that will prepare students for the fundamentals of nursing, with no specific focus on passing the exam. Community college coursework can provide hands-on experience, but it sometimes lacks the substance of a comprehensive program.
The main alternative to a community college Licensed Practical Nursing curriculum is a trade or vocational school that offers only the coursework specific to the subject. Where a community college requires nursing students to take several general education courses to earn an associate degree in LPN Nursing, a vocational school only provides the nursing courses, with assistance to students wishing to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. A Licensed Practical Nurse program at a trade school, such as Concorde Career College, can be completed in as little as six months.
The growth of online and distance education has made it possible for Licensed Practical Nursing students to complete most, and in some cases all, of their coursework entirely over the Internet. Some exams do have to be conducted in person. In such a case, an online school contracts with a local community college to provide a laboratory or classroom for a few hours.