LPN To RN Colleges

LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and RN (Registered Nurse) are the main nursing qualifications. Besides more career options and better remuneration, the major difference between LPNs and RNs is the education course. A LPN program usually takes about a year of nursing education, while the RN requires two to four years of training, which leads to an associate or bachelor degree.

LPN and RN colleges are a combination of theory and practical training in a 50-50 ratio. Practical training is done under supervision in a hospital or clinical environment. The RN education curriculum comprises of classes in theoretical and administrative functions, which are not included in the LPN education.

LPNs who aspire to become RNs can enroll in colleges with LPN to RN bridging programs. These courses usually offer credits for the nursing experience and skills that LPNs already possessed and prepare them to sit for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) examination.

Colleges with LPN to RN programs either follow the associate degree or the bachelor degree (BSN) education course. Besides the usual academic prerequisites, students enrolling in the LPN RN colleges have to furnish evidence of their LPN certification and working experience.

Generally the college LPN to RN bridge program is about one to two years for an associate degree and longer for a BSN. Some colleges offer accelerated learning tracks, which generally reduce the learning time by 6 months to a year. The program costs vary from USD 4500 to USD 7000 per year, depending on the college.

For those with budget or time constraints, there are the options of LPN to RN online colleges. These colleges offer savings of up to 50% of the traditional classroom courses. Furthermore, you can fix your own study schedules. The Excelsior College LPN to RN program includes workshops which provide practical training to supplement the online theory learning.