11 Best (1-YEAR) LPN Online Programs
Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Want a job that’s financially stable and secure but also flexible in terms of the settings and hours you can work? Why not enroll in an online LPN program customized to help you earn your LPN diploma in 12 months or less? If you’re wondering what are the best 1-year online LPN programs, you’ll find the answer here! Not only is licensed practical nursing a rewarding profession in itself, but it can also lay the groundwork for taking on more advanced roles in the nursing profession, such as RN or NP. Many LPN programs are offered as distance learning options. Our guide to the 11 best 1-year LPN online programs is a great place to learn about becoming an LVN.
RECOMMENDED ONLINE HEALTHCARE SCHOOLS
What are the Best (1-YEAR) LPN Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on our
Ranking Methodology, the following are the 11 best 1-year LPN online programs in the nation. You can complete these programs in 1 year or less.)
Program Length: 11 Months
Program Details: Lake Area Technical College is home to one of the nation’s best 1-year LPN online programs. The program will prepare you to provide care to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
New cohorts begin twice per year in the spring and fall semesters.
The theory portion of the nursing program is exclusively online. You will visit campus for required campus-based clinical experiences, completing 140 hours of campus-based skills learning. Additionally, you will complete remote clinical experiences at designated clinical affiliate sites.
The 45-credit curriculum consists of general education courses and nursing core courses. 13 credits are earned in general education classes, and it is recommended that you take these classes prior to enrolling in the program, to ease your course load. However, you may take the classes concurrently with the nursing coursework.
You will spend at least 45 hours in the college’s learning laboratory, where you will learn essential nursing skills. Laboratory learning is designed to give you a safe, controlled environment to learn alongside members of your cohort. The program also includes a minimum of 600 hours of direct care clinical hours.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Lake Area Technical College online LPN program is designed to be completed in just 11 months.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 1-year online LPN program at Lake Area Technical College, you must complete an online application and take the ATI-TEAS entrance exam. You must submit official high school and college transcripts reflecting a most recent grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
After meeting general admission requirements and being notified of acceptance, you must meet with the head of the nursing program. You will be required to provide a record of a physical examination done within the last 12 months, current immunization records, and a Mantoux test result performed within the last year.
Although it is not required, if you are a Certified Nursing Assistant or have taken the Northeast Technical High School health sciences course, you will be awarded two credits for prior learning toward the required credits for the LPN program. To receive credit, a record of completion must be submitted to the Admissions Office. All students must submit to a drug screening and criminal background check before progressing to any clinical site.
Why Choose This Program
• Lake Area Technical College reports high NCLEX-PN pass rates among graduates taking the exam for the first time.
• The college offers job placement assistance and reports that most graduates have a job as an LPN within three months of taking and passing the NCLEX-PN and earning their LPN license.
• Lake Area Technical College has several scholarships and grant opportunities for students pursuing the LPN program, including the
Janice Warne Memorial Scholarship.
Program Length: 45 Weeks
Program Details: Eastern Virginia Career College is home to one of the best 1-year LPN programs online. The program is offered in a blended hybrid format. Students are admitted to the program in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Full-time study is required.
The program consists of a 45-credit curriculum, featuring lectures, labs, and clinical practicums. The theoretical portion of the program includes online delivery of lectures in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. Laboratory simulations are held in person on campus.
At Eastern Virginia Career College, you will study core topics, including Anatomy and Physiology, Nutrition, and Pharmacology. You will also learn about maternity, pediatric, psychiatric, and medical-surgical nursing.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online LPN program at Eastern Virginia Career College takes 45 weeks or ten and a half months to complete.
Admission Requirements: To begin the enrollment process for the 1-year online LPN program at Eastern Virginia Career College, you must upload a copy of your driver’s license, state-issued, or U.S. government-issued photo ID, a copy of your social security card, official high school transcript or GED certificate, and transcripts from any post-secondary school you have attended. Candidates must attend an information session and take the HESI A2 entrance exam.
Why Choose This Program
• Excellent NCLEX-PN pass rates at Eastern Virginia Career College are a strong indication that the program is designed to prepare you for success!
• Eastern Virginia Career College has educated practical nursing students for more than 20 years, which means you will learn at a school committed to nursing education and success.
• At EVCC, you will learn from program faculty and clinical preceptors with years of experience in diverse nursing specialties. Learning from their broad range of knowledge and experiences will help catapult you into your nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: The 1-year LPN online program at Tennessee colleges of Applied Technology-McMinnville is a blended cohort model. Students attend classes on campus two days per week. The other three days of the week require attendance through asynchronous online learning.
The first trimester of the program involves learning basic professional vocational relations and nursing fundamentals. The curriculum features classes such as Administration of Medications and Basic IV Therapy, Pharmacology, Advanced Professional Vocational Relations, and Medical and Surgical Nursing.
Clinical practicums begin in the first trimester and continue throughout the program. Clinicals are designed to offer you rich experiences in medical-surgical, pediatric, obstetric, and geriatric patient care. The program director and clinical coordinator arrange clinical sites and assignments. All LPN students complete clinicals under the supervision of clinical faculty or approved preceptors.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online LPN program at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology-McMinnville is designed to be completed in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: As with other 1-year LPN online programs, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent and submit copies of your high school transcript to be considered for admission. All LPN applicants must complete the prerequisite courses, Dosage Calculations and Anatomy and Physiology, with a grade of 80% or higher. Additionally, you must provide three letters of reference, pass a drug screening test, and background check, and show proof of current immunizations.
Why Choose This Program
• Financial advisors will work with you at TCAT-McMinnville to find
financial assistance resources to help relieve the burden of program costs. Tennessee residents who are 18 years old or older may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 from the Tennessee Educational Lottery Scholarship Program.
• At Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology-McMinnville, you will have the benefit of low faculty/preceptor-to-student ratios in clinical settings, which means you will have more opportunities for individualized learning.
• At TCAT-McMinnville, you will have an academic coach assigned to you who will help guide and assist you through the program.
Program Length: 1 Year
Program Details: Western Iowa Tech Community College offers one of the best 1-year LPN programs online we have found. The school offers two start dates for the program each year, one in the spring, and one in the fall. You will follow a blended hybrid learning format, with theoretical instruction occurring online, laboratory simulations and checkoffs on campus, and clinical practicums at off-campus sites.
In the Western Iowa TCC Licensed Practical Nurse Program, you will learn safe nursing practices, clinical decision-making, professional communication and collaboration, and client-centered care. The program begins with a 75-hour nursing assistant certification course. After obtaining CNA certification, you will transition to the practical nursing program. The Practical Nursing program features a two-semester curriculum plan that consists of 36 credit hours.
Clinical experiences at hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare settings are arranged by program faculty. You will have opportunities to learn from trusted clinical faculty and experienced preceptors to help you apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to clinical practice.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the LPN diploma program online at Western Iowa Tech Community College in one year.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the program, you must have a high school diploma, HSED, or GED and provide official transcripts and complete a 75-hour CNA Certification. Additionally, you must have either an ACT composite score of 24 or higher, SAT score of 1160 or higher, a TEAS test composite score o59% or better, or an ACT score of 22 or SAT of 1100 plus complete Anatomy and Physiology I and Nutrition courses with a grade of “B” or better.
*Western Iowa TCC has priority and second-round application deadlines for both start dates. If you are not selected in the first-round application, you will be automatically placed in the next round.
Why Choose This Program
• Western Iowa Tech Community College LPN graduates consistently have above-average NCLEX-PN pass rates, which is a good indication that the program is high-quality.
• WITCC reports the online 1-year LPN program has high student retention rates, with more than 75% of students remaining and graduating from the program.
Program Length: 9 Months
Program Details: Another of the best 1-year LPN online programs in the nation is offered at Illinois Valley Community College. The program is a mixture of online and classroom learning, where you will learn from dedicated faculty who have years of experience in the nursing profession. The program is designed as a full-time study option with classes held four days per week.
In the online LPN program at Illinois Valley Community College, you will complete 49 credits of coursework and clinicals. The curriculum includes classes, such as General Psychology, Holistic Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing for the Practical Nurse, and Human Growth and Development. Students are encouraged to complete most, if not all, non-nursing prerequisites prior to beginning the first nursing course. However, if you do not complete the classes before beginning the program, you must complete them concurrently with the nursing curriculum.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Illinois Valley Community College’s LPN program is completed in nine months or three consecutive semesters.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the 1-year LPN online program at IVCC is competitive. You must first complete an online application and schedule a meeting with an admissions advisor. You must be a high school graduate or have a high school equivalency or GED certificate and provide official high school transcripts or HSE/GED score reports. HESI A2 scores are required and used to determine your eligibility.
Preferred candidates have current CNA certification at the time of application. However, you may be accepted conditionally, pending successful completion of the Illinois Nurse Aide examination prior to the program’s first day. You must provide a copy of your CNA certification or proof that you are registered for the Nurse Aide Certification examination and provide proof of residency.
Why Choose This Program
• Illinois Valley Community College offers small class sizes, enabling students to have more one-on-one time with instructors, which makes learning easier and more individualized.
• Graduates of the online 1-year LPN program have the option of transitioning to the RN program and becoming a registered nurse with just one additional year of study.
Program Length: 1 Year
Program Details: Whether you want to begin your journey to becoming an LPN in the spring, fall, or summer, Central Ohio Technical College has an option available for you! The college offers one of the best online 1-year LPN programs available. The program is a fast-paced, full-time pathway designed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the nursing profession in entry-level practical nursing positions.
The curriculum plan requires you to complete
37.5 credits. You will study in classes, including Pharmacology, Fundamentals of Practical Nursing, Health Alterations, Maternal/Child Nursing, and Transition to Practice for the Practical Nurse. In addition to more than 200 hours of classroom instruction, you will complete 65 lab hours and 193 clinical hours.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online LPN program at Central Ohio Technical College is a one-year, three-semester program.
Admission Requirements: If you want to enroll in the 1-year online LPN program at Central Ohio Technical College, you must apply separately to both the school and the practical nursing program. You may obtain a Practical Nursing Application from your advisor or by emailing cotcadvising@mail.cotc.edu.
You must provide your official high school transcript with graduation date or an official GED transcript and submit official transcripts from any career center, college, or university you have previously attended. All candidates must attend a mandatory Nursing Information Meeting. Additionally, all applicants must achieve and maintain status as a State Tested Nurse Aide. If you are not certified as a CNA, you may take the STNA course through COTC. Finally, you must take the HESI A2 examination and have official scores submitted to the admissions department for review.
Why Choose This Program
• Central Ohio Technical College has a high-fidelity laboratory where you will practice hands-on learning in a safe, controlled environment. These experiences prepare you for clinical practicums, where you will provide direct patient care.
• The college is committed to helping you find employment after graduating from your program. You can attend one of the school’s annual career fairs where you can meet prospective employers and recruiters and participate in on-the-spot interviews.
Program Length: 1 Year
Program Details: Central Piedmont Community College is an excellent place to jump-start your healthcare career. Through the college’s 1-year LPN online program, you will learn to provide competent, safe care to patients across the lifespan and experience different levels of health and illness as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The program admits students once each year in the spring.
Coursework for the hybrid online program emphasizes learning about nursing practice focused on safety, patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, informatics, and quality improvement. You will complete a 44-credit curriculum. Classroom learning features classes, including Writing and Inquiry, Anatomy and Physiology, and General Psychology. You will also complete three clinical courses that have corresponding laboratory simulations and clinical practicums.
Program faculty arrange clinical assignments at various sites within their extensive clinical network. You will participate in clinicals in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and doctors’ offices. All clinicals are completed under the direct supervision of clinical faculty or approved preceptors.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: At Central Piedmont Community College, the online LPN program takes one year to complete. The program consists of three consecutive terms of full-time study.
Admission Requirements: If earning your LPN diploma at Central Piedmont is the path you hope to take, you must first apply to the college and meet general admission requirements. Admission to the practical nursing program is competitive, with only 24 students admitted annually.
All applicants must complete a Nurse Aide training program and be listed as active on the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. Additionally, you must take the TEAS exam. It is recommended that candidates complete general education courses before applying to the practical nursing program, but it is not required. However, because applications are scored by points and the school awards points for general education courses, the more general education classes you complete before applying to the program, the more competitive an applicant you become.
Why Choose This Program
• Faculty of the Central Piedmont Community College 1-year online LPN program have decades of experience in clinical nursing practice and bring those experiences to the classroom to prepare you for success in the classroom and in the field.
• Because CPCC has extensive clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities and providers, you will have excellent opportunities to grow your professional network and meet potential future employers.
Program Length: 1 Year
Program Details: Northampton Community College offers another top online 1-year LPN program. Students are admitted to the program once per academic year in the fall semester. The program is designed as a full-time pathway and is completed in three consecutive semesters, including one summer semester.
The online blended format consists of virtual and in-person classes as well as extensive lab and clinical experiences. The program features a
44-credit curriculum, consisting of 17 general education course credits and 27 credits of nursing courses. You will study Human Biology, Developmental Psychology and Principles of Sociology. Additionally, you will take classes in Medical-Surgical, Mental Health, Maternal, and Geriatric Nursing.
Clinical practicums provide opportunities for you to apply the theory you learn in the classroom with the skills you develop in the lab to provide direct care to patients in various healthcare settings. You will begin laboratory skills training in your first semester. Clinical training begins in the second semester of the program.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Licensed Practical Nurse program at Northampton Community College is a one-year program.
Admission Requirements: To be admitted to the 1-year LPN online program at Northampton Community College, you must be a high school graduate or complete a GED or high school equivalency program. You must complete an online application, submit official transcripts for all education you have completed, and take the ATI TEAS entrance exam and score at least “Basic.” You must have taken either a high school biology with lab or NCC Biology 115 and high school Algebra I or NCC Math 022 with a grade of “C” or better.
Why Choose This Program
• Northampton Community College’s nursing program is well-respected throughout the state and offers you a fast track to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Most graduates of the NCC 1-year LPN online program report being employed as an LPN within six months of graduation, which is a good turnaround time for finding a job following college graduation. Many former students attribute their successful job searches to the professional contacts they make through the programs' extensive clinical training network.
Program Length: 1 Year
Program Details: If you are searching for a practical nursing program tailored for busy students, Mayland Community College has an excellent option! The 1-year LPN online program features a hybrid learning format with classes held in the evening, allowing you flexibility to manage other commitments, such as work or a family, while studying to become a nurse.
At Mayland Community College, you will develop the foundational knowledge needed to exercise critical thinking and ethical decision-making, and to demonstrate professional communication.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: At Mayland Community College, the online LPN program is designed to be completed in one year.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the online LPN program at Mayland Community College, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma, high school equivalency, or GED. All candidates must request official copies of high school transcripts or state approved high school equivalency program transcripts. If you have taken any college courses, you must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher for all post-secondary coursework you attempted.
Additionally, you must take the Kaplan Entrance Exam at MCC and receive a benchmark score in reading of 55% or higher and an overall benchmark score of at least 48%. Finally, to be qualified to enter the Practical Nursing program, you must obtain certification as a nursing assistant and be on the North Carolina Aide Registry.
Why Choose This Program
• Mayland Community College boasts highly qualified, experienced faculty who are experts at providing classroom and clinical instruction and mentorship to students in the 1-year LPN online program.
• The program has a solid reputation for producing well-prepared graduates, as is evidenced by the excellent NCLEX-PN pass rates among graduates.
• Mayland Community College is nationally recognized as a center of nursing excellence, which means you can feel confident that you will receive a quality nursing education there.
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: The 1-year online LPN program at North Central Texas College is a certificate program designed to prepare you as an entry-level practitioner in the field of nursing. The program admits students in the fall and spring each year and follows a three-semester plan of study.
You will complete
42 credits of coursework and clinicals. Classes in the program include Essentials of Medication Administration, Nursing in Health and Illness, Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health, and Basic Nursing Skills.
In addition to rigorous coursework, you will complete 840 hours of clinical training. Clinical practicums begin in the first semester of the program and continue throughout the program, allowing you to build upon and hone your skills as you continue learning.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the practical nursing program at North Central Texas College in one year. The program is full-time and is taken over three consecutive semesters.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the online 1-year LPN program at North Central Texas College is contingent upon meeting the following criteria. You must apply to NCTC and meet general admission requirements, including providing copies of your high school or HSE transcripts, TSI assessments or exemption forms, and proof of having taken the meningitis vaccine.
You must attend an information session and meet with an academic advisor to determine which prerequisite and general education courses you need. After taking the ATI TEAS exam and having scores sent to the school, you may apply for admission to the practical nursing program.
Why Choose This Program
• At North Central Texas College, no prerequisites are required to enroll in the 1-year online LPN program.
• Graduates of the NCTC Licensed Practical Nurse program are offered preferential admission opportunities to the accelerated 12-month LPN-to-ADN transition program, which means you can transition seamlessly from the LPN program to the ADN program and become a registered nurse!
• North Central Texas College promotes and helps facilitate clinical training experiences that not only give you opportunities to learn, but also to grow your professional network, meet prospective employers, and increase your chances of finding employment after graduation.
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: Verve College is home to another of our featured 1-year online LPN programs. The college utilizes a blended learning format consisting of online learning, lab skills and simulations, and clinical externships. Theory classes are held via Zoom and are synchronous, which means you must be visually present at all times during the class via Zoom.
The LPN program offers a rich curriculum. You will take classes, including Wound Care, Fluid & Electrolytes, and Perioperative Care, Physical Assessments, Neurology, and Nursing Process: Critical Thinking. Clinical practicums rotate between campus and clinical affiliate sites. You will spend one week of clinicals in an off-campus clinical site followed by a week of clinicals held on campus.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: It takes 12 months to complete the online practical nursing program offered at Verve College.
Admission Requirements: Criteria for admission to the 1-year online LPN program at Verve College include the following. You must have a high school diploma or transcript. You must take and pass the ATI TEAS entrance exam with a grade of at least 45%, complete an 8-9 credit college level Anatomy and Physiology class with a grade of “C” or higher, and be an Illinois State Certified Nursing Assistant.
Why Choose This Program
• To help combat the critical nursing shortage nationwide, Verve College has nursing classes that start year-round, making it easier for you to begin your LPN program at a time that is convenient for you.
• Verve College is committed to high quality nursing education and demonstrates that commitment by hiring highly qualified faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds with extensive nursing knowledge and experience.
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Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.