25 Best Accelerated FAST-TRACK LPN-to-RN Programs (Online & Campus-Based) – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Congratulations! You’ve decided to take your nursing career to the next level by transitioning from the licensed practical nurse to the licensed registered nurse role! Many fast-track programs are out there that will let you build on your impressive LPN skill set so that you won’t have to begin your RN training program as a novice. Accelerated LPN-to-RN programs cut the time you have to spend learning. Some programs offer advanced placement in traditional nursing coursework, while others offer curricula that are specifically customized to the needs of LPNs who are upgrading their nursing skills.

So, what are the best accelerated fast-track LPN-to-RN programs? Find the educational opportunity that matches your priorities in the guide below to the 25 best accelerated fast-track (campus-based and online) LPN-to-RN programs.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE HEALTHCARE SCHOOLS

WHAT ARE THE BEST ACCELERATED FAST-TRACK (CAMPUS-BASED AND ONLINE) LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN THE NATION?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 25 best accelerated (FAST-TRACK) LPN-to-RN programs for 2025. The following list includes both (Campus-Based and Online) accelerated (FAST-TRACK) LPN-to-RN programs. These programs are for students with an LPN/LVN certificate/degree. You can complete these programs in 12 months or less.)


1. Ohio University - Chillicothe, OH


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Ohio University offers a fast-track LPN-to-RN program at its Chillicothe, Southern, and Zanesville campuses. You’ll graduate with an Associate in Applied Science-Nursing (AAS) degree. You can earn up to 9 advanced placement credits toward your associate nursing degree after you complete an “LPN-RN Transition” course and an “LPN-RN Bridge” course. Your curriculum will also include prerequisites, co-requisites, laboratory skills intensives, practicums, and core nursing classes such as “Health Assessment Across the Lifespan,” “Pharmacology I & II,” and “Integrated Nursing Practice.”

You’ll learn clinical competencies at Ohio University’s sophisticated simulation lab, which is outfitted with hospital beds, other types of hospital equipment, and low- and high-fidelity manikins. You’ll participate in 267 hours of clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Ohio University offers an online RN-to-BSN program for students who would like to continue their nursing education.

How Fast Can You Complete Ohio University LPN-to-RN Program: Classes begin in the spring semester at the Southern campus, during the summer term at the Chillicothe campus, and in the fall semester at the Zanesville campus. You’ll be able to complete this program in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: Applicants to the LPN-to-RN program must have an active, unrestricted LPN license. You’ll need to apply separately to Ohio University and its Nursing Department. You must take the ATI TEAS test within one year of applying to this program and achieve a “basic“ score or above. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 in all college-level coursework.


2. Florida Gateway College - Lake City, FL


Program Length: 12 months


Program Details: Florida Gateway College recognizes there’s a great deal of overlap between the knowledge base of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, and that’s the foundation of its 42-credit accelerated LPN-to-RN program. Upon completing “Transition to Adult Health I,” a course that orients LPNs to the role of the registered nurse, you’ll be awarded 12 advanced placement credits for your professional LPN experience. You’ll need to take an additional 30 general education credits to graduate from Florida Gateway College with an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ASDN.)

Core nursing coursework is taught at the college’s campus in Lake City and must be taken in a specific sequence. Your classes will include “Transition to Adult Health I” and “Transition: Maternal, Infant, Child, Adolescent.” In Florida Gateway College’s sophisticated simulation lab, you'll participate in skills intensives. You’ll also provide direct patient care during precepted practicums at hospitals and other healthcare facilities in Lake City and surrounding parts of Columbia County.

This is one of the fast-track LPN-to-RN programs that includes a mandatory NCLEX-RN review course on campus before graduation. FGC also offers an online RN-to-BSN program for graduates interested in further professional development.

How Fast Can You Complete Florida Gateway College LPN-to-RN Program: The LPN-to-TN track can be completed in three semesters (12 months.) Keep in mind, however, that it will take you an additional three semesters to meet prerequisites and necessary general education courses.


Admission Requirements: All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply to this program. Applicants must hold LPN licensure in Florida. You must score 58.7 percent or higher on the TEAS exam and 75 percent or higher on the Foundations Upward Mobility Exam. You’ll also need to complete a 30-hour IV therapy class and show proof of competence in Foley catheter insertion, tracheostomy care, and basic assessment.


3. Monroe College - Bronx, NY


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Monroe College will award you 22 credits toward your AAS degree upon successful completion of five prerequisites and verification of your New York LPN license. This short LPN-to-RN program begins with an “LPN to RN Transition” course that reviews nursing diagnosis formulation and care plan development. From there, you’ll take classes like “Health Assessment Across the Lifespan,” “Advanced Pharmacology,” and “Trends in Professional Nursing.”

You’ll hone your hands-on clinical skills in Monroe College’s Human Patient Simulation Center. You’ll also participate in clinical rotations in OBGYN, pediatrics, med-surg, and mental health in healthcare facilities throughout the Bronx and other parts of New York City.

Monroe College is well-known for the excellence of its adult education, so it may be one of the best shortest LPN-to-RN programs for LPNs seeking to make a mid-course career change. The college offers an online RN-to-LPN program as well.

How Fast Can You Complete Monroe College LPN-to-RN Program: The LPN-to-RN coursework can be completed in four semesters (12 months.) But first, you’ll have to take two semesters (six months) of prerequisites and general education courses. If you can transfer equivalent credits from previous high school or college courses, earning your AAS will take less than a year and a half.


Admission Requirements: All prerequisite coursework must be complete with a grade of “C+” or higher at the time you apply to the program. This program is only open to LPNs with active, unrestricted licenses. You must pass a competency assessment in pharmacology and dosage calculations and score 70 or above on the TEAS exam.


4. Arkansas State University - Jonesboro, AR


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Arkansas State University’s fast-track LPN-to-RN online program is headquartered at the University’s campus in Jonesboro. Though core nursing courses comprise only 30 credits, you’ll have to complete 66 credits to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree. You’ll receive six credits toward the completion of this professional track based on your prior professional LPN experience.

The core nursing curriculum is taught in seven-week segments. It consists of 12 lecture courses such as “Role Development I, II, III, IV, & V” and “Nursing I, II, & III Medical Surgical.” You’ll also participate in six practicum experiences scheduled on weekends throughout the year at healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Jonesboro Metropolitan Area.

Additionally, ASU offers a campus-based accelerated LPN-to-RN program at its West Memphis campus for students who learn more effectively in traditional educational classrooms.

How Fast Can You Complete Arkansas State University LPN-to-RN Program: You’ll be able to finish the professional nursing portion of this degree in just three semesters (12 months.) However, it may take you as long as three additional semesters to complete the required prerequisites.


Admission Requirements: The LPN-to-RN online option at Arkansas State University is only open to LPNs with valid, unencumbered licensure with a minimum of 1,000 hours of professional experience within the last two years. Preference is given to LPNs with acute or long-term care experience. You must submit three professional references and take the HESI A2 and the Smarter Measure Online Readiness Assessment.


5. College of Central Florida - Ocala, FL


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Why is College of Central Florida LPN-to-RN program considered one of the best accelerated LPN-to-RN programs? Because of the college’s consistently high pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam. College of Central Florida goes to great lengths to ensure the students it accepts into this track are up for the challenge. Before you start the curriculum, for example, you’ll be evaluated on your ability to care for two acute patients at a time (within the LPN scope of practice.).

This short LPN-to-RN program begins with a “Bridge Clinical Concepts” course designed to facilitate your transition from the LPN professional role to the RN professional role. The remaining curriculum parallels the second year of the college’s traditional Associate Degree in Nursing, although coursework is customized to meet LPNs’ learning needs.

Core nursing coursework comprises 24 credits, but the entire ADN curriculum entails 60 credits. Though courses are taught at the college’s campus in Ocala, you can access many of your educational materials online. In addition to classes like “Professional Issues in Nursing” and “Developmental Concepts,” you’ll perfect your hands-on RN skills in College of Central Florida’s state-of-the-art simulation labs and participate in clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities.

How Fast Can You Complete College of Central Florida LPN-to-RN Program: The LPN-to-RN program is three semesters (12 months) long and begins in the summer semester. Completing the necessary general education and prerequisite credits you’ll need to earn your ADN, however, could easily take an additional 12 to 15 months.


Admission Requirements: You must complete all prerequisite classes with a grade of “C” or better before you apply to this program. You’ll need to score 60 percent or higher on the TEAS exam. You’ll need Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. This program is only available to applicants with current, unencumbered LPN licensure in Florida.


6. East Mississippi Community College - Scooba, MS


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: During your first semester of East Mississippi Community College’s 62-credit LPN-to-RN transition option, you’ll take a course called “Role Transitions for the LPN to RN,” which reviews the differences between the scope of practice between these two types of nurses. The course is conducted primarily online, and you’ll only visit the campus in Scooba for exams and skills intensives. Once you complete the first semester of this quick LPN-to-RN program, you’ll be awarded 14 credits toward completing your degree and proceed into the second year of the traditional ADN curriculum.

After that, your coursework will consist of core nursing coursework, corequisites, and clinical experiences scheduled at healthcare facilities within Mississippi’s Golden Triangle region. To remain in this program, you must maintain a cumulative GPA of “B” or higher. East Mississippi Community College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate is very high, so its LPN-to-RN program has a reputation as one of the best fast-track LPN-to-RN programs.

How Fast Can You Complete East Mississippi Community College LPN-to-RN Program: You’ll be able to complete the 31-credit LPN-to-RN program in three semesters (12 months.) To earn your ADN, however, you’ll need to earn an additional 31 general education and prerequisite credits, which could take you as long as 12 months.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to licensed Mississippi LPNs with nine or months of professional experience. You must apply separately to East Mississippi Community College and its Nursing Department. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply, and you must earn a minimum score of 18 or higher on the ACT exam. All candidates for admission into this fast-track LPN-to-RN program must be IV-certified.


7. Bluefield State University - Bluefield, WV


Program Length: Ten and a half months.


Program Details: In 2021, Bluefield State University was awarded a million-dollar grant through West Virginia’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program, part of which it used to expand the university’s accelerated LPN-to-RN program.

You’ll begin your studies with a 10-week “LPN to RN Transition” course introducing you to core RN skills such as evidence-based practice, nursing assessment, and nursing care plan development. If you pass this class successfully, you’ll be granted 10 credits toward completing your 64-credit Associate of Science in Nursing degree program and join the traditional nursing cohort in its third semester of classes.

Bluefield State’s nursing program emphasizes holistic health promotion and wellness. Core nursing coursework includes classes like “Patient-Centered Care of Mental Health Clients” and “Nursing Management in the Evolving Health Care System.” You’ll perfect your hands-on nursing skills in sophisticated laboratories and become comfortable with patient care through clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, and extended care facilities throughout Bluefield and nearby communities in West Virginia and Virginia.

How Fast Can You Complete Bluefield State University LPN-to-RN Program: Classes begin in the summer semester. You’ll complete one 10-week summer term and two three-month semesters, completing the coursework for this major in ten and a half months. You can figure on spending a year meeting ASN general education and prerequisite requirements, though.


Admission Requirements: Admissions into this program are highly competitive because BSU’s outstanding NCLEX-RN pass rate has earned it a reputation as one of the best fastest LPN-to-RN programs. All applicants must have a valid LPN license, and preference is given to applicants who have at least one year of full-time professional experience at an acute care facility. This is one of the fast-track LPN-to-RN programs that requires the TEAS test for entry. If your high school GPA isn’t above 2.8, you’ll need to score 45 or above on the GED. You’ll also need to submit a professional reference from an RN familiar with your work.


8. Holmes Community College - Goodman, MS


Program Length: 12 months


Program Details: Holmes Community College’s fast-track LPN-to-RN program is offered at its campuses in Grenada and Ridgeland. While you’ll need to complete 66 credits to earn your ADN degree, the LPN-to-RN track only entails 42 credits, and you’ll be awarded six credits once the college verifies your LPN credentials. Holmes Community College’s LPN-to-RN track is considered one of the best accelerated LPN-to-RN programs because of its high pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam.

As with other fast-track LPN-to-RN programs, your RN studies at Holmes will consist of three components: classroom lectures, skills laboratories, and clinical practicums. Clinical rotations are scheduled at hospitals, clinics, and long-term care in Holmes County and other communities throughout the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta region. You’ll take two transitional courses the summer you enter this program that will serve as a quick summary of the first year of ADN studies, so you’re ready to join the traditional ADN cohort at the beginning of its third semester.

How Fast Can You Complete Holmes Community College LPN-to-RN Program: Holmes Community College offers its LPN-to-RN program as a 12-month (three semesters) option and a 16-month (four semesters) option. Both program options begin in the summer term.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to LPNs with six months or more experience in a medical-surgical practice setting. You must score 18 or higher on the ACT exam and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all high school and previous college-level work. Holmes Community College uses a weighted admissions policy, so the higher your grade point average and ACT scores, the greater your chance of being admitted into this program.


9. Rasmussen University - Bloomington, MN


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: Looking for a quick way to upgrade your nursing scope of practice? Rasmussen University’s LPN-to-RN Mobility Bridge Transfer Option lets you transfer up to 42 quarter credits of prior college-level work toward your 102-quarter credit Associate Degree in Nursing. If you decide to continue your nursing education once you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, Rasmussen University also offers an online RN-to-BSN program.

You’ll need to complete (or get credit for) 25 courses in all. Class terms are 11 weeks long. Lecture classes like “Introduction to Nursing,” “Essential of Pathophysiology,” and “Pharmacology for Professional Nursing” are taught online, but you’ll learn new hands-on skills in Rasmussen University’s sophisticated simulation lab and participate in clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Bloomington and other parts of the Greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

How Fast Can You Complete Rasmussen University LPN-to-RN Program: This fast-track LPN-to-RN program has four start dates per year in January, April, July, and October. Most students take 18 months to complete the curriculum, but if you can transfer the maximum number of credits, you’ll be able to complete the program in 12 months.


Admission Requirements: You must have a current, unrestricted LPN license to enroll in this program.


10. Texas County Technical College - Houston, MO


Program Length: 11 Months


Program Details: Texas County Technical College’s efficient approach to learning makes its Accelerated LPN-to-RN program one of the best fast-track LPN-to-RN programs. The 61-credit ADN entails 44 credits of core nursing coursework, 17 credits of prerequisites, and 450 clinical hours. Each semester is 15 weeks long.

In your first semester, you’ll learn about nursing informatics and take a course called “Transition from Practical to Professional Nursing,” introducing you to concepts like evidence-based practice. In your second and third semesters, you’ll review the RN’s role in delivering care to specific demographics in courses like “Professional Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical I & II” and “Professional Nursing: Pediatrics.” Unlike many of the other shortest LPN-to-RN programs, at Texas County Technical College, you can complete your general education coursework while you’re taking your core nursing classes.

TCTC has a sophisticated simulation lab where you’ll spend 120 hours learning and practicing hands-on RN skills using computerized mannequins. Once you’re confident in your abilities, you’ll work with actual patients during clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Houston and other parts of Texas County.

How Fast Can You Complete Texas County Technical College LPN-to-RN Program: You can complete TCTC’s Accelerate LPN to RN program in three semesters (11 months.) Coursework begins in the summer semester.


Admission Requirements: Only LPNs with active, unencumbered licensure in Missouri will be accepted into this program. All applicants must be IV-certified. You must score 68% or higher on the ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor Exam. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply to the program.


11. Catawba Valley Community College - Hickory, NC


Program Length: 9 Months


Program Details: Catawba Valley Community College’s LPN-RN Bridge is among the shortest accelerated LPN-to-RN programs we discuss in this article. You’ll earn 18 advanced placement credits immediately upon verification of your graduation from an accredited LPN program, leaving you with only 32 credits of core nursing classes to complete.

You’ll spend two days a week in the early afternoons and evenings learning hands-on skills in CVCC’s sophisticated simulation laboratory, ValleySim Hospital, and taking classroom courses at the Hickory campus like “LPN to A.D.N. Concepts.” You’ll also spend approximately 10 hours a week accessing educational materials through asynchronous distance learning technology. Unlike many of the fastest LPN-to-RN programs, Catawba Valley LPN-to-RN curriculum is expressly tailored to the learning needs of licensed practical nurses.

Clinical rotations are scheduled on Saturdays and last approximately 12 hours. You’ll perform your practicums at hospitals, clinics, and similar healthcare facilities throughout Hickory and other communities in Catawba Valley.

How Fast Can You Complete Catawba Valley Community College LPN-to-RN Program: This program only takes two semesters (nine months). You’ll start in the Fall term and finish in the Spring term. Remember, though, that to qualify for this program, you’ll have to complete more than 25 credits of prerequisites, which is likely to take you an additional year.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to LPNs with valid, unencumbered licensure in North Carolina who’ve graduated from an accredited LPN program. You must be employed full-time or part-time as an LPN when you submit your application. All prerequisites and general education classes must be completed before you apply with a grade of “C” or higher. Once accepted into the program, you must take the ATI NCLEX-PN Comprehensive Exam.


12. Tacoma Community College - Tacoma, WA


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Tacoma Community College assumes all students who complete its LPN to RN program are interested in continuing with their education and earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Washington State University. For that reason, you’ll graduate from this 51 quarter-credit fast-track LPN-to-RN program with an Associate in Nursing–Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) degree.

This program emphasizes the behavioral aspects of nursing as well as the clinical components, so your core nursing coursework will include classes like “Ethics and Policy in Health Care” and “Psychosocial Issues in Health Care.” Courses must be taken in a specific sequence.

You’ll hone your bedside nursing skills in TCC’s Harned Center, a state-of-the-art training facility on campus outfitted with hospital-grade teaching equipment. Clinical rotations occur at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare facilities throughout Tacoma and other parts of the southern Puget Sound region.

How Fast Can You Complete Tacoma Community College LPN-to-RN Program: You’ll be able to complete Tacoma Community College’s accelerated LPN-to-RN program in four quarters (12 months.) First, though, you’ll need to complete a number of prerequisites, and that could take you an additional year.


Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to TCC and its nursing department. All applicants must take the TEAS test and complete all prerequisites before they apply to this program. Qualified applicants are then entered into a lottery that determines actual admission into this program.


13. Labouré College of Healthcare - Milton, MA


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Labouré College of Healthcare is another one of the accelerated LPN-to-RN programs that offers licensed practical nurses advanced placement toward their Associate of Science in Nursing degree. By scoring 850 or higher on the HESI exam, you’ll earn 17 credits as soon as you are accepted into the program. The ASN degree entails 71 credits, and the core nursing curriculum comprises 54 credits; the remaining 18 credits are general education courses.

When you enroll in this fast LPN-to-RN program, you’ll take corequisites in the same semester as preparatory nursing coursework. Core nursing courses like “Healthcare Ethics” and “Health and Illness Concepts in Adults” are taught at the college’s Milton campus, but general education cases are offered in campus, hybrid, and online formats. You’ll also enroll in an “LPN Bridge Course” that focuses on the distinctions between LPN and RN scopes of practice.

You’ll learn essential clinical skills by practicing on high-fidelity mannikins in Labouré College’s sophisticated simulation laboratory before working with patients in clinical rotations at Carney Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Quincy Medical Center, and other healthcare facilities south of Boston. Should you want to continue your nursing education after you graduate, Labouré College of Healthcare offers an online RN-to-BSN program.

Labouré College of Healthcare is affiliated with the Catholic Church. While the college accepts students of all religious denominations into its accelerated LPN-to-RN program, its academic curricula—particularly its general education classes—reflect Judeo-Christian principles.

How Fast Can You Complete Labouré College of Healthcare LPN-to-RN Program: Labouré College of Healthcare’s LPN-to-RN curriculum takes four semesters to complete (16 months,) but if you’re able to transfer general education classes and get credit by exam for two of the core nursing courses, you may be able to complete it in two semesters (eight months.)


Admission Requirements: You can begin this program in the spring, summer, or fall. The program is only open to candidates with an active, unencumbered LPN license. All applicants must take the Official Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS.)


14. Chattahoochee Technical College - Marietta, GA


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Chattahoochee Technical College’s NCLEX-RN pass rates are among the highest in Georgia, making its LPN-to-RN program one of the best accelerated LPN-to-RN programs in the state. Its core nursing curriculum constitutes 33 of the 60 credits necessary to earn an Associate of Science Nursing degree and includes a bridge course, “Introduction to Professional Nursing,” which delves into the differences between LPN and RN scopes of practice. Other core nursing classes include “Family Nursing Concepts” and “Mental Health Nursing Concepts.”

CTC’s curriculum also provides a strong foundation in clinical skills through simulation labs and practicums at Wellstar Health System hospital affiliate sites and other healthcare facilities in Marietta and the surrounding Atlanta suburbs. Students have three opportunities to demonstrate clinical skills listed in course syllabi; if they can’t demonstrate a skill on the third try, they will fail the course. Additionally, students using Chattahoochee’s simulation lab must sign a confidentiality agreement.

(Note that Chattahoochee Technical College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College are two separate schools and that their accelerated LPN-to-RN programs offer different classes and operate under different guidelines.)

How Fast Can You Complete Chattahoochee Technical College LPN-to-RN Program: This fast-track LPN-to-RN program begins in the summer and takes three semesters to complete. But you’ll need to take a year of prerequisites and general education coursework before you can apply to the program.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with current, unrestricted Georgia LPN licensure. All applicants must attend a Virtual Application session and score 75 or higher on the ATI TEAS (Version 7.) Prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.


15. Columbia State Community College - Columbia, TN


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Columbia State Community College has two accelerated LPN-to-RN program options. Tennessee has an articulation agreement that allows all qualified LPNs who’ve graduated from one of the TCAT colleges to enter accelerated LPN-to-RN programs in the second semester. If you pass the National League of Nursing’s Foundations of Nursing challenge examination, CSCC will award you 11 credits toward your 67-credit Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing.

If you aren’t eligible for the articulation-specific option, CSCC will award you seven credits once you complete your “Pharmacology,” “Medical-Surgical I,” and “Mental Health Nursing” coursework.

In addition to classroom instruction, you’ll participate in hands-on experiences at healthcare facilities within 60 miles of the Columbia State Community College campus. Columbia State Community College has exceptionally high NCLEX-RN pass rates, solidifying its reputation as one of the best fast-track LPN-to-RN programs as well as one of the quickest.

How Fast Can You Complete Columbia State Community College LPN-to-RN Program: If you qualify for the articulation-specific fast-track LPN-to-RN program, you can complete the core nursing coursework in three semesters. It will take you 12 months or so, however, to complete the necessary general education and prerequisite courses.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to LPNs with current, unrestricted Tennessee licensure with at least six months of professional experience. You must apply separately to Columbia State Community College and its nursing department. You must score 19 or higher on either the ACT or SAT exam. All prerequisites and general education courses must be completed with a “C” or higher grade.


16. Forsyth Technical Community College - Winston-Salem, NC


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: You’ll begin Forsyth Tech’s fast-track 33-credit LPN-to-RN program with a “Nursing Transition Concepts” course focusing on distinctions between LPN and RN scopes of practice, such as evidence-based practice, informatics, and patient assessment. Once you complete that class, you’ll be awarded 23 credits toward your ADN and join the traditional nursing cohort in its fourth semester of classes.

Though courses like “Holistic Health Concepts” and “Complex Health Concepts” are taught in classrooms on the college’s Winston-Salem campus, you’ll be expected to access many course materials online. The college maintains affiliations with hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities throughout Winston-Salem and other communities throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, where you’ll do your clinical rotations. Forsythe Technical Community College’s three-year average NCLEX-RN pass rate is one of the highest in North Carolina, making FTCC one of the best accelerated LPN-to-RN programs.

How Fast Can You Complete Forsyth Technical Community College LPN-to-RN Program: You’ll start in the LPN-to-RN program in the summer term and complete it at the end of the following spring term (11 months.) You may spend an additional year taking the general education and prerequisite courses you’ll need to earn your 67-credit ADN, however.


Admission Requirements: Forsythe Technical Community College’s LPN-RN transition program is only open to LPNs licensed in North Carolina who are residents of the Tar Heel State and have six or more months of professional work experience. You must meet minimum English and mathematics college readiness, and you must score 60 percent or higher on the TEAS exam. Applicants must have a grade of “C” or higher on all prerequisites. This fast LPN-to-RN program admits 24 students annually.


17. Cape Fear Community College - Wilmington, NC


Program Length: 2 Semesters


Program Details: At just two semesters, Cape Fear Community College’s LPN-to-RN hybrid option is one of the shortest LPN-to-RN programs. In just two nine-credit classes, this program explores RN nursing care within the three domains of the individual, healthcare, and nursing. Coursework is presented in a hybrid format that utilizes both classroom and online teaching. Graduates of this program earn an Associate in General Education-Nursing (AGE.)

CFCC’s state-of-the-art simulation lab allows students to perfect their nursing skills before they begin working with actual patients. The college also maintains partnerships with leading healthcare facilities throughout Wilmington and other communities in New Hanover County, where students complete their clinical rotations. CFCC maintains an articulation agreement with the University of North Carolina that makes it comparatively easy for graduates to transition seamlessly into UNC’s RN-to-BSN program.

How Fast Can You Complete Cape Fear Community College LPN-to-RN Program: Once you’re admitted into this program, it will only take you two semesters (eight months) to complete. However, the AGE degree consists of 72 credits total, and it may take you as long as an additional 24 months to complete the required general education and prerequisite coursework.


Admission Requirements: This program can admit up to 25 LPNs a year. Qualified applicants who successfully complete the “Nursing Transition Concepts” course will be accepted into this fast-track LPN-to-RN program. To be eligible for this program, you must have an active, unrestricted North Carolina LPN license and at least one year of professional LPN nursing experience. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher, and you must be one of the 25 applicants with the highest scores on the ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor exam.


18. Missouri State University-West Plains - West Plains, MO


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Missouri State University-West Plains offers two LPN-to-RN Bridge programs every year: One is taught on MSU’s campus in West Plains, while the other is conducted online. Qualified LPNs will receive 15 credits toward completing a 65-credit Associate of Science in Nursing degree once they have completed the class “Transitioning from Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse.”

Other core nursing courses include “Nursing Care Across the Lifespan” and a capstone course called “Current Trends and Issues in Nursing.” Online and classroom cohorts take the same classes.

If you’re accepted into the online cohort, you’ll be expected to visit the West Plains campus three times for orientation, skills intensives, and an NCLEX-RN review toward the end of the program. Online students will schedule their own clinical rotations at a healthcare facility close to where they live. Students enrolled in the classroom option will participate in practicums at healthcare facilities in White Plains and other communities throughout Howell County and parts of northern Arkansas.

How Fast Can You Complete Missouri State University-West Plains LPN-to-RN Program: If you’ve satisfied all general education requirements before you begin this program, you can complete it in three semesters (12 months.) You’ll still have to complete program prerequisites, however, and that could take you an additional 12 months.


Admission Requirements: This quick LPN-to-RN program admits 15 students into each of the two cohorts every year. You must meet the required benchmarks on the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam. You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on all previous college-level work and verify math and English preparedness either through courses you’ve taken, the results of a placement test (like ACT, Next Generation, Accuplacer, or Compass,) or by completing the Directed Self-Placement for Writing Classes survey. This program is only open to LPNs with active, unrestricted licenses.


19. Dyersburg State Community College - Dyersburg, TN


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Dyersburg State Community College’s accelerated LPN-to-RN program is specifically tailored to meet the needs of working licensed practical nurses. Once you take a “Transition to Professional Practice” course that explores how the RN role differs from the LPN role, you’ll be granted seven credits toward your 66-credit AAS degree. The core nursing curriculum accounts for 32 of those credits (seven courses in all) and includes classes like “Medical-Surgical Nursing,” “Pediatric Nursing,” and “Professional Practice in Nursing.”

Classes meet two days a week on the college’s campus in Dyersburg. You’ll spend one day a week participating in clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, and similar healthcare facilities in communities throughout Dyer County. Dyersburg State Community College’s LPN-to-RN program is considered one of the best accelerated LPN-to-RN programs due to its consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates.

How Fast Can You Complete Dyersburg State Community College LPN-to-RN Program: This program begins in May and takes three semesters to complete (12 months) so that you’ll earn your Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree the following May.


Admission Requirements: This fast-track LPN-to-RN program typically accepts between 45 and 48 students annually. You must be accepted to Dyersburg State Community College as a regular admission student before applying to the LPN-to-RN program. If you’ve graduated from a TCAT LPN program within the last three years, you can use your TCAT exit exam to enter the DSCC LPN-to-RN program; otherwise, you must take the TEAS exam. All applicants to this program must have an active, unencumbered LPN license.


20. Coastal Bend College - Beeville, TX


Program Length: 10 Months


Program Details: Coastal Bend College’s 60-credit LVN to RN program takes just two semesters and one summer term to complete, making it one of the fastest LPN-to-RN programs you can enroll in. Like most accelerated LPN-to-RN programs, Coastal Bend’s LVN-to-RN track includes a “Transition from Vocational to Professional Nursing” course designed to orient LVNs to their new professional role.

Once you complete your “Transition” class, your courses will include “Nursing Informatics,” “Complex Concepts of Advanced Health,” and “Advanced Concepts of Adult Health.” Your final course will involve a capstone during which you’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of hands-on skills. Upon verification of your LVN license and graduation from an accredited LVN program, you’ll receive 17 advanced placement credits toward your Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree.

This program utilizes a hybrid platform. You’ll be able to access most of the lecture portions of your coursework online, but labs and testing will require face-to-face interactions. Clinical rotations will be scheduled in a healthcare facility close to your home whenever possible.

How Fast Can You Complete Coastal Bend College LPN-to-RN Program: Classes start in the fall and spring. The program spans two semesters and includes one 10-week summer term, so you’ll graduate in 10 months. However, completing your prerequisites may take you an additional semester of work.


Admission Requirements: This program is only available to LVNs with valid, unrestricted licenses. You must meet Coastal Bend College’s Texas Success Initiative (TSI) benchmarks. You must score 70 percent or higher on the TEAS exam and complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher. This program’s flexibility and short length have made it popular, so admission is very competitive; applicants are ranked on the basis of GPAs, TEAS scores, and completion of prerequisite coursework.


21. Joliet Junior College - Joliet, IL


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: What makes Joliet Junior College’s LPN-to-RN program stand out from the other fastest LPN-to-RN programs? The college doesn’t put an expiration date on general education and prerequisite courses; no matter how long ago you’ve taken a class, you can still count its credits toward the 60 credits you’ll need to graduate with an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree.

Like many other fast-track LPN-to-RN programs, Joliet’s LPN-to-RN program involves an LPN-to-RN transition course to help aspiring registered nurses accommodate their new scope of practice. Once you complete that course, you’ll receive 15.5 advanced placement credits and join the traditional nursing AAS cohort in the last two semesters of their RN education.

Though many of your educational materials will be accessible online, you’ll also participate in face-to-face classroom experiences, skills preparation in JJC’s high-fidelity nursing simulation lab, and clinical rotations at hospitals and other healthcare facilities across Joliet and nearby communities. Count on spending around 18 hours a week in the classroom and at practicums and another 20 hours studying.

How Fast Can You Complete Joliet Junior College LPN-to-RN Program: JJC designed its LPN-to-RN track to be completed in three semesters (12 months.) You’ll need to take an additional 14 credits of prerequisites, which will probably involve an additional semester of school.


Admission Requirements: Joliet Junior College has no application fee. This program is only available to Illinois LPNs with valid, unrestricted licenses. All prerequisites must be complete with a grade of “C” or above before you apply to the program. You’ll need to take the TEAS Composite exam; all students who score 82 percent or higher on the TEAS Composite exam are guaranteed a place in the program.


22. Stark State College - North Canton, OH


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Stark State College’s LPN-to-RN program has two cohorts: One is based at the college’s main campus in North Canton, while the other is based in Akron. This curriculum is concept-based, so you’ll take classes like “Concepts of Nursing Practice in the Care of Patients with Mental Illness Issues” and “Concepts of Nursing Practice in the Care of the Reproducing and Developing Family.”

Once you’ve completed “Transition for the LPN” successfully, you’ll be awarded 10 credits toward completing your 54-credit AAS degree. Unlike the coursework offered by many other fast-track LPN-to-RN programs, most of the courses listed on Stark State College’s LPN-to-RN curriculum contain synchronized lecture, lab, and practicum components.

You’ll be able to cultivate your RN skills in SSC’s state-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratory. The college also partners with healthcare facilities throughout North Canton and nearby parts of the Greater Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Area for clinical rotation opportunities. Stark State College maintains articulation agreements with many other colleges and universities, including Ohio State University and Kent State University, making it easier for you to transfer your AAS credits seamlessly should you want to continue studying for a BSN degree.

How Fast Can You Complete Stark State College LPN-to-RN Program: Students who enroll in this program at the North Canton campus will begin in the fall semester, while students who enroll at the Akron campus will start in the spring.

Three semesters (12 months) is all it will take you to complete the 27-credit core nursing curriculum. Completing the required prerequisites is likely to take you an additional semester. SSC also offers a part-time completion option for students for whom completing the program quickly is not a priority.


Admission Requirements: Only students who’ve graduated from an accredited LPN program and who maintain current, unencumbered LPN licensure in Ohio may apply to this program. You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all prior college-level coursework. You must score 58.7 percent or higher on the TEAS exam.


23. Pima Community College – Tucson, AZ


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: Once you complete Pima Community College’s nine-credit transition course and meet all entry requirements, you’ll join the college’s traditional nursing students in their third semester of studies. Core nursing coursework associated with PCC’s short LPN-to-RN program comprises 40 credits that focus on the registered nursing process and contain lecture, lab, and clinical components. The entire AAS degree, however, entails earning 60 to 61 credits.

Pima Community College’s cutting-edge simulation laboratory will allow you to learn and perfect clinical skills in a safe, supportive environment. You won’t be allowed to practice those skills during clinical rotations until your clinical instructors give you the go-ahead. You’ll participate in precepted practicums at Tucson Medical Center and other hospitals and clinics throughout the Greater Tucson Metropolitan Area.

How Fast Can You Complete Pima Community College LPN-to-RN Program: Classes are admitted in the spring and fall semesters. Excluding prerequisites and general education requirements, you should be able to finish this program in three semesters (12 months.) However, you’ll need to complete 17 to 18 credits of prerequisites, and that process will likely take you one or two additional semesters.


Admission Requirements: You must be an LPN with an active, unrestricted license and work experience. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply to the program. All applicants must take the NLN PAX-RN exam.


24. Southern University at Shreveport - Shreveport, LA


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: The accelerated LPN-to-RN program at Southern University at Shreveport is a 35-credit curriculum that includes courses like “Principles of Pharmacology” and “Issues and Trends in Nursing Practice.” Upon successfully completing the four-credit “Role Transition to Professional Nursing” course, you’ll receive 14 credits, which will be applied toward completing your Associate of Science in Nursing degree. You’ll need an additional 35 credits to earn your Associate of Science in Nursing degree from SU, but these credits will comprise nursing prerequisite and general education courses.

Your clinical rotations will occur at acute and long-term care facilities throughout Shreveport, including Overton Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center, University Health–Shreveport, and LifeCare Hospitals of Shreveport. Southern University also boasts a sophisticated human simulation lab where you can learn basic and complex clinical skills before you begin your practicums.

How Fast Can You Complete Southern University at Shreveport LPN-to-RN Program: Students can be admitted into this program in both the fall and spring semesters. While the core nursing curriculum can be completed in three semesters (12 months), it may take you an extra 12 months to finish all your required prerequisites and general education classes.


Admission Requirements: You must complete 12 credit hours of classes at Southern University at Shreveport before applying to its LPN-to-RN track. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher. All applicants must sit for the NACE I PN-RN. This program is only open to candidates with active, unencumbered LPN licensure in Louisiana.


25. Jersey College - Teterboro, NJ


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: Jersey College is one of the accelerated LPN-to-RN programs that use the quarter system, so you will need to earn 113 credits to graduate with an ADN degree from this institution. Upon completing an “LPN to RN Transition” course that explores the differences between LPN and RN skills and leadership roles, you’ll be awarded 20 quarter credits.

This accelerated LPN-to-RN program uses a holistic approach to the nursing education process. You’ll take courses like “Medical-Surgical Nursing I & II: Perspectives and Assessment of Care” and “Pediatric Nursing: Care for Children and Their Families.” You’ll also participate in challenging clinical education opportunities in Jersey College’s training lab and with hospitals, clinics, and other practicum partners throughout Teterboro and adjacent communities in Bergen County.

How Fast Can You Complete Jersey College LPN-to-RN Program: This program can take between 12 and 18 months to complete, depending on how many courses you take per quarter.


Admission Requirements: Jersey College’s LPN-to-RN program has comparatively few admission requirements. You must either be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, and you’ll need a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You’ll also need to possess an active, unencumbered LPN license.


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Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.