6 Best LPN Programs in Idaho – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Now is a great time to enroll in one of the LPN programs in Idaho! In Idaho, the licensed practical nursing field is poised to expand by 18 percent over the next decade, and LPNs make $54,710 a year. As an LPN, you’ll be the one giving hands-on nursing care, helping patients with such essential tasks as bathing and dressing. You’ll also take vital signs, administer medications, and collect lab specimens. Working as an LPN can be a great first step toward attaining your RN license. Many LPN programs in the Gem State can be completed in one year or less. For more information, read this guide to the 6 best LPN programs in Idaho.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN PROGRAMS IN IDAHO (ONLINE AND CAMPUS)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 6 best nursing schools for LPN programs in Idaho.


1. College of Eastern Idaho - Idaho Falls


Program Details: College of Eastern Idaho accepts 30 students into its LPN program in Idaho each fall and spring semester on a first-come, first-served basis so long as they’ve completed all prerequisite courses. This 42-credit program’s curriculum includes core nursing courses like “Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing I & II,” “Introduction to Maternal/Child Nursing,” and “Leadership for the Practical Nurse.” Nursing theory classes are paired with clinical courses that will teach you associated hands-on skills; thus, you’ll take “Essential Fundamentals of Nursing” and “Essential Fundamentals of Nursing Lab” in the same semester.

ATI tests are administered throughout the course of study to measure students’ competency levels. You’ll practice essential nursing skills in College of Eastern Idaho’s high-fidelity simulation laboratory, equipped with hospital technology and programmable manikins, where you can learn from your mistakes without real-time consequences. Clinical experiences are scheduled at Mountain View Hospital, Idaho Falls Community Hospital, and other healthcare facilities in Idaho Falls and nearby communities in eastern Idaho.


Why Choose This Program

• LPN grads at the College of Eastern Idaho have a three-year average NCLEX-PN pass rate of 100 percent, placing this school among the best LPN programs in Idaho.
• Within one year of licensure, 96 percent of College of Eastern Idaho LPN grads find jobs in their field.
• Want to get your RN license? College of Eastern Idaho admits 30 licensed practical nurses every year into its LPN-to-RN Bridge program.


2. Carrington College - Boise


Program Details: Carrington College’s licensed practical nursing program in Idaho will only take you 12 months to complete. You won’t need any previous familiarity with the medical profession because you’ll take prep classes like “Math for Dosage Calculations” and “Medical Terminology” at the beginning of your LPN studies. For acceptance into the program, you must pass the COMPASS admissions test with a 50 in math, 80 in reading, and 68 in writing.

The 41-credit program includes core nursing courses such as “Fundamentals and Medical-Surgical Nursing,” “Pediatric Nursing,” and “Community and Mental Health Nursing.” Many of your nursing theory courses will be supplemented by a complementary class that teaches the clinical skills needed to care for specific patient populations; hence, you’ll take “Medical-Surgical Nursing” and “Medical-Surgical Nursing-Clinical” in the same term. The curriculum also includes an extensive NCLEX-PN review.

Before you receive your LPN certificate, you’ll spend 210 hours in nursing skills labs and 540 hours pursuing clinical experiences. Carrington College’s nursing lab is a six-bed facility with task trainers, programmable manikins, and hospital equipment. You’ll also participate in clinical rotations at long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare agencies throughout the Greater Metropolitan Boise Area.


Why Choose This Program

• LPN grads from Carrington College in Boise have a three-year NCLEX-PN pass rate that exceeds 97 percent.
• Is an LPN just the first stop on your nursing journey? Like several other LPN programs in Idaho, Carrington College offers an LPN-to-ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) option.


3. North Idaho College - Coeur d'Alene


Program Details: North Idaho College’s LPN program is only open to applicants who are certified nursing assistants in the State of Idaho. Between courses, clinical hours, and study time, students enrolled in this LPN program in Idaho can plan on putting in 40 to 50 hours a week. The 48-to-52-credit curriculum primarily consists of a three-part “Practical Nursing” course, supplemented by a three-part “Practical Nursing Lab” course that teaches associated hands-on nursing skills.

Students can practice their newly learned skills in North Idaho College’s state-of-the-art simulation center, designed to replicate a hospital setting. The center is equipped with manikins programmed to display physiological functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. You’ll participate in supervised patient care experiences at Northwest Specialty Hospital, Kootenai Health, and other healthcare facilities in Coeur d'Alene and nearby communities in northwestern Idaho and northeastern Washington.


Why Choose This Program

• LPN grads from North Idaho College have maintained an NCLEX-PN pass rate of over 90 percent for more than 20 years.
• Ready to take your nursing abilities to the next level? Check out North Idaho College’s LPN to RN Advanced Placement program.


4. College of Western Idaho - Nampa


Program Details: College of Western Idaho offers two LPN options: a 60-credit Associate of Applied Science degree that takes two years to complete and a 33-credit technical certificate that takes one and a half years to complete. Both of these licensed practical nursing programs in Idaho require you to take core nursing courses like “Fundamentals of Nursing,” “Nursing Care of the Elderly,” and “Pharmacology for Practical Nursing,” but the associate degree pathway involves additional general education requirements. Students are admitted into the program in the spring and fall.

Nursing theory courses are coupled with clinical classes that teach you the associated skills: In the same semester that you take “Comprehensive Care of Adults,” you’ll also take “Comprehensive Care of Adults Clinical.” You’ll have the opportunity to participate in supervised patient care experiences at Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke's, West Valley Hospital, and other healthcare facilities throughout Nampa and other parts of the Greater Boise Metropolitan Region.

Before you can be admitted to either LPN pathway, you must complete specific prerequisites and take the Kaplan Nursing Admissions Exam. Admission preference is given to applicants with previous professional healthcare experience, such as certified nursing assistants, paramedics, and respiratory therapists.


Why Choose This Program

• College of Western Idaho partners with Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center to provide Upfront Tuition Scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs.
• College of Western Idaho has an impressive 98 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-PN!


5. College of Southern Idaho - Twin Falls


Program Details: The essential nursing courses you’ll need to take to graduate from College of Southern Idaho’s licensed practical nursing program in Idaho include “Mental Health Nursing for Practical Nurses,” “Nursing Care of the Elderly,” and “Leadership and Management for the Practical Nurse.” The college admits 30 students into this 46-credit LPN pathway each spring and fall. You must apply separately to the college and the practical nursing program. This LPN program in Idaho is only open to candidates with a current CNA certification.

College of Southern Idaho has a high-tech simulation lab where students can practice newly acquired nursing skills without fear of jeopardizing patient safety. Once you’re comfortable with your nursing skills, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations at extended care centers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities in Twin Falls and nearby communities throughout south-central Idaho.


Why Choose This Program

• Interested in deepening your nursing knowledge? College of Southern Idaho offers an LPN-to-ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) pathway.
• Need tuition help? College of Southern Idaho LPN students may be eligible for an Idaho Opportunity Scholarship.


6. Eagle Gate College - Boise


Program Details: You can complete Eagle Gate College’s LPN program in Idaho in a single academic year. The college offers its LPN pathway at its campuses in Boise and Idaho Falls. The 48-credit curriculum includes core nursing theory courses such as “Fundamentals of Nursing Practice I & II” and “Medical Surgical Nursing Care I & II,” as well as a four-part nursing skills lab and a three-part clinical practicum course. You’ll be able to access nursing theory classes online, but you’ll need to participate in nursing labs and clinical experiences in person.

You’ll get your first introduction to practical hands-on skills in Eagle Gate College’s nursing simulation lab. This controlled environment, designed to replicate healthcare practice settings, is stocked with sophisticated simulators, equipment, and technologies for a fully immersive learning experience. Eagle Gate College partners with long-term care centers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities in Boise and Idaho Falls to provide students with high-quality clinical experiences.


Why Choose This Program

• Motivated to advance your nursing career? Eagle Gate College offers an online LPN-to-RN pathway.
• Eagle Gate College provides all LPN grads with free job placement assistance and career development resources.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Our Expert


1. Who Accredits LPN Programs In Idaho?




2. What Is The Starting Salary For New Graduates Of These Programs In Idaho?


Hourly$12.78
Weekly$511
Monthly$2,220
Annual$26,580
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


3. What Is The Average Salary For LPN Nurses In Idaho?


Hourly$26.25
Weekly$1,050
Monthly$4,550
Annual$54,600
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


4. Average LPN Salary In Idaho VS. Average LPN Salary In The Nation: Who Earns More?


Average Idaho
LPN Annual Salary
Average National
LPN Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$54,600$60,790-$6,190-10.18%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


5. What Is The Metro-Wise Average LPN Salary In Idaho?


MetroHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Boise City$27.69$1,108$4,800$57,600
Coeur d'Alene$27.64$1,106$4,790$57,490
Idaho Falls$23.40$936$4,060$48,670
Lewiston$28.56$1,142$4,950$59,400
Pocatello$23.28$931$4,040$48,420
Twin Falls$26.37$1,055$4,570$54,840
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


6. What Is The Job Outlook For LPN Graduates In Idaho?


OccupationEmploymentNew Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
20202030Number%
LPN2,7703,260+490+17.69%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


7. How Many Job Openings Are There For Graduates Of These Programs In Idaho?


OccupationNewReplacementAnnual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
LPN49211260
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


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.




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