10 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Alabama – (Online & Campus-Based)
Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Are you an LPN in Alabama looking for a way to move up the professional ladder? LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama can help you become a registered nurse in the Yellowhammer State, performing health assessments, administering medications, and creating treatment plans that are out of scope for you now. You’ll earn an average salary of $66,910 per annum, 48 percent more than the average $45,260 per year you earn as a licensed practical nurse. Demand for your services will jump, too: In the next 10 years, employment opportunities for RNs in Alabama are projected to increase by more than 8 percent. The guide below to the 10 best LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama has more information.
WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN ALABAMA (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 10 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama.
1. Snead State Community College - Boaz
Program Details: If you are a licensed practical nurse looking for the best LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama, a great place to consider is Snead State Community College. At Snead, you can earn your degree in just three semester’s time. The program is delivered in a hybrid format. Although most theory content is presented online, you will also be required to attend campus sessions throughout the program each semester to participate in lab simulations, skills lab checkoffs, testing, and advising consultations.
The curriculum for the LPN-to-RN program features classes, including Concepts for Healthcare Transitions, Advanced Nursing Concepts, and Advanced Evidence-Based Clinical Reasoning. In semesters one and two, you will participate in a clinical practicum at designated clinical sites. The final semester includes a 180-hour preceptorship.
Why Choose This Program
• Snead State Community College offers high-tech learning experiences for students in its LPN-to-RN program. On campus days, you will participate in simulations in the program’s high-fidelity laboratory alongside a cohort of your peers.• The LPN-to-RN program in Alabama at Snead State Community College offers access to knowledgeable, caring faculty and networking opportunities through the school’s strong community partnerships. You will learn from your instructor’s insight and experiences and practice hands-on skills under the supervision of professional preceptors.
2. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College - Greenville
Program Details: If you are an LPN ready to advance your career with an Associate Degree in Nursing, the LPN-to-RN program in Alabama at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is another great option! The program is designed to provide a pathway for licensed practical nurses to advance and become registered nurses in just three semesters.
At Loreen B. Wallace, the associate degree nursing mobility track requires the completion of 67 total credits. Upon verification of your LPN license and satisfactory completion of Concepts for Health Transition, you will be awarded 15 non-traditional credit hours, which are applied to the total required to earn the associate degree.
The rigorous curriculum for the LPN-to-RN program includes 21 prerequisite credits and 31 nursing credits. In addition to learning about advanced evidence-based reasoning and nursing concepts, you will participate in a minimum of 165 nursing lab hours and 450 clinical hours. Program faculty arrange clinical practicum assignments to ensure you have appropriate and adequate experiences in various settings under the supervision of clinical faculty or approved preceptors.
Why Choose This Program
• Having worked in student recruitment and retention for a nursing program, I believe it is important for prospective students to consider retention and graduation rates, as they are a good indication of student satisfaction and success. The Loreen B. Wallace Community College LPN to RN program reports excellent retention and graduation rates, which makes it a great choice for earning your degree!• The nursing program also reports high NCLEX-RN pass rates, which is another factor to consider when choosing where to pursue your nursing degree. The higher the pass rates a program has, the greater the indication that the program is effective in preparing students, not only for the exam, but for practice.
3. Wallace Community College - Dothan
Program Details: Wallace Community College in Dothan is home to another of our featured LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama. The program admits students twice per year, is designed for full-time study, and can be completed in four semesters after completion of prerequisite course requirements. You will experience a hybrid learning format that combines classroom learning with in-person labs and clinicals.
The 72-credit hour pathway features classes, including Nursing Through the Lifespan and Human Growth and Development. You will receive 16 non-traditional credits toward the degree after completing the course LPN Role Transition to Associate Degree Nurse. Each course of the curriculum includes lecture hours and either laboratory simulation or clinical hours. Clinicals encompass a broad range of experiences, with practicums in diverse settings. Clinicals are designed to give you opportunities to provide care to patients across the lifespan who are experiencing varying degrees of health, illness, and disease.
Why Choose This Program
• Wallace Community College has a history of educating nursing students since 1969. In the years since the nursing program began, more than 5,000 students have graduated from the associate degree in nursing program, many of whom are graduates of the LPN-to-RN program.• Wallace Community College offers a Student Nurse Apprenticeship Program, which provides participants with the ability to work and earn an income while advancing their careers in nursing.
• One of the perks of earning your degree through the LPN-to-RN program in Alabama at WCC is that you can take advantage of articulation agreements the school has with several four-year institutions. These agreements make it easier for you to continue learning by pursuing a BSN or MSN degree and further advance your career.
4. Wallace Community College Selma - Selma
Program Details: Wallace Community College Selma offers an excellent LPN-to-RN program in Alabama for licensed practical nurses ready to take the next step and pursue a career as registered nurses. The program is a four-semester pathway, including one LPN-to-RN transition semester.
The LPN-to-RN program features a 68-credit curriculum with classes including Advanced Nursing Concepts and Advanced Evidence-Based Clinical Reasoning. From learning advanced application of nursing concepts to opportunities to participate in both didactic and preceptorship experiences, you will be well-prepared to embrace a new role as a registered nurse with confidence.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of the Wallace Community College Selma LPN-to-RN program who responded to graduate surveys report high satisfaction rates with the program. Student satisfaction is based on factors including faculty availability and involvement, course delivery, and practicum experiences, to name a few.• WCCS reports excellent job placement rates for program graduates. According to the school, a high percentage of graduates find employment as registered nurses within three months of completing the program and passing the NCLEX-RN.
5. Central Alabama Community College - Alexander City
Program Details: Central Alabama Community College is home to another of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama. The program, which awards an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree, admits students once each year in the fall semester and is designed to be completed in three semesters (after prerequisites are complete).
This LPN-to-RN pathway is a 51-semester hour program, including 20 semester hours of prerequisite coursework. Additionally, you will receive 10-semester credits after completing the course Concepts for Healthcare Transitions Students, which is taken during the first semester. Lectures are held on the Alexander City campus and clinical practicums are arranged in various healthcare settings, as determined by the program director.
Why Choose This Program
• As a student in the LPN-to-RN program at Central Alabama Community College, you will learn from experienced, dedicated faculty whose valuable insights, combined with academic and clinical leadership, will help prepare you to become a registered nurse!• Program graduates at CACC have consistently scored above both state and national averages among first-time testers taking the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs. As a nursing and healthcare educator, I recommend checking NCLEX pass rates for any nursing program you are considering, as they are an excellent way to gauge the quality of the program and the level of preparedness students achieve.
6. Coastal Alabama Community College - Minette
Program Details: At Coastal Alabama Community College, licensed practical nurses can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in just two or three semesters through the school's LPN-to-RN mobility program. The program admits students once annually in the fall semester. The program includes campus-based didactic instruction, lab simulations, and a broad array of clinical experiences at various hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
At CACC, you will complete 31 credits. Students who completed the Alabama Community College System PN curriculum within one year of beginning the Mobility track are exempt from taking Concepts for Healthcare Transitions Students, which is offered in the first semester, making it possible to graduate in just two semesters instead of three. 10 credits are awarded either for taking the transitions course or for completing the ACCS practical nursing curriculum. In addition to credits earned through the curriculum, you will be awarded 15 non-traditional credits upon completion of Area I-V credit hours.
Why Choose This Program
• If you want to earn your RN degree but worry about a reduction in income while in school, Coastal Alabama Community College could be an excellent option for you. The school offers a Nursing Apprenticeship option for qualified students. Student apprentices are paid for clinical hours, which means you can earn your degree and gain the clinical training you need while still earning an income.• At Coastal Alabama Community College, financial aid advisors will work with you to determine if you are eligible for scholarships and grants, which could help offset some of the expenses of earning your degree without having to commit to repayment plans after graduating.
7. Northwest-Shoals Community College - Muscle Shoals
Program Details: Licensed practical nurses ready to become registered nurses have another outstanding option through the LPN-to-RN program in Alabama at Northwest-Shoals Community College. The program offers two tracks of entry. Track One is designed for students who completed the Alabama Standard Concept-Based Curriculum greater than one year before program entry and who did not complete the Alabama State Concept-Based curriculum for practical nursing certification. Track Two is available for students who completed the Alabama Standard Concept-Based Curriculum for practical nursing certification within one academic year of program entry. Students in Track Two are exempt from taking the Healthcare Transitions course, which is offered in the first semester. The program takes two or three semesters, depending on whether you enter Track One or Track Two. Track One admits students in the spring semester each year, and Track Two admits students in the fall.
The LPN-to-RN program is a 66-credit pathway, including 20 prerequisite course credits. Students in Tracks One and Two are awarded 15 or 25 non-traditional credits, respectively, after completing the Transitions course. The program also includes clinical practicums through which you will have opportunities to integrate advanced nursing concepts while providing direct patient care.
Why Choose This Program
• At Northwest-Shoals Community College, you will gain hands-on learning in the school's high-fidelity simulation lab. Lab simulations offer excellent learning opportunities in a safe, controlled environment, preparing you to transition to RN clinicals and practice.• NSCC offers job placement assistance for students in the program and reports that most graduates find employment as RNs within three to six months of graduating and passing the NCLEX-RN.
8. Southern Union State Community College - Opelika
Program Details: The Southern Union State Community College ADN Mobility program is an excellent option if you are researching options for LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama. The program admits students two times per year on the Opelika campus. Currently, enrollment options are available for day or evening classes with a fall admission or spring admission for a day program. You can complete the program in as little as 12 months.
The program features a 66-credit hour curriculum, including 20 semester hours of prerequisite courses that are required for admission to the program. The program is designed to prepare you with an in-depth understanding of advanced nursing concepts and evidence-based reasoning for clinical practice. Nursing theory is presented in the classroom and complemented by laboratory simulations. You will also participate in clinical rotations in healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians' offices, and community health centers. Other clinical rotations may be assigned at the discretion of the program director.
Why Choose This Program
• Students enrolled in the LPN-to-RN program in Alabama offered at Southern Union State Community College have the opportunity to enroll concurrently in the BSN program at Auburn University. The Concurrent BSN program is an excellent option, allowing you to complete both an associate's and a bachelor's degree in nursing simultaneously.• Graduates of the SUSCC program have excellent post-graduation records, including outstanding NCLEX-RN pass rates and high employment rates.
9. Gadsden State Community College - Gadsden
Program Details: At Gadsden State Community College, you will find another featured LPN-to-RN program in Alabama. The program admits students three times per year in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Additionally, the program is formatted to be completed in three semesters.
This LPN-to-RN program features a 67-credit curriculum. Courses encompass a broad range of subjects in areas, including natural sciences and mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, and professional nursing. The program includes classroom and laboratory learning on campus and off-site clinical practicums. At times, some courses may be web-enhanced or offered in a hybrid format. Program faculty arrange clinical assignments to ensure a broad variety of clinical experiences.
Why Choose This Program
• At Gadsden State Community College, you will learn from faculty with a broad range of clinical experience. Their dedication to furthering the nursing profession through education will be evident as you glean from their knowledge and insights, preparing to transition and become a registered nurse.• When you pursue your degree through the LPN-to-RN program in Alabama at GSCC, you have access to the state-of-the-art Simulation Center, diverse clinical sites, and comprehensive resources, all designed to promote your success!
10. Bevill State Community College - Jasper
Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Alabama offered at Bevill State Community College is another great option for licensed practical nurses desiring to pursue an RN education and graduate in a short time. Depending on when you completed your practical nursing program, you can expect to graduate in as few as two to three semesters.
To earn the Associate degree in nursing, you must complete 66 total credits. Upon completion of Concepts for Healthcare Transition, or upon approved waiver of the course, you will be awarded 15 hours of non-traditional credit toward the required credits. Classroom, simulation, and laboratory instruction are facilitated on campus and supervised by program faculty. Core nursing courses include didactic instruction and guided clinical experiences at clinical affiliate sites.
Why Choose This Program
• Bevill State Community College boasts high NCLEX pass rates among students completing the LPN-to-RN program. The school reports students have consistently exceeded state passing rates for the last three years in a row!• At Bevill State, you will have an academic advisor and coach who works with you from the time you are admitted to the program until you graduate. Your advisor will help guide you and work with you to ensure your academic needs are met, helping to promote your success.
Explore Why Darby Faubion Believes LPN-To-RN Programs Are A Valuable Investment In The State Of Alabama
As a nurse and healthcare educator, I believe any investment that broadens your knowledge base and skills and helps to advance your career is worth it. In Alabama, many LPN-to-RN programs offer flexible learning options, including hybrid learning formats, which make it easier for students to balance work and personal life while earning a degree. Additionally, many of the programs, like those featured in this article, are part of a strong support network that offers resources from academic and career counseling and advising to one-on-one guidance, when needed. Pursuing your degree through one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Alabama is an excellent way to enhance your professional knowledge base, creating more opportunities for increased income opportunities and a more fulfilling career!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Starting LPN VS. RN Salary In Alabama: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?
| RN Average Starting Annual Salary | LPN Average Starting Annual Salary | Difference | |||
| Number | % | ||||
| $50,310 | $33,710 | +$16,600 | +49.24% | ||
| (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |||||
2. Experience-Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Alabama: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?
| Level of Experience | RN | LPN | Difference | ||
| Number | % | ||||
| Entry-Level | $50,310 | $33,710 | +$16,600 | +49.24% | |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $59,140 | $40,600 | +$18,540 | +45.67% | |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $65,900 | $48,330 | +$17,570 | +36.35% | |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $79,100 | $56,150 | +$22,950 | +40.87% | |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $92,870 | $61,530 | +$31,340 | +50.93% | |
| Average Salary | $71,370 | $48,320 | +$23,050 | +47.70% | |
| (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |||||
3. Metro Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Alabama: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?
| Metro | RN Average Annual Salary | LPN Average Annual Salary | Difference | ||
| Number | % | ||||
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville | $64,490 | $46,440 | +$18,050 | +38.87% | |
| Auburn-Opelika | $76,040 | $44,910 | +$31,130 | +69.32% | |
| Birmingham-Hoover | $75,180 | $53,130 | +$22,050 | +41.50% | |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $68,480 | $49,820 | +$18,660 | +37.45% | |
| Decatur | $66,710 | $49,030 | +$17,680 | +36.06% | |
| Dothan | $65,160 | $41,400 | +$23,760 | +57.39% | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $63,090 | $43,810 | +$19,280 | +44.01% | |
| Gadsden | $65,380 | $47,100 | +$18,280 | +38.81% | |
| Huntsville | $70,170 | $50,140 | +$20,030 | +39.95% | |
| Mobile | $68,920 | $47,830 | +$21,090 | +44.09% | |
| Montgomery | $79,170 | $47,410 | +$31,760 | +66.99% | |
| Tuscaloosa | $71,070 | $47,540 | +$23,530 | +49.50% | |
| (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |||||
4. LPN VS. RN Job Outlook In Alabama: Is The Job Outlook For RN Better Than LPN?
| Occupation | Employment | New Employment Growth (2020-2030) | |||
| 2020 | 2030 | Number | % | ||
| RN | 51,280 | 55,450 | +4,170 | +8.13% | |
| LPN | 12,060 | 13,210 | +1,150 | +9.54% | |
| Difference | +39,220 | +42,240 | +3,020 | -1.40% | |
| (Source: Careeronestop.org) | |||||
5. LPN VS. RN Job Openings In Alabama: Are There More Job Openings For RN Compared To LPN?
| Occupation | New | Replacement | Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) | ||
| RN | 417 | 2,763 | 3,180 | ||
| LPN | 115 | 955 | 1,070 | ||
| Difference | +302 | +1,808 | +2,110 | ||
| (Source: Careeronestop.org) | |||||
6. Average LPN-To-RN Salary In Alabama VS. Average LPN-To-RN Salary In The Nation: Who Earns More?
| Average Alabama LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Average National LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Difference | |||
| Number | % | ||||
| $71,370 | $94,480 | -$23,110 | -24.46% | ||
| (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |||||
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.