19 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Florida (Online & Campus) – 2024

Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Are you a Florida-based licensed practical nurse interested in taking your career to the next level? This article showcases the 19 best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida for 2024 offered by community colleges, state colleges, and private nursing schools across the Sunshine State.

Florida is committed to improving its nursing education: In January 2024, Governor DeSantis announced that the state intended to funnel $79 million into high-performing nursing education programs. Many of the programs on our list are beneficiaries of this grant. So, if you’ve been wondering, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida?” keep reading! We’ve got you covered.

RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

TOP 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRANSITION FROM LPN-TO-RN IN FLORIDA

Licensed practical nurses in Florida function as the handmaidens of registered nurses for the most part. While LPNs perform only the most basic nursing tasks, RNs play a much more active role in patient care. Many Florida-based LPNs, of course, may be perfectly satisfied with this division of labor. But if you’re one of the LPNs who’s not, here’s a closer look at three compelling reasons why it’s worth your while to enroll in an LPN-to-RN nursing school in Florida to upgrade your skills.

1. RNs make higher salaries:

On average, registered nurses in Florida make salaries that are 49 percent higher than the salaries licensed practical nurses earn. Consequently, over the course of a 25-year career, RNs can expect to bank $653,000 more than LPNs. Take-home pay, of course, is only part of that picture: Registered nurses in the Sunshine State typically have access to non-salary benefits like tuition reimbursement, retirement benefits, health and life insurance, and paid time off (PTO) that aren’t offered to licensed practical nurses. If you’re interested in optimizing your earning potential as a nurse in Florida, it pays to be an RN.

2. RNs have more professional advancement opportunities:

RNs in Florida have a wide variety of career options. They can remain in bedside nursing, either in a hospital or a home care setting, or progress into more specialized fields like pediatrics, oncology, dialysis, or surgery. In contrast, LPNs in Florida are very limited in their specialization opportunities; they can become wound care specialists, rehabilitation assistants, or long-term caregivers, and that’s about it.

3. There’s more demand for RN services:

Registered nurses have training that enables them to work more autonomously than licensed practical nurses in Florida. Since RNs don’t have to be supervised as closely, they’re a more valuable commodity, and there is much more demand for their services. Employment opportunities in the Sunshine State are projected to increase for both RNs and LPNs over the next decade, but the increase for RNs is expected to be around 14 percent, while the increase for LPNs is only expected to be around 11 percent.

HOW LONG ARE LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

LPN-to-RN programs in Florida take between eight and 24 months to finish—at least, that’s what their catalogs say. Keep in mind, however, that these catalog descriptions typically don’t include the one or two years of prerequisites you’ll need to complete before you can be admitted into a program. College of Central Florida’s LPN-ADN Bridge Option may only consist of nine classes (three semesters), but you’ll have to take 12 prerequisite classes (four semesters) before you can qualify to apply to the program.

The shortest LPN-to-RN curricula in the Sunshine State are those programs that let you leverage your knowledge base as an LPN for advanced placement. For example, Gulf Coast State College’s LPN to ADN Articulation Program will award you up to 17 credits based on your competency testing results after you take an LPN-to-ADN Nursing Transition class. This is a higher number of credits than stipulated by the Florida Department of Education whose statewide PSAV (Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate Programs)-to-Associate Degree Articulation Agreement specifies that an LPN license is automatically worth 10 credits toward an associate degree nursing program. Gulf Coast State College’s generous allocation of educational credits for LPN expertise is one reason why its LPN to ADN Articulation Program is only two semesters long.

Attending one of Florida’s LPN-to-RN programs can be difficult for LPNs who can’t afford to take a year off to go back to school. Nearly all of them require students to enroll full-time. The three exceptions to this are Broward College’s LPN-RN Transition Program, Florida Gateway College’s LPN-RN Bridge track, and Palm Beach State College’s LPN-to-RN program. Palm Beach State College offers a two-year daytime program for students who can afford to attend full-time and a three-year program that meets evenings and weekends for students who must work while they’re in school.

HOW MUCH DO LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA COST?

Tuition at LPN-to-RN programs in Florida can set you back anywhere between $4,000 and $42,000, depending upon whether you enroll at a community college, a Florida state college, or a private for-profit school.

Community and state colleges are likely to be part of the Florida College System, which keeps tuition costs down. Private for-profit schools carry the highest costs: Tuition for nursing classes at Galen University, for example, is $475 per quarter credit hour.

Remember, too, that tuition is only one of the costs associated with your LPN-to-RN program in the Sunshine State. Valencia College, part of the Florida College System, imposes a comparatively affordable tuition rate of $103.05 per credit for associate-level classes. However, the college charges an array of fees on top of that—starting with an instructional fee of $266 per credit—which will drive your out-of-pocket costs much higher.

Nursing schools affiliated with either the Florida College System or the State University System of Florida typically charge state residents a more advantageous tuition rate than they charge non-residents. Florida Gateway College, for instance, charges resident tuition of $103.32 per credit and non-resident tuition of 391.57 per credit. This differential exists because state residents are already subsidizing the college’s educational offerings through the taxes they pay.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL COURSEWORK FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

The curricula of LPN-to-RN programs in Florida are generally divided into four components: prerequisites, co-requisites, core nursing classes, and clinical rotations.

Nursing program prerequisites are courses that give you the foundational knowledge you need to tackle more nursing-focused classes. While “prerequisites” and “general education courses” are not quite the same thing, many nursing programs use the terms interchangeably. The most common prerequisites for an LPN-to-RN track are anatomy and physiology, biology, psychology, and English composition though programs can vary in the prerequisites they require.

Nursing program co-requisites are classes that should be taken at the same time as core nursing classes. Microbiology is a very common co-requisite course in associate-degree-level nursing programs because it enhances a future RN’s understanding of the identification, transmission, and treatment of infectious diseases.

Most LPN-to-RN tracks in the Sunshine State offer at least one core nursing class that delves deeply into the difference between the LPN and RN scope of practice. Herzing University-Orlando’s six-credit “Transition to Professional Nursing” focuses on evidence-based practice, communication, and quality assurance in addition to reinforcing clinical competencies such as health assessment and safe medication administration. Lake-Sumter State College’s four-credit “Professional Transition/Chronic Care Management” course also stresses these key nursing concepts but, in addition, examines health issues in a developmental context.

Other core nursing courses that are part of the typical LPN-to-RN bridge curriculum focus on issues pertinent to specific patient populations, such as adult health nursing, women and child nursing, and mental health nursing.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL CLINICAL TRAINING FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

Clinical rotations are one of the most essential parts of your transition from licensed practical to registered nursing. As an LPN, you may feel as though you’re already all too familiar with what you need to do on the floor of a busy healthcare facility. Paradoxically, however, this very familiarity can prove to be an obstacle to a successful transition because the clinical roles of an LPN and an RN are very, very different. As a licensed practical nurse, your primary job is patient comfort. As a registered nurse, on the other hand, your job chiefly involves patient monitoring and planning.

It's becoming increasingly hard for Florida nursing programs that aren’t affiliated with medical systems to secure clinical placements for their students. When you’re thinking about which LPN-to-RN programs in Florida to apply to, keep an eye out for programs that are proactive in this regard. Santa Fe College lists its clinical partnerships with local healthcare facilities on its website, while Polk State College specifies the exact schedule you can expect for your clinical rotations.

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

Every one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Florida requires applicants to have a high school diploma or a GED and a valid, unencumbered LPN license. Most of them also stipulate that successful applicants must have maintained a specific minimum grade point average during their LPN studies. If you want to enroll in Herzing College-Orlando’s LPN-to-ASN track, you’ll need a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher, but for Polk State College, you only need a GPA of 2.5.

Most programs also call for a minimum score on an entrance exam such as the TEAS (a test that measures a student's readiness for college-level nursing coursework), the HESI exam (a computer-based test that assesses nursing-related knowledge and skills), or the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Examination (NACE.) Palm Beach State College requires the HESI exam and the NACE.

WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 19 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Florida (Online & Campus) for 2024.

1. Rasmussen University - Ocala, Fort Myers, & Tampa/Brandon

Rasmussen University LPN-to-RN Program Details: As an LPN, you already know a lot about nursing. So, why should you have to start from scratch when you decide to go back to school for your RN? With Rasmussen College’s LPN-to-RN Mobility Bridge Transfer Option, you won’t have to.

Your plan of study will be highly individualized because this LPN-to-RN program in Florida allows you to transfer up to 42 credits from previous academic and work experience toward its 102-quarter-credit Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Most students take between 12 and 18 months to complete the program.

Rasmussen uses a hybrid teaching methodology that blends online coursework with face-to-face classes, on-campus laboratory simulations, and clinical experiences. This LPN-to-RN program in Florida offers start dates in January, April, July, and October. You’ll need a current, unencumbered LPN license for acceptance into this program. Note that Rasmussen’s ADN degree meets RN educational requirements for licensure in Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, Florida, and Wisconsin.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Rasmussen University LPN-to-RN Students

• Rasmussen University’s LPN-to-RN Mobility Bridge Transfer Option is offered at four Florida campuses: Odessa (central Pasco campus), Fort Meyers, Ocala (North Orlando campus), and Tampa/Brandon.
• In 2022, the NCLEX-RN pass rate for ADNs at Rasmussen’s Ocala campus (Odessa) was 65 percent; at its Fort Meyers campus, 63 percent; at its Ocala campus, 57 percent; and at its Tampa/Brandon campus, 58 percent.
• Throughout the 2019-2020 academic year, Rasmussen University’s four Florida campuses awarded 716 ADN degrees.
• For RNs who want to continue their professional nursing development, Rasmussen University also offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs.

2. Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Galen College of Nursing LPN-to-RN Program Details: Galen College of Nursing’s 99-quarter-credit LPN/LVN to RN Bridge Option can be completed in 15 to 19 months. Like other LPN-to-RN programs in Florida, its curriculum is divided between general education coursework, core nursing classes, and clinical rotations. Prerequisite courses are included as part of the basic curriculum, but Galen will accept transfer credits for prerequisite courses from other schools if these courses meet Galen’s educational requirements.

All students enrolled in Galen’s LPN-to-RN pathway will take a bridge course focusing on the roles and responsibilities of the registered nurse as compared to those of the licensed practical nurse. Other core nursing classes include courses like “Principles of Pharmacology,” “Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts,” and “Concepts of Mental Health Nursing.”

All of Galen’s Florida campuses have clinical affiliation agreements in place with extended care facilities, community service agencies, and acute care centers in their area where clinical rotations will be scheduled. Classes begin in the summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters. This is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in Florida where applicants may be required to take the SAT and the ACT for admission. You must also have a current, unencumbered LPN license with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in your LPN studies.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Galen College of Nursing LPN-to-RN Students

• Galen College of Nursing offers its LPN/LVN to RN Bridge Option at four Florida-based campuses in Gainesville, Miami, Sarasota, and Tampa Bay.
• Students who received their ADNs from Galen in 2022 had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 77 percent in 2022.
• Five hundred and twelve ADN degrees were awarded by Galen College of Nursing at its Tampa Bay campus during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• If you’re interested in advancing your nursing career further, Galen also offers online RN-to-BSN, MSN, and MSN-Educator degrees.

3. Santa Fe College - Gainesville

Santa Fe College LPN-to-RN Program Details: A low student-to-faculty ratio and an emphasis on clinical education make Santa Fe College’s LPN Nursing Bridge Program one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida.

The college’s Bridge Program only admits 10 students every application cycle. Although coursework is primarily taught in classroom settings at the college’s campus in Gainesville, some of the curriculum is offered online. Additionally, you’ll spend up to half your time pursuing experiential learning opportunities in the college’s sophisticated simulation laboratory as well as in clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities like North Florida Regional Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, and University of Florida Health.

The 62-credit program takes 3.5 semesters (14 months) to complete. You must complete an IV Therapy certification class before you can be admitted. You’ll also need to complete a number of prerequisite courses. This program is only open to applicants with a current, unencumbered Florida LPN license with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all related coursework. Some other LPN-to-RN programs in Florida offer an ADN degree, but you’ll graduate from Santa Fe College’s Nursing Bridge Program with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN.)

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Santa Fe College LPN-to-RN Students

• Santa Fe College ASN graduates had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91 percent in 2022.
• In the academic year 2019-2020, the college awarded 119 ASN degrees.
• In addition to its LPN Nursing Bridge Program, Santa Fe College also offers a traditional ASN program and a BSN program.

4. Valencia College - Orlando

Valencia College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Valencia College’s Accelerated Track in Nursing is an LPN-to-RN program in Florida that’s open to paramedics, respiratory therapists, and registered invasive cardiovascular specialists (CVTs) as well as to licensed practical nurses. The 38-credit program should take students three semesters to complete.

Coursework includes classes like ”Transition Into Professional Nursing Concepts,” “Health and Illness Concepts of Physical and Health Assessment,” and “Concepts of Adult Health I & II.” You’ll take online courses for the most part, but orientation and exams will take place on campus—the Osceola campus during your first semester and the West campus during subsequent semesters. Clinical rotations are scheduled one day a week on the 7 am to 7 pm shift in healthcare facilities throughout Orange and Osceola Counties.

Valencia College’s program is considered one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida, and admission is highly selective. You must apply separately to Valencia College and its School of Nursing. You must complete 34 credits of prerequisite general education classes with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. or higher and take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS.) LPN applicants must hold Florida licensure. You will graduate with an ASN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Valencia College LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, Valencia College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate for graduates with an associate degree was 84 percent.
• Two hundred and ninety-four students graduated from Valencia College with associate degrees in the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Earning an ASN degree at Valencia College qualifies you to complete a BSN degree or an Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) in Echocardiography.
• Valencia College offers a concurrent ASN to BSN program in conjunction with the University of Central Florida.

5. Hillsborough Community College - Dale Mabry

Hillsborough Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Hillsborough Community College’s LPN-to-RN track is an accelerated 63-credit program headquartered on the college’s Dale Mobry campus. Where other LPN-to-RN programs in Florida require you to take a special transition course focusing on the differences between LPN and RN roles, at Hillsborough, your LPN license alone will earn you advanced credit. You won’t join the college’s traditional nursing cohort, but your curriculum will be similar to the traditional nursing curriculum.

Core nursing classes will include “Essential Concepts of Patient Care Management,” “Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice,” and “Concepts of Adult Health I & II.” This LPN-to-RN program in Florida is a hybrid program, combining classroom courses with distance learning.

The program is offered once a year, starting in the summer term. You should be able to complete it in three semesters (one year.) Plan on spending 15 hours a week on didactic classes and clinical rotations. You’ll perfect your hands-on skills in Hillsborough Community College’s high-tech simulation lab. Clinical rotations occur at hospitals and mental health facilities throughout Hillsborough County.

You must complete 21 prerequisite credits before you can be admitted into this program. Additionally, you must take the TEAS exam and hold LPN licensure in Florida. Upon graduation, you’ll be awarded an ASN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Hillsborough Community College LPN-to-RN Students

• Hillsborough Community College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 67 percent.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Hillsborough Community College conferred 191 Associate of Science in Nursing degrees.
• Hillsborough Community College also offers an online RN-to-BSN program for registered nurses with associate degrees.

6. Palm Beach State College - Lake Worth

Palm Beach State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Palm Beach College’s 42-credit Transition Program is designed for LPNs and licensed paramedics who want to qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Applicants should have a valid LPN license with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all related studies. You must take the math portion of the HESI exam and the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Examination (NACE.) Students who score 75 percent or higher on the ACEN are eligible to transition into either the first or second semester of the traditional nursing program.

This LPN-to-RN program in Florida offers a full-time two-year completion track and a part-time three-year completion track. The part-time track meets weekends and evenings to accommodate the needs of working LPNs with clinical rotations that are scheduled for Saturdays.

The core curriculum at this LPN-to-RN program in Florida includes courses like “Concepts for Nursing Practice I, II, & III.” You must complete an Introduction to Concepts for Professional Nursing as well as 10 credits of prerequisite courses and 20 credits of general education classes before you begin taking classes. Prerequisite and nursing theory courses are offered online. You’ll graduate with an ADN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Palm Beach State College LPN-to-RN Students

• NCLEX-RN pass rates at Palm Beach State College in 2022 were 74 percent.
• Palm Beach State College awarded 255 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Students who completed their LPN studies at Palm Beach State College are given priority consideration for entry into the Transition Program.
• The college also offers a traditional ADN program as well as a BSN program.

7. Broward College - Fort Lauderdale

Broward College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Students accepted into Broward College’s LPN-RN Transition Program receive experiential credits, which give them advanced standing so they can skip the two-part Fundamentals of Nursing class that’s part of the traditional nursing curriculum. They’ll be responsible for completing 62 credits of core nursing coursework, including courses like “Health Alterations 1, 11, & III,” “Health Care of Women,” and “Pediatric Health Care.”

This LPN-to-RN program in Florida is five semesters (17 months) long. The program is taught at Broward’s North, Central, and South campuses and offers full-time and part-time completion tracks.

You’ll complete 728 clinical hours, which will be divided between learning experiences in Broward’s Health Sciences Simulation Center and clinical rotations. Clinical rotations occur at healthcare facilities throughout Broward County, such as Broward Health System, Memorial HealthCare System, TENET, and Cleveland Clinic.

You must submit separate applications to Broward College and its Health Sciences division. You must hold current, unrestricted LPN licensure for admission into Broward College’s LPN-RN Transition Program with at least one year of professional experience. Applicants will be admitted on the basis of prerequisite GPAs and HESI scores. This is one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Florida that awards an ADN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Broward College LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, Broward College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 77 percent.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Broward College gave out 331 Associate of Science Degrees in Nursing.
• The college also offers a BSN-to-RN program.

8. Florida Gateway College - Lake City

Programs Offered: Traditional Full-Time and Fast Track

Florida Gateway College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Florida Gateway College offers two LPN-RN Bridge programs. The traditional LPN-RN Bridge track is a full-time, daytime program, while the Fast-Track LPN-RN Bridge track is a part-time track that meets on Monday and Wednesday evenings. You’ll be able to complete the former program in three semesters and the latter in a year.

Both tracks include a two-semester “Transition to Adult Health” course that focuses on the functional differences between the LPN and RN roles in terms of nursing practice. Upon successful completion of this course, students in the traditional LPN-RN Bridge track will earn 10 experiential credits, and students in the Fast Track LPN-RN Bridge Track will earn 12 experiential credits to be applied toward the 72-credit ADN curriculum.

These programs are only open to licensed Florida LPNs with at least six months of experience. This is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in Florida that requires SAT or ACT scores in addition to the TEAS and Upward Mobility exams. You must also score 75 percent or higher on the HESI A2 nursing entrance exam. Graduates of this LPN-to-RN program in Florida earn an ADN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Florida Gateway College LPN-to-RN Students

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for ADN graduates of Florida Gateway College is 79 percent.
• Florida Gateway College conferred ADN degrees on 104 students throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Graduates of FGC’s LPN-RN Bridge programs can continue their professional development by enrolling in the college’s RN-to-BSN completion program.

9. Herzing University-Orlando - Orlando

Herzing University-Orlando LPN-to-RN Program Details: Versatility is what puts Herzing University-Orlando’s LPN transition programs among the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. The university offers both an LPN-to-ASN option and an LPN-to-BSN option. Graduates of either program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Prerequisite classes are taught via distance nursing, but core nursing courses must be taken in a classroom.

The LPN-to-ASN track entails 70 credits and can be completed in 16 months. The LPN-to-BSN track consists of 120 credits and can be completed in as few as 28 months. Both tracks start with a “Transition to Professional Nursing” course that explores the differences between the LPN and RN roles in terms of clinical competencies, clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and other components of their respective scopes of practice. You’ll also receive 13 credits toward your program curriculum for your LPN license.

Only students with an active, unrestricted LPN license can be admitted into this program. Admission into the LPN-to-BSN program typically requires a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in your LPN coursework. You will only have to take the TEAS test if your cumulative GPA throughout your LPN coursework was less than 3.0. The LPN-to-ASN option is also offered at Herzing’s campus in Tampa.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Herzing University-Orlando LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, the NCLEX-RN pass rate for ASN graduates at Herzing University’s Orlando campus was 63 percent.
• In 2022, the NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN graduates at Herzing University’s Orlando campus was 80 percent.
• One hundred and twenty-nine students earned ASN degrees from Herzing University-Orlando in 2019-2020.
• Forty-two students earned BSN degrees from Herzing University-Orlando in 2019-2020.
• At its Orlando campus, Herzing University also offers an accelerated BSN option for nurses whose Bachelor’s degree was in something other than nursing and an online RN-to-BSN option.
• Herzing University-Orlando also offers BSN Bridge programs for paramedics, military medics, respiratory therapists, and CVTs.

10. State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota - Bradenton

State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota LPN-to-RN Program Details: You should be able to complete State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota’s 72-credit LPN-RN Transition Nursing Program in three semesters. The program begins with an 8-credit “Nursing Transitions” course that will assess your LPN skills and knowledge and bring you up to speed with nursing concepts critical to your career as an RN. After you complete 30 credits worth of core nursing courses, you’ll be awarded 12 experiential credits that you can apply toward your ADN degree.

Hands-on training is divided between SCF’s advanced simulation center and clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Clinical rotation schedules vary according to the availability of sites and preceptors.

SCF’s LPN-RN Transition Nursing Program has a reputation as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. You’ll need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in prerequisite anatomy, physiology, written communications, and math classes for admission into this program. You’ll also need unencumbered LPN licensure in Florida and at least 12 months of professional LPN experience for admission into this LPN-to-RN program in Florida.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota LPN-to-RN Students

• ADN students at State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 94 percent.
• In 2019-2020, 136 students earned ADN degrees at SCF.
• SCF also offers an RN-to-BSN program at its Bradenton and Venice campuses.

11. St. Johns River State College - Orange Park

St. Johns River State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: The LPN Bridge to ASN program at St. Johns River State College is thought of as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. The 72-credit curriculum includes 32 credits of core nursing classes, 19 general education credits, and 11 credits of nursing-related coursework. You’ll get 10 experiential credits toward your ASN degree through your LPN license and experience. Core nursing courses include an LPN transition class focusing on the differences between the roles of practical and associate degree nurses.

This is a hybrid program that mixes distance learning with classes taught at St. Johns River’s campus in St. Augustine. Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Clinical rotations are scheduled one day a week at healthcare facilities throughout Putnam, St. Johns, and Clay Counties. You should be able to complete the program in four semesters.

Applicants from the tri-county area have priority for admission into this LPN-to-RN program in Florida. You’ll need to submit separate applications for St. Johns River State College and the LPN to ASN program. While the college itself has an open admission policy, this is a limited access program, and preference is given to licensed practical nurses who completed their education at St. Johns River.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential St. Johns River State College LPN-to-RN Students

• The 2022 NCLEX-RN pass rate for ASN students at St. Johns River State College was 85 percent
• One hundred nine individuals received ASN degrees from St. Johns River during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• St. Johns River also offers an online RN to BSN program.

12. Gulf Coast State College – Panama City

Gulf Coast State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: What makes Gulf Coast State College’s LPN-to-ADN Articulation Program one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida? Its consistently high NCLEX-RN scores and its versatility. Students can enroll in either the traditional option that meets Mondays through Thursdays at the Panama City campus or the weekend option that meets for six hours on Fridays at the Gulf Franklin campus in Port St. Joe. (Note that students who choose the weekend option will be doing weekend clinical rotations.)

The 73-credit curriculum includes prerequisite courses, co-requisite courses, core nursing courses, and clinical rotations. You can earn up to 17 credits based on your performance on an LPN competency exam. You must take an LPN-to-ADN Nursing Transition class focusing upon the differences between the licensed practical nurse and the ADN-educated registered nurse, preferably in the semester just prior to admission. Prerequisite and co-requisite work take one to two years, and you can complete core nursing courses in two semesters. Clinical rotations occur at healthcare facilities throughout Panama City and Bay County

Admission into this LPN-to-RN program in Florida is highly selective. You’ll need to submit separate applications to Gulf Coast State College and its Health Sciences Division. You must complete a 30-hour IV therapy course and take the HESI A2 admission test. The higher your grade point average was during your LPN coursework, the better your chances for admission into this program.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Gulf Coast State College LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, Gulf Coast State College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 98 percent.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Gulf Coast State College awarded 118 ADN degrees.
• GCSC also offers an RN to BSN Program for registered nurses with an associate degree who want to take their professional careers to the next level.

13. Jersey College - Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Largo, & Tampa

Jersey College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Jersey College’s LPN-to-RN Track builds upon skills you’ve already developed as an experienced licensed practical nurse. The 75-credit curriculum includes prerequisite courses, core nursing coursework, and clinical rotations. Once you complete an LPN to RN Transition class that focuses on the characteristics that distinguish the LPN role from the RN role in the professional workplace, you’ll be awarded 20 credits toward your ADN degree. All classes are taught on campus.

Jersey College is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in Florida that allows you to transfer credits from previous academic classes. Most students graduate from Jersey College’s LPN to RN Track in 12 to 18 months, but completion times vary according to how many classes you enroll in each semester and how many credits you are able to transfer. This LPN-to-RN program in Florida also has an evening option for working LPNs that offers classes Mondays through Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 10 pm.

Jersey College’s Largo campus is affiliated with Largo Hospital, and that’s where Largo-based LPN to RN Track students will do their clinical rotations. Students at the Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Tampa campuses will pursue clinical rotations at healthcare facilities in their own locations. Versatile options and high NCLEX-RN pass rates put the LPN to RN Track at Jersey College’s four campuses among the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. Jersey College

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Jersey College LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, the NCLEX-RN for ADN graduates at Jersey College’s Tampa campus was 91 percent; at Jersey College’s Jacksonville campus, 89 percent; at Jersey College’s Sunrise (Fort Lauderdale) campus, 89 percent; and at Jersey College’s Largo campus, 88 percent.
• In the 2019-2020 academic year, the number of ADN degrees awarded at Jersey College’s four Florida campuses were as follows: Tampa: 26; Jacksonville: 14; Largo: 21; and Ft. Lauderdale: 17.
• Jersey College also offers its LPN to RN Track at its campuses in New Jersey, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

14. Northwest Florida State College - Niceville

Northwest Florida State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Northwest Florida State College gives advanced placement to LPNs who enroll in its traditional ASN program. This LPN-to-RN program in Florida accepts applicants currently enrolled in LPN programs as well as LPNs with current, unencumbered licensure in Florida. (Note that LPN students will need to be licensed before classes begin.) You must take the HESI Fundamentals Exam, too.

Acceptance into the program is predicated on a points system that looks at your HESI scores as well as the GPA you earned while pursuing your LPN training and ASN prerequisite requirements. Preference is given to residents of Okaloosa or Walton County.

LPNs accepted into this LPN-to-RN program in Florida earn 11 experiential credits toward completion of the 72-credit program. The program takes four semesters to complete and includes classes like “Nursing Process I, II, III, & IV” and “Pharmacologic Principles in Nursing I & II.” You must finish the Anatomy, Physiology, English Composition, and Math prerequisites by the beginning of your second semester.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Northwest Florida State College LPN-to-RN Students

• Northwest Florida State College has an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 78 percent.
• Fifty-five individuals earned ASN degrees from NFSC during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• NFSC also offers an RN to BSN program for registered nurses with associate degrees who want to take their nursing careers to the next level.

15. College of Central Florida - Ocala

College of Central Florida LPN-to-RN Program Details: College of Central Florida’s one-year LPN to ADN Bridge Nursing program has a reputation as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida—and has the NCLEX-RN pass rate to prove it! One reason for this may be because, more than most other LPN-to-RN programs in Florida, CCF makes sure the LPNs accepted into this track really know their stuff. The school expects you to be able to care for at least two patients at a time in an acute care setting, and your clinical skills will be evaluated before you begin classes.

The 60-credit curriculum, designed to be completed in a single year, contains the same content as the second year of the college’s traditional nursing program though it is specially customized for LPNs. The program includes a 7-credit Bridge Clinical Concept course intended to get you up to speed on the RN nursing process. Other core nursing classes include “Behavioral Concepts in Nursing” and “Professional Issues in Nursing.” You’ll begin learning new psychomotor skills in CCF’s full-scale Simulation Center and perfect them during clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Ocala and other parts of Marion County.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential College of Central Florida LPN-to-RN Students

• College of Central Florida had a 100 percent pass rate for the NCLECX-RN in 2022, the highest in the state.
• CCF gave out 126 ADN degrees throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
• This LPN-to-RN program in Florida also offers a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

16. Florida State College at Jacksonville - Jacksonville

Florida State College at Jacksonville LPN-to-RN Program Details: The RN Bridge Option for Paramedics and LPNs at Florida State College at Jacksonville enables you to earn an ASN degree in three semesters. This is one of the few online LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. The 72-credit curriculum consists of prerequisites and core nursing coursework that includes didactic classes, simulation laboratory experiences, and clinical rotations.

You’ll receive 10 credits straight away when your Florida LPN license is validated. You’ll also take a “Transition to Professional Nursing” class that focuses on concepts central to the RN role, such as evidence-based practice and quality care standards. Other courses include “Health-Illness Concepts Across the Lifespan” and “Health Alterations Across the Lifespan.”

Admission is only open to LPNs who hold licensure in Florida or a compact state. You must have at least six months of experience working professionally. You must score 75 percent or higher on the HESI A2 exam and complete all prerequisite classes before applying.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Florida State College at Jacksonville LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2020, the NCLEX-RN pass rate for ASN graduates at this LPN-to-RN program in Florida was 77 percent.
• FSCJ conferred 170 ASN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• FSCJ incorporates an NCLEX review course into the RN Bridge Option curriculum.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville also offers an online BSN program.

17. South Florida State College - Avon Park

South Florida State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Looking for a fast way to advance from an LPN to an RN? South Florida State College’s 35-credit LPN to RN Program only takes a single year to complete. This LPN-to-RN program in Florida also involves approximately 25 credits of prerequisite classes, but you can transfer credits from another school, provided you’ve taken the course within the past seven years.

This LPN-to-RN program in Florida is an advanced placement track that allows you to start in the second year of SFSC’s traditional ADN program. You’ll start this track with a “Nursing Transition” class that’s designed to reinforce the concepts you learned during your LPN training and introduce you to the foundational elements of the ADN curriculum. Other classes will include “Medical-Surgical Nursing for Adults and Children,” “Nursing Care of Parents and Infants,” and “Nursing Care for Community and Mental Health.” Clinical rotations will occur in acute care and long-term care practice settings throughout Avon Park and other parts of Highlands County.

This program is only open to LPNs with active, unencumbered licensure. You’ll need to be IV-certified. You’ll also need to take the TEAS test and submit three professional references with your application.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential South Florida State College LPN-to-RN Students

• South Florida State College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2022 was 67 percent.
• Seventeen students graduated from SFSC with ADN degrees in 2019-2020.
• South Florida State College offers a BSN to RN program for registered nurses with associate degrees who are seeking professional advancement.
• SFSC’s LPN to RN curriculum meets the educational requirements for RN licensure in Florida and other compact states. It may also meet licensing requirements in other states, but check your state board of nursing to be sure.

18. Lake-Sumter State College - Leesburg

Lake-Sumter State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Lake Sumter State College’s small class sizes, flexible scheduling options, and high NCLEX-RN pass rates make its Bridge Track one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida. The 55-credit curriculum includes 30 credits of prerequisite classes; you must take these before you start the program. Lake-Sumter’s Bridge program is also open to paramedics.

The core nursing curriculum consists of five classes and one practicum (30 credits), which you’ll have three semesters to complete. You’ll start your RN studies with “Professional Transition/Chronic Care Management”, a class that explores the distinctions between RN practice and LPN/paramedic practice in terms of critical thinking, practice standing, and legal issues. Clinical rotations take place at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community health agencies throughout the local area.

All LPNs accepted into this program receive 17 credits toward the completion of their ASN degree upon verification of their LPN licenses. You must submit separate applications to Lake-Sumter State College and the Bridge Track program. Classes begin in the summer semester.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Lake-Sumter State College LPN-to-RN Students

• In 2022, 98 percent of Lake-Sumter State College’s ASN graduates who took the NCLEX-RN passed it.
• Sixty-four students graduated from Lake-Sumter during the 2019-2020 academic year with ASN degrees.
• This LPN-to-RN program in Florida has an RN-to-BSN program for registered nurses with associate degrees or hospital diplomas who want to expand their professional opportunities.

19. Polk State College - Winter Haven

Polk State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Polk State College’s Transition Option is not only one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida, it’s also an excellent program for any paramedic, respiratory therapist or military medic who wants to leverage their medical training to achieve RN licensure.

Admission into this LPN-to-RN program in Florida is highly competitive: In addition to current, unrestricted LPN licensure in Florida, you’ll need to score 70 or higher on the ATI TEAS and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in your LPN studies. The higher your grade point average and your ATI TEAS scores, the more likely it is that you’ll be admitted.

The 72-credit curriculum includes prerequisite courses, co-requisite courses, core nursing courses, and clinical rotations. Prerequisite credits can be transferred from other schools so long as you’ve taken the class within the last seven years. Core nursing classes are taught one day a week at Polk State College’s Lakeland campus, either from 9 am to 4 pm or from 12 pm to 6 pm.

Your clinical rotation will occur one day a week, either on the day shift (6:30 am to 3 pm) or the afternoon/evening shift (1 pm to 9:30 pm.) Polk State College partners with healthcare facilities throughout Winter Haven and other communities in Polk County. You’ll graduate from this LPN-to-RN program in Florida with an ASN degree.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Polk State College LPN-to-RN Students

• Polk State College had a 92 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2022.
• One hundred and forty-two ASN degrees were awarded by Polk State College throughout 2019-2020.
• Polk State College offers an RN to BSN Track, too.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY

WHAT IS THE STARTING SALARY FOR NEW GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

New graduates of LPN-to-RN programs in Florida can expect to earn $61,190 a year at their first job out of school. This breaks down to $29.42 an hour, $1,177 a week, or $5,100 a month.

Hourly	$29.42
Weekly	$1,177
Monthly	$5,100
Annual	$61,190
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

On average registered nurses in Florida who started their careers as licensed practical nurses make $79,910 annually. This is the same as $38.42 an hour, $1,537 a week, or $6,660 a month. Most of these practitioners will reach this benchmark in their ninth year of registered nursing.

Hourly	$38.42
Weekly	$1,537
Monthly	$6,660
Annual	$79,910
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

HOW MUCH DOES THE AVERAGE SALARY GROW WITH EXPERIENCE FOR GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

Experienced nurses earn more than their less seasoned counterparts because they’re able to care for patients with more complex health issues. A graduate of a Florida LPN-to-RN program with one to four years of experience may only make 6 percent more than a graduate of a similar program in an entry-level job, but by the time he or she has accumulated five to nine years of experience, that salary differential will be 27 percent. With 10 to 19 years of experience, the salary differential will be 37 percent. Florida-based LPN-to-RN graduates with 20 or more years of experience can anticipate making 64 percent more than new graduates.

LPN VS. RN SALARY IN FLORIDA: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?

Registered nurses in Florida earn salaries that are 49 percent higher than the salaries of licensed practical nurses.

METRO WISE LPN VS. RN SALARY IN FLORIDA: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?

The Villages is the spot in Florida where the difference between RN and LPN salaries is largest: Registered nurses here make 58 percent more than licensed practical nurses. Other places in the Sunshine State where the salary differential is significantly higher include Gainesville (57 percent) and Homosassa Springs (56 percent.)

The salary difference is smallest in Florida in Palm Bay (44 Percent), Ocala (44 percent), and Orlando. (44 percent.)

LPN VS. RN JOB OUTLOOK IN FLORIDA: WHO HAS A BETTER JOB OUTLOOK?

In Florida, registered nurses have a better job outlook than licensed practical nurses. In the next 10 years, employment opportunities for RNs will grow by 14 percent, while employment opportunities for LPNs will only grow by 11 percent.

LPN VS. RN JOB OPENINGS IN FLORIDA: WHO HAS MORE JOB OPENINGS?

More job openings exist for RNs than LPNs in Florida on an annual basis: 13,500 job openings a year for RNs versus 3,810 job openings a year for LPNs.

BONUS! IS AN LPN-TO-RN PROGRAM WORTH IT IN FLORIDA?

Absolutely, if you’re focusing primarily on financial returns. As an RN, you’ll be earning one and a half times the salary you made as an LPN; this amount adds up to $26,130 annually. Even if you enroll in one of the more expensive LPN-to-RN programs in Florida, you will recoup the return on the investment you made in your education within three years.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

If you enjoy caring for the welfare of others without the stress that comes from decision-making responsibilities, you may well find the LPN role suits you to a T. Licensed practical nursing provides a decent salary and plenty of employment opportunities. It’s a professional role you can be proud of.

If, however, you want a higher earning potential, more opportunities to specialize professionally, and greater career responsibility, no question registered nursing will offer these advantages and licensed practical nursing won’t.

In the end, though, enrollment in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Florida is a highly personal decision that you will have to think through on your own. With our look at the 19 best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida for 2024, we’ve given enough information to answer the question, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in Florida for me?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT

1. WHO ACCREDITS LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA?

In Florida, LPN-to-RN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE.)

2. HOW MANY ACCREDITED LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS ARE THERE IN FLORIDA?

Florida has 23 accredited LPN-to-RN programs.

23

3. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER HOUR AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN FLORIDA?

Once you graduate from your LPN-to-RN bridge program in Florida, you’ll earn $12.57 more per hour than an LPN will earn.

RN	LPN	Difference
$38.42	$25.85	+$12.57

4. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER MONTH AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN FLORIDA?

Your monthly salary after you complete an LPN-to-RN bridge program in Florida will be $2,180 higher than the monthly salary of an LPN.

RN	LPN	Difference
$6,660	$4,480	+$2,180

5. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER YEAR AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN FLORIDA?

As a Florida graduate of an LPN-to-RN program, you can expect to earn $26,130 more a year than an LPN makes.

RN	LPN	Difference
$79,910	$53,780	+$26,130

6. LPN-TO-RN SALARY IN FLORIDA VS. LPN-TO-RN SALARY IN THE NATION: WHO EARNS MORE?

On average, RNs who graduate from LPN-to-RN programs in Florida earn 10 percent less than their counterparts in the nation as a whole.