9 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Georgia (Online & Campus) – 2024


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

If you’re a licensed practical nurse in Georgia, will it benefit you to become a registered nurse? That answer is “Yes!” First, you’ll make a lot more money. Second, RNs have a far greater range of employment opportunities to choose from, while LPN utilization in the Peach State (as well as other parts of the U.S.) is mostly confined to the long-term care sector. Interested in discovering what are the best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia? We’ve made it easy for you to learn all you need to know about the 9 best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia for 2024.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

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


Maybe the LPN role seemed like the best fit for your talents when you first attended nursing school in Georgia. But after you’ve been at that job for a few years, you know you’re capable of taking on greater responsibilities. Here are the three top reasons why you should consider enrolling in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia.

1. Georgia RNs earn a lot more money:

You probably already know that registered nurses earn more than LPNs, but did you know how much more? In Georgia, the average RN salary is 68 percent more than the average LPN salary. That means over the course of a 20-year career as an RN in the Peach State, you’ll earn $680,000 more than you would have as a licensed practical nurse. But you won’t have to wait that long to see a return on the investment you’ve made in your education. You’ll notice the difference the moment you take home your first paycheck as an RN.

2. Georgia RNs have a wider assortment of employment opportunities:

Georgia-based LPNs actually have a slight edge over Georgia-based RNs in terms of job growth over the next 10 years: Employment opportunities for LPNs are projected to expand by 19 percent, while employment opportunities for RNs are projected to grow by 18 percent. However, RN job growth will take place in many different practice settings. In contrast, LPN job growth will primarily take place in assisted living facilities, skilled nursing units, and other long-term facilities.

3. Georgia RNs are happier with their jobs than Georgia LPNs:

Numerous studies have found that RNs have higher job satisfaction than LPNs. This may have to do with the expanded scope of RN practice, which allows RNs to function far more autonomously than LPNs. Scientific research supports the contention that job autonomy and job satisfaction are directly proportional.



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


Most LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia— for example, Gordon State College’s LPN-RN Bridge program—are designed to be completed in three semesters. Note that this length of time does not include the general education courses most colleges stipulate as a graduation requirement. These classes typically involve an additional two semesters, but most LPN-to-RN programs in the Peach State won’t accept you until you’ve completed them. None of the LPN Bridge programs on this list offer part-time enrollment.

Albany State University is the only school whose Healthcare-Professional-to-RN Bridge program is designed to be completed in four semesters. This is because the school expects you to take some of your general education classes at the same time that you’re pursuing its core nursing curriculum.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s catalog listing notes that its LPN Bridge track takes one year (three semesters) to complete—but students must complete all non-nursing core coursework before they’re admitted into the Bridge track. It will take you two years from the time you begin your studies to earn your degree.



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


Attending one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia will set you back anywhere between $2,300 and $28,000. Note that these figures include tuition only: Colleges typically tack many fees on to the basic tuition they charge students, and this can jack up the bill for your education by several thousand dollars. Note, too, that these figures do not represent the tuition you will be paying for your prerequisite general education classes. When that cost is added, the tuition numbers cited here will likely double.

Every school in Georgia’s Technical College System prices tuition at $100 per credit for Georgia residents and $200 per credit for residents of other states. Thus Southern Regional Technical College, Chattahoochee Technical College, and Athens Technical College all basically charge the same tuition to students who want to transition from the LPN to the RN transitional role. The difference in what you’ll pay at these respective schools depends upon the number of credits associated with their LPN Bridge programs. Expect to pay between $2,300 and $15,000.

Expect to find cheaper tuition still as a Georgia state resident if you enroll in an LPN-to-RN program at one of the colleges that belong to the University System of Georgia. Albany State University, South Georgia State College, Georgia Highlands College, and Georgia State University-Perimeter College all charge Georgia, residents, $95 per credit; program tuition costs for Peach State residents thus range from $2,660 to $6,080.

If you’re an out-of-state resident, tuition costs associated with attending an LPN-to-RN program at one of these schools will be much higher because out-of-state tuition is $360 per credit. Students who reside outside Georgia but elect to enroll in South Georgia State College’s LPN-RN Bridge Pathway will spend around $23,000 on tuition.



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


Most LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia operate something like those accelerated advanced placement classes in high school: If you successfully complete a designated LPN-to-RN bridge course, you’ll be given credit toward the first year of traditional associate-degree-level nursing classes, which means you’ll only have to enroll in the second year of classes to earn your ASN degree. This designated bridge course typically focuses on the differences between LPN and RN scope of practice in areas like medication administration, critical thinking, and the development of nursing care plans.

Georgia Highlands College actually requires two bridge classes—possibly because the program is open to paramedics as well as to LPNs. After successfully completing those classes, LPNs then embark upon the second year of GHC’s traditional associate-degree-level nursing curriculum. Those courses focus on nursing care for patients with complex health problems.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College requires students to pass a competency exam before they can qualify to take its LPN-to-RN bridge course. The bridge class, however, is not a prerequisite for beginning the second year of the nursing curriculum; rather, it’s integrated as part of the curriculum among other classes you’ll need to take. Once students have passed the competency test, they will go on to take classes in nursing assessment, medical/surgical nursing, mental health nursing, women health and pediatrics—as well as a course that focuses on basic registered nursing concepts specifically designed for LPNs transitioning into the RN role.



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


Clinical rotations are one of the most essential parts of any LPN-to-RN program. As an LPN, your nursing tasks revolved around tending to patient comfort in an immediate sense, but as an RN, your duties will revolve more around planning. You will learn how to perform safe therapeutic interventions using a nursing care plan that you’ve developed as your guide, and you will learn which therapeutic interventions are appropriate for which patient populations.

Before you begin participating in clinical rotations, you will probably spend time in your school’s simulation lab practicing and perfecting routine RN procedures such as blood draws and IV insertions. Once you advance to an actual healthcare setting, your clinical instructor is likely to assign you to follow a registered nurse. This RN will act as your preceptor, and he or she will determine the types of tasks you’ll be permitted to perform.

It can be difficult for nursing programs unaffiliated with a university to secure clinical rotations for their students in acute care practice settings. LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia are particularly proactive in forging relationships with larger medical systems where you’ll have the potential to learn more. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, for example, has clinical rotation agreements in place with top-notch medical facilities like Tift Regional Medical Center, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, and South Georgia Medical Center, while students at Georgia Highlands College can expect to learn the basics of floor nursing at one of the healthcare facilities that are part of the Wellstar Health System.



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


Requirements for admission into one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia are fairly uniform. You’ll need to be at least 18 years old and possess either a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. You’ll also need to have an active, unencumbered Georgia LPN license. Some colleges require between six months and two years of professional LPN experience.

Most Georgia-based LPN-to-RN bridge programs will not admit you until you’ve completed all general education credits at the colleges offering the program. At Chattahoochee Technical College, you’ll need to enroll in the college’s Health Sciences Certificate program so that you can complete all prerequisites before you transfer over to the LPN-to-RN Bridge track.

Most Georgia colleges that offer LPN-to-RN programs require you to get a satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam or the HESI-A2 test. One school—Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College—requires you to pass a program-specific competency exam devised by college faculty members.



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


Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 9 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Georgia (Online & Campus) for 2024.


1. Southern Regional Technical College - Thomasville


Southern Regional Technical College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Southern Regional Technical College’s LPN-RN Bridge Option was created to help remedy Georgia’s shortage of qualified RNs, which is one of the most serious in the nation. STRC offers the program through its School of Health Sciences at its campuses in Thomasville and Moultrie. The Thomasville program begins in the spring, while the Moultrie program begins in the fall.

The 75-credit program consists of two semesters of prerequisite courses and three semesters of general education and occupational courses. Occupational coursework includes “Introduction to Nursing Principles of Pharmacy,” “Transition to Associate of Science in Nursing,” and three “Life Transition” classes that focus on nursing care for specific populations. You must finish the LPN-RN Bridge option within two years of completing the introductory pharmacy class.

Admission into this program requires an active, unencumbered LPN license, a minimum GPA of 2.8 in all prerequisite courses, and six months of professional LPN experience. You must meet the minimum score requirements for the Pre-Admission Assessment (HESI) exams as well as for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS.) As with most LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia, SRTC graduates receive an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Southern Regional Technical College LPN-to-RN Students

• Between 2019 and 2022, Southern Regional Technical College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 83 percent.
• SRTC conferred 101 ASN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• The number of students accepted into SRTC’s LPN-RN Bridge Option programs each semester depends upon the number of clinical rotation slots the program has available that semester.
• Southern Regional Technical College has an agreement with the University of Phoenix that will give you a leg up on your BSN studies if you decide to continue your professional nursing development.


2. Chattahoochee Technical College - Paulding


Chattahoochee Technical College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Chattahoochee Technical College’s LPN-to-RN Bridge Option only takes three semesters to complete once you’ve completed all academic prerequisites. Its 60-credit curriculum consists of general education courses, occupational courses, and clinical rotations.

The Introduction to Professional Nursing class, when taught as part of the LPN-to-RN Bridge Option, is customized to focus on specific differences in LPN and RN roles as well as basic concepts in medical/surgical nursing. In other respects, Chattahoochee’s LPN-RN Bridge curriculum is more or less identical to the college’s traditional RN curriculum.

The program is offered at CTC’s campus in Paulding. Competition for admission into this program is stiff because Chattahoochee’s LPN-RN Bridge Option is widely acknowledged as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia. Before you can be accepted, you’ll have to enroll in Chattahoochee’s Health Sciences Certificate program so that you can complete all prerequisites. Admission is awarded to applicants who rank the highest on a set of criteria that prerequisite grade point average and scores on both the ATI Nursing-RN Fundamentals Assessment and the ATI-TEAS test.

Applicants will learn hands-on skills in Chattahoochee’s sophisticated simulation laboratory, and they’ll perfect those skills through clinical rotations in acute care and long-term care facilities throughout northwest Atlanta and nearby communities. You’ll graduate with an ASN degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Chattahoochee Technical College LPN-to-RN Students

• Chattahoochee Technical College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate from 2019 through 2022 was 99 percent.
• During the 2029-2020 academic year, this LPN-to-RN program in Georgia awarded 50 ASN degrees.
• Chattahoochee Technical College is the largest of Georgia’s 22 technical colleges.


3. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College - Tifton


Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s year-long, 71-credit LPN Bridge track is considered one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia. In addition to first-rate classes and a highly qualified faculty, ABAC offers clinical rotations with some of the most highly respected healthcare facilities in Georgia, including Tift Regional Medical Center, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, and South Georgia Medical Center.

You will meet in a classroom one day a week. Your courses will focus on basic nursing concepts, necessary psychomotor skills, and the basic nursing care of medical/surgical patients. You must pass a basic skills competency test at the end of the program. The entire program, including general education prerequisites will take you two years to complete.

The program is offered at ABAC’s Tifton campus starting in the spring semester and at ABAC’s Bainbridge campus starting in the fall semester. You must complete all general education core coursework with a grade of “C” or higher before you can be admitted into this LPN-to-RN program in Georgia. Other admission requirements include an active, unencumbered LPN license and acceptable scores on the HESI-A2 entrance exam and a Program Specific Competency Exam. Upon successful completion of the RN Bridge track, you’ll be awarded an ASN degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College LPN-to-RN Students

• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate between 2019 and 2022 was 85 percent.
• One hundred and sixty-five ASN degrees were awarded by ABAC throughout 2019-2020.
• This LPN-to-RN program in Georgia admits paramedics and respiratory therapists as well as LPNs.
• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
• ABAC requires all newly entering students to take the Scholastic Aptitude Exam (SAT.)


4. Athens Technical College - Athens


Athens Technical College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Athens Technical College’s 29-credit accelerated RN bridge program begins with a summer course that focuses on the RN scope of practice and the basic skills necessary to succeed as a registered nurse. Once you pass that class successfully, you’ll join the college’s traditional nursing cohort in their second year of classes. This accelerated curriculum takes most students three semesters to complete.

The program is taught at ATC’s campus in Athens, but many of your educational materials will be available online. The campus has a high-tech simulation laboratory where you’ll learn the clinical competencies needed to participate in clinical rotations. Your 180-hour clinical rotation will occur at the end of the year at a healthcare facility in Athens or another community in Clarke County.

You’ll need to complete all required general education courses with a grade of “C” or higher before you can be admitted into this LPN-to-RN program in Georgia. Applicants must also take either the ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test and the NLN Pre-admission RN exam. You must possess a valid, unencumbered LPN license, and have two years of professional experience. As with other LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia, upon program completion, you’ll be awarded an ASN.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Athens Technical College LPN-to-RN Students

• Between 2019 and 2022, graduates of Athens Technical College had a 93 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.
• In the 2019-2020 academic year, 54 students received ASN degrees from Athens Technical College.
• This LPN-to-RN program in Georgia is also open to licensed Georgia paramedics.
• Athens Technical College has an articulation agreement with the University of Phoenix that gives its graduates a leg up if they decide to pursue a BSN degree.


5. Albany State University - Albany


Albany State University LPN-to-RN Program Details: Why is Albany State University’s 24-credit Healthcare-Professional-to-RN Bridge program an excellent opportunity for working LPNs interested in gaining registered nursing licensure in Georgia? Because the program meets just one day a week and can be completed in only four semesters.

The program accepts students once every five semesters, so start dates vary between the spring, summer, and fall semesters. You’ll need to be admitted into Albany State University before you can apply to its Darton College of Health Professionals. As with many other LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia, you must have a current, unrestricted LPN license in Georgia and take the TEAS test. Preference is given to students who’ve completed all non-nursing core curriculum courses with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Completing these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into this LPN-to-RN program in Georgia.

Some core nursing classes in your curriculum will be customized to fit the learning needs of students who have previous professional healthcare experience, while other courses you take will be part of the traditional nursing track. Clinical rotations are scheduled at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and other healthcare facilities in the surrounding area. Students pursuing ASU’s Healthcare-Professional-to-RN Bridge are generally assigned fewer clinical hours than students in the university’s traditional nursing program. When you graduate, you’ll receive an Associate in Science in Nursing degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Albany State University LPN-to-RN Students

• Albany State University’s NCLEX-RN pass rate between 2019 and 2022 was 77 percent.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, 211 individuals received ASN degrees from ASU.
• ASU’s Healthcare-Professional-to-RN Bridge program is also open to licensed paramedics.
• Albany State University also offers a BSN degree and a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.


6. Gordon State College - Barnesville


Gordon State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: You can complete Gordon State College’s 30-credit LPN-RN Bridge program in three semesters. Its curriculum begins with a class focusing on the transition to RN practice and goes on to include courses that focus upon challenges you’re likely to encounter working with specific patient populations like medical/surgical patients or psychiatric patients. You must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher to remain a student in good standing. Students who complete the curriculum successfully will earn an ASN degree.

This LPN-to-RN program in Georgia begins in August every year and continues to the end of the spring semester. Applicants must possess a current Georgia LPN license and at least one year of professional clinical experience. You’ll also need to pass an LPN Validation test and a skill (labs) test.

This is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia that uses a hybrid format. Some classes are taught at GSC’s campus in Barnesville in the evenings and on weekends, while others are offered online. This should make Gordon State College’s LPN-RN Bridge program particularly attractive to working licensed practical nurses looking for a way to enhance their skills.


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

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate at Gordon State College between 2019 and 2022 was 84 percent.
• GSC conferred 52 Associate in Science in Nursing degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Gordon State College also offers a BSN degree and an RN-BSN Completion degree for RNs holding associate-level degrees.


7. South Georgia State College - Douglas


South Georgia State College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Despite its designation as a “college,” South Georgia State College is actually part of Georgia’s university system. Its comparatively small size allows students to receive individualized attention, which is why its 64-credit LPN-RN Bridge Pathway is considered one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia. That makes the program one of the more competitive LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia in terms of admissions.

SGSC’s LPN-RN Bridge is not a curriculum per se but an advanced placement track that allows you to skip the first year of the college’s traditional ASN-RN program by meeting certain criteria. Upon completion of a bridge course that offers the concepts and skills you’ll need to work within the RN’s expanded scope of practice, you’ll join the college’s ASN-RN cohort for its second year of studies. Coursework will include classes in critical thinking and decision-making, medication administration, and the care of adult medical/surgical patients. Courses are offered on the college’s Douglas and Waycross campuses.

You’ll practice and perfect the clinical skills you’ll need for a successful registered nursing career in the campus skills laboratory and simulation laboratories as well as healthcare facilities throughout Douglas and other communities in Coffee County. Upon graduation, you’ll receive an Associate in Science in Nursing degree.


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

• South Georgia State College’s average NCLEX-RN pass rate between 2019 and 2022 was 90 percent.
• Forty-two students earned ASN degrees at SGSC throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
• South Georgia State College also offers an online BSN degree.


8. Georgia Highlands College - Rome


Georgia Highlands College LPN-to-RN Program Details: For admission into Georgia Highlands College’s 56-credit Professional Bridge Program, you’ll need current, unrestricted LPN licensure in Georgia, a score of 70 or higher on the ATI TEAS exam, and at least 1,000 hours of professional clinical experience. You must submit separate applications to the college and its Atrium Health Floyd Department of Nursing. Initially, you’ll be admitted into GHC’s Associate of Science in Health Professions degree. This will allow you to complete general education prerequisites before you start core LPN-to-RN classes.

Once admitted into this LPN-to-RN program in Georgia, you’ll take two transition nursing classes in the spring semester that will build upon your existing knowledge as an LPN and explore foundational registered nursing concepts such as safe medication administration, evidence for best practice, and critical thinking. Following that, you’ll join the traditional nursing cohort for two semesters of part-time study.

You’ll perfect your hands-on competencies through high-fidelity simulations in the college’s sophisticated skills laboratory before you begin clinical rotations. Georgia Highlands College partners with Wellstar Health System on clinical learning opportunities. Georgia Highlands College is another one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia that award an ASN degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Georgia Highlands College LPN-to-RN Students

• From 2019 to 2022, Georgia Highlands College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 87 percent.
• Sixty-four students graduated from GHC with ASN degrees from 2019-2020.
• Georgia Highlands College also offers a Paramedic-RN Bridge track as well as an online RN-BSN completion program for registered nurses with associate degrees or hospital diplomas interested in earning their Batchelor of Science in Nursing degrees.


9. Georgia State University - Atlanta


Georgia State University LPN-to-RN Program Details: The two-year college associated with Georgia State University is called Perimeter College. Perimeter College’s 28-credit LPN-RN Bridge track is one of the best online LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia; its streamlined curriculum and close clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities like Grady Hospital have resulted in outstanding NCLEX scores.

This LPN-to-RN program in Georgia consists of five courses, which can be completed in three semesters. The first of these classes will be a bridge course specifically designed to introduce LPNs to the differences between their familiar scope of practice and their new scope of practice as registered nurses. The other four classes focus on RN-level care for various patient demographics. You will also be responsible for completing 35 general education credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.

This is one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia whose admission policies are highly selective. You’ll need to score more than 60 percent on all three sections of the TEAS test. You must present professional references from all current employers and possess a valid, unencumbered Georgia LPN license. You’ll earn an ASN degree when you graduate.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Georgia State University LPN-to-RN Students

• Georgia State University students had an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 92 between 2019 and 2022.
• One hundred and three students earned ASN degrees from Georgia State University-Perimeter College during the 2019-2020 academic year.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, the premier U.S. publication that focuses on the education industry, ranks Georgia State University-Perimeter College as the 20th best two-year college in the nation.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



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


You can expect to earn $60,400 a year at your first RN job after graduating from a Georgia-based LPN-to-RN program. That comes to $29.04 an hour, $1,162 a week, or $5,030 a month.

Hourly$29.04
Weekly$1,162
Monthly$5,030
Annual$60,400
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


On average, graduates of LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia make $85,180 a year. This is the same as $40.95 an hour, $1,638 a week, or $7,100 a month. Registered nurses with LPN backgrounds typically reach this benchmark in their seventh or eighth year of practice.

Hourly$40.95
Weekly$1,638
Monthly$7,100
Annual$85,180
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


Georgia nurses become more efficient as they gain experience. This means they can care for greater numbers of patients with more complex health conditions. Employers acknowledge this by offering experienced nurses higher salaries.

While Georgia-based graduates of LPN-to-RN programs with one to four years of experience only make 9 percent more than their entry-level counterparts, graduates with five to nine years of experience make 32 percent more, and graduates with 10 to 19 years of experience make 61 percent more. With 20 or more years of experience under your belt, you can expect to earn nearly twice as much as a newly graduated nurse.

Level of Experience Hourly Weekly Monthly Annual
Entry-Level $29.04$1,162$5,030$60,400
1-4 Years of Experience $31.63$1,265$5,480$65,790
5-9 Years of Experience $38.19$1,528$6,620$79,440
10-19 Years of Experience $46.76$1,870$8,110$97,260
20 Years or More Experience $56.86$2,274$9,860$118,270
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


Registered nurses in Georgia earn salaries that are 68 percent higher than LPN salaries on average.

RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$85,180$50,830+$34,350+67.58%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


Registered nurses earn higher salaries than licensed practical nurses in every city in Georgia, but that differential varies from metro to metro. The differential is greatest in Dalton where it’s 86 percent and smallest in Columbus where it’s 54 percent. In the Peach State’s largest metropolitan area, Atlanta, RNs earn 67 percent more than LPNs.

Metro RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Albany $81,330 $46,950 +$34,380 +73.23%
Athens-Clarke County $80,270 $50,340 +$29,930 +59.46%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell $90,270 $54,140 +$36,130 +66.73%
Augusta-Richmond County $77,760 $49,580 +$28,180 +56.84%
Brunswick $72,920 $47,310 +$25,610 +54.13%
Columbus $71,900 $46,680 +$25,220 +54.03%
Dalton $89,910 $48,280 +$41,630 +86.23%
Gainesville $82,960 $49,020 +$33,940 +69.24%
Hinesville $76,470 $45,950 +$30,520 +66.42%
Macon $81,140 $49,310 +$31,830 +64.55%
Rome $81,010 $49,850 +$31,160 +62.51%
Savannah $84,060 $50,130 +$33,930 +67.68%
Valdosta $68,100 $44,110 +$23,990 +54.39%
Warner Robins $77,500 $46,090 +$31,410 +68.15%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


In the ten-year period between 2020 and 2030, economists project that LPNs will have more employment opportunities than RNs: 19 percent versus 18 percent. However, many more individual jobs will be added for RNs, and it’s likely there will be far more variety in the employment opportunities RNs can look forward to.

Occupation Employment New Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
2020 2030 Number %
LPN 21,86026,060+4,200+19.21%
RN 73,18086,440+13,260+18.12%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



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


On an annual basis, approximately 5,460 new jobs open for RNs throughout Georgia, a significantly higher figure than the 2,230 jobs that open for LPNs.

Occupation New Replacement Annual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
LPN 4201,8102,230
RN 1,3264,1345,460
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



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


Should you think about enrolling in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia? From a strictly financial point of view, yes! As we have seen, the cost of these programs ranges between $2,300 and $28,000. But on average, RNs earn $34,350 a year more than LPNs, which means you are likely to see a return on your educational investment in a very short period of time



MY FINAL THOUGHTS


In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, registered nursing has become one of the hottest occupations in the U.S. Georgia is currently experiencing a severe shortage of RNs. As an RN, not only will you have job security but you’ll also most likely have your choice of jobs. (LPNs may have the former, but they do not have the latter.) RNs also earn a great deal more money than LPNs. Both these factors are excellent reasons to transition from the LPN to the RN role.

However, going back to school is always nerve-wracking, and most practitioners consider the RN role to be considerably more stressful than the LPN role. If you are an LPN in Georgia who enjoys the work/life balance you’ve achieved so far, transitioning to the RN role may actually be detrimental to your quality of life. That’s a determination that only you can make. But if you think this transition is a smart career move for you, the information we’ve presented here about the 9 best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia for 2024 will answer the question, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in Georgia?”



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


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

Georgia-based 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 GEORGIA?

Accredited Georgia-based LPN-to-RN programs are ten in number.

10


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

On average, you’ll make $16.51 more per hour as an RN in Georgia than you will as an LPN in Georgia.

RNLPNDifference
$40.95$24.44+$16.51


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

In a month, Georgia-based RNs can expect to make $2,860 more than Georgia-based LPNs

RNLPNDifference
$7,100$4,240+$2,860


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

RNs in Georgia can anticipate earning salaries that are $34,350 a year higher than the salaries of LPNs in Georgia.

RNLPNDifference
$85,180$50,830+$34,350


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

Registered nurses who’ve attended an LPN-to-RN bridge program in Georgia make 4 percent less than their counterparts in other parts of the nation.

Average Georgia
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National LPN-to-RN
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$85,180$89,010-$3,830-4.30%


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.



Best LPN/LVN to RN Programs in other States
  • California
  • Florida
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Texas