19 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in North Carolina – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Should you consider becoming a registered nurse in North Carolina if you’re already a licensed practical nurse? The State of North Carolina thinks you should: The Tar Heel State is so invested in preventing a projected shortfall of qualified RNs in the next 10 years that more than 40 percent of its state-funded community colleges offer LPN-to-RN bridge programs. This article gives you an inside peek at the 19 best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina for 2025. If you’ve been wondering, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina?” we have assembled all the information you need to give you the right answer.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

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


Licensed practical nursing is a fine profession. If you’re happy being an LPN in North Carolina, there’s no reason to think about upgrading your skills.

Many North Carolina LPNs, however, are not happy with their jobs, as indicated by the fact that approximately one half of them would not recommend their career choice to others. If you’re one of these LPNs, building upon your existing skills to become an RN has a lot of advantages. Here are the top three benefits:

1. More money:

In North Carolina, registered nurses earn salaries that are 46 percent higher than the salaries LPNs make. That salary differential comes to $24,410 a year on average—or $732,300 over the course of a 30-year career. That’s some serious scratch!

And salary is not the only form of job compensation: Registered nurses typically get far better employment benefits than LPNs. Their employer-subsidized healthcare plans are far more liberal; they get more paid time off; their employers contribute to retirement funds on their behalf, and many get extra perks like on-site childcare and tuition reimbursement.

2. More practice settings:

In North Carolina, the demand for RNs is not higher than the demand for LPNs across all sectors. In long-term care facilities, for example, the demand for LPNs is 20 percent higher than the demand for RNs.

But the demand for RN servicers exists across a far broader spectrum of practice settings than the demand for LPNs. As a registered nurse, you’ll be a hotter commodity than a licensed practical nurse in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, community agencies, schools, and home healthcare because you require much less supervision and your scope of practice is so much broader.

3. Fewer patients:

Since RNs are trained to give a more intensive level of patient care, they end up caring for fewer patients at a time. A typical assignment for an RN in a med/surg unit is three to five patients; in units with higher acuity, an RN may end up caring for a single patient at a time.

In contrast, LPNs usually have much higher patient loads since they’re caring for patients with far lower acuity. A typical LPN assignment in a long-term care facility may be a dozen or more patients.



HOW LONG ARE LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA?


LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina are typically three to four semesters in length. One of the exceptions to this generalization is Sampson Community College’s LPN-to-ADN and LPN-to-ADN Advanced Placement programs, both of which can be completed in two semesters.

The remarkable similarity in program length and program curriculum among LPN bridge programs at community colleges in NC is due to the fact that the North Carolina Board of Nursing is far more proactive in setting educational standards than nursing boards in other states. The North Carolina Board of Nursing actually sets the curriculum framework for every nursing program taught in a state-subsidized school, and this curriculum framework is closely adhered to with very few modifications.

The North Carolina Board of Nursing has determined that one year is the length of time necessary to teach its core nursing curriculum and its few co-requisites. Thus, the LPN transition plan at Nash Community College is three semesters long, while the LPN to ADN Transition program at Lenoir Community College is four semesters long.

The entire ADN curriculum also includes general education and prerequisite classes, of course, but the majority of LPN bridge programs in the Tar Heel State expect you to complete these courses before they even permit you to apply to their program.



HOW MUCH DO LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA COST?


Tuition for LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina ranges between $3,100 and $21,500, depending upon whether you live in North Carolina resident or elsewhere. Eighteen of the 19 schools on this list are community colleges, and community colleges across North Carolina charge a standard tuition rate: $76 per credit for North Carolina residents and $268 per credit for non-residents. This standard tuition rate is set by the North Carolina State Legislature.

Accordingly, you’ll pay the highest tuition rates if you don’t have an address in the Tar Heel State and if the LPN-to-RN program you attend requires you to complete a lot of credits. To attend Surry Community College’s 50-credit LPN-ADN program, for example, you’ll pay $3,800 if you live in North Carolina and $13,400 if you live outside the state. Tuition for Guilford Technical Community College’s 70-credit ADN to LPN program will set state dwellers back $5,320 and students from outside NC $18,760. As a student in Gaston College’s 80-credit LPN to RN program, your tuition will run to $6,080 as a Tar Heel State resident and $21,440 if you’re not.

Of course, program tuition is only one of the costs associated with attending an LPN to RN transition program in North Carolina. You’re also likely to get hit with technology, campus access, and insurance fees; costs for textbooks, uniforms, and equipment; and the price of any background checks you’re required to permit. These can easily add several thousand dollars to tuition costs.



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


As noted above, LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina use a standardized curriculum that does not vary significantly from program to program. Wake Technical Community College’s curriculum is representative.

In the first two semesters, you’ll take co-requisite courses such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, and microbiology. At the beginning of your third semester, you’ll take a transition course for LPNs that uses a holistic nursing framework to introduce students to concepts like evidenced-based practice, quality improvement, communication, safety, interdisciplinary team, clinical decision-making, and informatics. Upon successful completion of this transition course, most LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina will award you credits for your LPN education, which will be applied toward your ADN degree.

After that, you’ll join the traditional ADN cohort for your second year of studies. Typically, that second year includes three core nursing courses: “Family Health Concepts” (or “Holistic Health Concepts”), “Health System Concepts,” and “Complex Health Concepts.”

All programs require you to complete general education and prerequisite courses before you apply to your LPN-to-RN track. Of course, these courses are as much a part of the required curriculum as core nursing courses and co-requisites, but Gaston Community College is the only LPN-to-RN track that’s transparent about listing them as such.



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


As an LPN, you’re very familiar with floor nursing. But the type of floor nursing you’ll be doing as an RN will be qualitatively different. Registered nurses must physically assess patients, anticipate their needs with nursing care plans, and monitor changes in their condition closely to determine which changes might require interventions. RNs are expected to function far more independently than LPNs, and they learn to do this by participating in clinical rotations.

Community colleges frequently encounter challenges when setting up clinical rotation partnerships with local healthcare facilities. These hospitals and clinics may feel their resources have been tapped by the number of RN programs at both the community college and state university level that they’re already participating in. So, clinical rotations at community college LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina can be catch-as-catch-can.

You may not always be able to schedule your clinical rotations for weekdays. Durham Technical Community College lets students know in advance that practicums may take place on evening and weekend shifts. And though you might learn more by completing your clinical rotations on an acute care unit, many LPN-to-RN bridge programs, like the one at Durham Technical Community College, partner with local long-term care facilities to provide hands-on experiential learning.



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


Competition for places in LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina can be fierce, so most schools use a point system to evaluate applicants so that these programs can be sure they’re admitting the top applicants.

Durham Technical Community College’s Planning Checklist gives some insight into this process. Of course, all applicants must have an active, unencumbered LPN license. Many programs also require six months or more of professional experience.

Beyond that, programs impose minimum grades and test scores before they will even look at a candidate’s application, but then these programs award points for higher grades (in prerequisite and general education classes) and higher scores (on either the TEAS or the HESI A2 test.) Points may also be awarded for other criteria. Alamance Community College, for example, awards additional points to applicants who live or work in Alamance County. Some programs award points for military service.

There is no set number of points that applicants must achieve for admission. Programs typically admit 10 or 15 students each year who accumulate the highest number of points.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 19 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN Programs in North Carolina.


1. Cape Fear Community College - Wilmington


Cape Fear Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Cape Fear Community College’s LPN-to-RN option’s accelerated format and high NCLEX-RN pass rates place this LPN-to-RN track among the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina. This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina begins in the fall semester and will only take you two semesters to complete.

The program consists of two core nursing classes for a total of 18 credits. The remaining 54 credits are general education credits, prerequisites, and co-requisites. You’ll also be responsible for completing 144 clinical hours that will involve experiential learning in CFCC’s nursing simulation lab and rotations through healthcare facilities in Wilmington and other parts of New Hanover County.

The program is only open to applicants with active, unrestricted North Carolina LPN licenses with at least one year of professional experience. Admission is highly selective: CFCC only admits up to 20 new students each year into its LPN to RN option. Your admission will depend upon your grade in a prerequisite nursing transition concepts course that introduces you to essential concepts differentiating the LPN and RN roles. While this prerequisite nursing course is mainly taught online, you will be required to visit CFCC’s campus in Wilmington during the class for a 48-hour skills intensive.


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

• Cape Fear Community College’s average NCLEX-RN pass rate between 2019 and 2021 was 97 percent.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Cape Fear Community College awarded 62 ADN degrees.
• CFCC also offers traditional ADN training and LPN education.


2. Gaston College - Dallas


Gaston College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Gaston College’s 80-credit LPN-to-RN program is designed for the working professional. It’s a hybrid program, and most of your learning materials will be online. However, skills intensives, quizzes, and exams will be scheduled at Gaston College’s campus in Dallas on evenings or weekends. You’ll be doing clinical rotations at acute care facilities throughout the Greater Charlotte Metropolitan Area.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina begins with a summer-session Nursing Transition Concepts course that introduces ideas such as evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making, and nursing assessment that are relevant to RN practice. You will take 12 credits of other nursing classes in addition to co-requisites in English composition, psychology, and microbiology, and you’ll graduate the following spring. Your prerequisites include 30 credits of nursing classes as well as anatomy and physiology, and you must finish this coursework before you apply.

Admission into this program depends on a system that assigns points based on the grades you earn when you take your prerequisites and co-requisites. Fifty students are accepted into this program each year. Gaston College’s consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates have earned it a reputation as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina. You’ll graduate from this program with an ADN.


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

• Gaston College’s average NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2019, 2020, and 2021 was 94 percent.
• Gaston College awarded 77 ADN degrees throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Once you’ve earned your ADN, Gaston College offers an RN to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) option.
• Gaston College participates in North Carolina’s unique Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) option whereby students enroll concurrently at Gaston and Lenoir-Rhyne University to earn an ADN and a BSN.


3. Craven Community College - New Bern & Havelock


Craven Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Craven College’s Transition: LPN-to-ADN program uses an advanced placement model. LPNs with an active North Carolina license who successfully complete a 4-credit class designed to introduce LPNs to the RN scope of practice will be awarded 18 credits toward their ADN degree and will have the opportunity to enter the third semester of the traditional 67-credit ADN program. However, entry into the traditional ADN program depends on whether space is available and whether applicants have completed the co-requisites for the first semester.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina can be completed in two semesters. You’ll need to hold current licensure as an LPN in North Carolina and to have earned a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in your LPN studies. Additionally, you’ll need to score 65 percent or higher on the Test of Essential Skills (TEAS.)


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

• Between 2019 and 2021, Craven College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 84 percent.
• Thirty students graduated from Craven College in 2019-2020 with ADN degrees.
• Craven College offers a traditional ADN program and an LPN program.
• This college participates in North Carolina’s RIBN program in partnership with East Carolina University.


4. Stanly Community College - Albemarle


Stanly Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Stanly Community College’s 41-credit LPN-ADN track can be completed in a single year. It’s another one of the LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina whose curriculum is anchored around a two-part, 18-credit “LPN to ADN Concepts” course. The program accepts a maximum of 16 students every year and is widely hailed as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina uses a hybrid teaching model: Students are expected to attend classes at Stanly Community College’s campus in Albemarle, but classroom lectures are videotaped and can be watched at home. You’ll spend approximately 10 days each semester on clinical rotations at Atrium Health-Cabarrus in Concord, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, and other local sites.

You must have a current, unrestricted license in North Carolina or a compact state for admission into this program, and your minimum GPA for any previous college-level coursework must be 2.0 or higher. All general education classes must be completed before you will be accepted. TEAS test scores are used to rank the candidates who will be admitted into the program.


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

• NCLEX-RN pass rates throughout 2019 to 2021 for Stanly Community College ADN graduates was 96 percent.
• Stanly Community College gave out 33 ADN degrees in the academic year 2019-2020.
• Stanly Community College also offers a traditional ADN track.
• Stanly Community College has an articulation agreement that allows ADN-educated students to transfer their credits seamlessly to schools in the University of North Carolina system if students are interested in pursuing BSN degrees.


5. Vance-Granville Community College - Henderson


Vance-Granville Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: If you want to attend the LPN to ADN Transition Program at Vance-Granville Community College, you’ll have to submit separate applications to the college and the program. Successful applicants will hold LPN licensure in North Carolina and score 59 percent or higher on the TEAS test. Residents of Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties are given preference toward admission.

Upon admission into the program, students will be granted eight credits toward the completion of their ADN degree. Vance-Granville Community College’s 69-credit LPN-to-ADN curriculum is markedly different from the corresponding curriculum at many other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina; it includes 35 credits of nursing classes in addition to 26 general education credits. Classes start in the summer semester, and you’ll be able to finish this LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina in a single year.


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

• Seventy-seven percent of ADN students educated at Vance-Granville Community College between 2019 and 2021 passed the NCLEX-RN.
• Vance-Granville Community College awarded 43 ADN degrees throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
• VGCC also offers a traditional Associate Degree in Nursing.
• Vance-Granville Community College partners with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University on a RIBN program.


6. Alamance Community College - Graham


Alamance Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: What makes the LPN-to-RN program at Alamance Community College one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina? High NCLEX-RN pass rates, a comparatively short timeline, and a liberal transfer policy. This 71- to 72-credit curriculum can be completed in just four semesters.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina uses an advanced placement model: If you pass a qualifying exam with a score of 85 percent or above, you’ll get 15 credits and be able to join the traditional ADN cohort in their third semester of classes. You’ll also be able to apply general education credits you’ve taken at another school toward your Alamance Community College ADN so long as the content of the course is consistent with the content of the course it replaces.

This program is only open to licensed LPNs with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in any college-level work. You must submit a letter of recommendation from your direct supervisor at your current employment, and you’ll need to sit for an interview. Admission preference is given to Alamance County residents and employees of Alamance County healthcare agencies who meet these requirements.


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

• In the three-year period between 2019 and 2021, Alamance Community College ADNs had a 98 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN.
• Alamance Community College awarded 25 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Alamance Community College has a traditional ADN program, too.
• Graduates of ACC’s LPN to RN or ADN programs can earn a BSN through enrolling in the RN-to-BSN program Alamance Community College offers in conjunction with the University of North Carolina
at Greensboro.


7. Surry Community College - Dobson


Surry Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Surry Community College is one of the LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina that offers an introductory class for LPNs enrolled in the college’s LPN-ADN program. This 4-credit Nursing Transition Concept course (intended to be completed after admission but before the LPN-ADN curriculum commences) is specifically designed to bring students up to speed on the professional expectations inherent in the registered nurse role.

The 50-credit curriculum entails 20 credits of nursing classes and 30 credits of prerequisites and co-requisites. Classes begin in the spring and summer semesters and are taught at the college’s campus in Dobson. This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina partners with Northern Regional Hospital to provide clinical rotation opportunities for students.

SCC uses a point system to determine which applicants it will admit into its LPN-ADN program. Points are awarded on the basis of grades and TEAS test scores. Applicants must have a valid, unrestricted LPN license. If they don’t have one year of professional experience, they must have graduated from an LPN program within the past year.


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

• Surry Community College’s annual NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2019 through 2021 was 90 percent.
• Fifty-two Surry Community College students graduated during 2019-2020 with ADN degrees.
• SCC offers a campus-based traditional ADN program.
• Surry Community College partners with Lees-McRae College to offer a RIBN program.


8. Sampson Community College - Clinton


Programs Offered: LPN-to-ADN and LPN-to-ADN Advanced Placement


Sampson Community College LPN-to-ADN and LPN-to-ADN Advanced Placement Program Details: Sampson Community College is the only one of the LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina to offer LPNs two tracks to RN licensure. The LPN-to-ADN program is also one of the only online LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina. The LPN-to-ADN Advanced Placement track offers LPNs the chance to join the traditional ADN cohort in its third semester of studies.

The 37-credit online LPN-to-RN track will take you two semesters to complete. Note that to graduate, you must complete 69 credits, and you must complete 23 credits of general education and prerequisite requirements before you can be admitted into the online track. Among other courses, you’ll complete a two-semester “LPN to ADN Concepts” course to reinforce tenets essential to your new practice as a registered nurse. This online track typically accepts only 10 students each year.

The Advanced Placement LPN-to-ADN track is a 29-credit program that also takes two semesters to complete. To graduate, you will need 67 credits, including general education, prerequisite, and co-requisite courses as well as nursing courses. This option doesn’t tailor any nursing courses specifically to the needs of transitioning LPNs.

Both tracks require 144 clinical hours at a healthcare facility within North Carolina. Online students may do clinical rotations at a healthcare facility close to where they live; they may even use their current place of employment, so long as they are not participating in clinical experiences on the same unit where they work.

For admission into either track, you must have an active, unencumbered LPN license in North Carolina or a compact state plus 2,000 hours (two years) of professional experience. This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina requires all applicants to score 90 percent or higher on an exam that measures their probability of passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Sampson Community College uses stringent admission criteria because it’s considered to be one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina.


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

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for Sampson Community College ADN students was 94 percent between 2019 and 2021.
• In the academic year 2019-2020, SCC conferred 42 ADN degrees.
• Sampson Community College offers a traditional ADN route to becoming a registered nurse.
• In conjunction with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, SCC sponsors an online RIBN program that has no clinical rotation requirements.


9. Wake Technical Community College - Raleigh


Wake Technical Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: The Associate Degree Nursing – Advanced Placement program at Wake Technical Community College was designed with working LPNs in mind. Upon completing a “Nursing Transitions Concepts” class to prepare LPNs for their new professional responsibilities as registered nurses, you will receive 23 credits toward their ADN degree and join the traditional ADN cohort for the final two semesters of Wake Tech’s traditional 72-credit nursing curriculum.

You’ll take classes like “Family Health Concepts,” “Health System Concepts,” and “Complex Health Concepts.” All classes are taught at Wake Tech’s Perry Health Sciences Campus in Raleigh during daytime hours.

Wake Tech is reputed to be one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, so admission into this program is highly selective. Applicants must complete the required prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better before being permitted to pursue this track. Additionally, they must possess current, unrestricted LPN licensure and take the TEAS test. Admission into this program depends upon the number of points you’re awarded for grades, TEAS scores, and other criteria; the better you do, the more likely you are to be admitted.


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

• Wake Tech graduates had an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97 percent throughout the three years between 2019 and 2021.
• This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina awarded 112 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Wake Technical Community College also offers a traditional Associate Degree in Nursing program.
• Like many other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, Wake Tech has set up a RIBN program; Winston-Salem State University is Wake Tech’s partner in this endeavor.


10. Forsyth Technical Community College - Winston-Salem


Forsyth Technical Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details:

Forsyth Community College’s Associate Degree Advanced Placement track allows LPNs to build on the skills and knowledge they’ve already acquired to satisfy the educational requirements necessary to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Like several other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, this program awards LPNs extra credits following the successful completion of a class in nursing transition concepts.

You’ll take the transition class in the summer semester and go on to complete the ADN degree classes you need for graduation the following fall and spring. This accelerated LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina consists of 33 credits and 30 clinical hours.

Forsyth Tech’s high NCLEX-RN scores put the college among the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, so admission is a competitive process. You must complete general education and prerequisite requirements before you apply to the program with a grade point average of “C” or higher. You must score at least 50 percent on the TEAS test and hold an active, unencumbered LPN license in North Carolina. Forsyth Technical Community College uses a point system to rate applicants, so the higher your Teas score and GPA are, the more likely it is that you’ll be admitted into the program.


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

• Between 2019 and 2021, Forsyth Technical Community College ADN graduates averaged NCLEX-RN pass rates of 94 percent.
• One hundred twenty-eight students graduated from Forsyth Tech during the 2019-2020 academic year with ADN degrees.
• Forsyth Tech also offers a traditional ADN program for aspiring RNs who aren’t LPNs.
• Forsyth Technical Community College and Winston-Salem State University partner in a RIBN program.


11. Rockingham Community College - Wentworth


Rockingham Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Like many other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, Rockingham Community College’s 74-credit LPN to ADN Option awards students advanced placement credit for skills and knowledge they’ve acquired as licensed practical nurses. Upon successful completion of the program’s core curriculum, students will receive the same number of credits they would have earned in the first year of the traditional ADN course, which will be enough to allow them to graduate.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina includes a two-part “LPN to ADN Concepts” course that focuses on the critical differences in LPN and RN scope of care. You must complete all general education and prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 2.8 before you can be admitted into the program.

This program is only open to applicants with active, unencumbered LPN licensure. All applicants are required to score 70 percent or higher on the National Acceleration Challenge Examination (NACE.)


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

• In 2021, Rockingham Community College ADN graduates had a three-year average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 84 percent.
• During the academic year 2019-2020, Rockingham Community College gave out 28 Associate Degrees in Nursing.
• RCC also has a traditional ADN program that leads to RN licensure.


12. Davidson-Davie Community College - Thomasville & Mocksville


Davidson-Davie Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Davidson-Davie Community College’s LPN to ADN Option is only open to applicants with current, unencumbered LPN licensure in North Carolina. You must complete all general education courses the community college requires for graduation before you enter this LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina, and you must achieve a minimum score of 62 on the ATI TEAS.

Classes begin in the fall semester. DDCC offers an online LPN to ADN Option as well as a campus-based option. You’ll learn the hands-on skills you need to deliver care at the RN level through clinical learning placements at long-term care facilities and acute practice settings throughout Thomasville, Mocksville, and other parts of Davidson and Davie Counties.

Like many other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, DDCC’s LPN-to-ADN Option offers a two-part “LPN to ADN Concepts” course that will introduce you to ideas like accountability, advocacy, and the health-wellness-illness paradigm that you will use often in your practice as a registered nurse. When you pass these two courses, you will be awarded 25 credits toward the completion of your ADN degree.


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

• Between 2019 and 2021, DDCC had a 79 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN.
• In 2020, Davidson-Davie Community College granted 123 ADN degrees.
• DDCC also has a traditional ADN program.
• DDCC partners with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on a RIBN program.
• Davidson-Davie Community College has a unique program that allows students who want to go on to earn a BSN at one of the universities in the University of North Carolina system to complete the required general education classes at DDCC.
• DDCC participates in the Career and College Promise Nursing Pathway that enables high school students to begin studies toward an ADN or a BSN.


13. College of the Albemarle - Elizabeth City


College of the Albemarle LPN-to-RN Program Details: You can take up to four semesters to complete College of the Albemarle’s 71-credit LPN-ADN Option. Unlike many of the other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, this program allows you to take prerequisite classes like Anatomy & Physiology and Psychology as part of the LPN-ADN curriculum, although your chances of being admitted into the program are better if you’ve already gotten these courses out of the way before you apply. Other coursework includes “Holistic Health Concepts,” “Health Care Concepts,” and “Health System Concepts.”

College of the Albemarle’s LPN-ADN Option is generally thought to be one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, so its entrance requirements are stringent. COA uses a weighted point system to assess each applicant’s suitability. You’ll need to score a minimum of 69 percent on your ATI-TEAS to be considered for entry into the program, but the higher your score, the more likely you are to be admitted. You’ll also earn points for the grades you earn in general education and prerequisite classes. Upon acceptance into the LPN-ADN Option, you’ll be awarded eight credits toward completing your degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential College of the Albemarle LPN-to-RN Students

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for College of the Albemarle ADN graduates in the period between 2019 and 2021 was 96 percent.
• Twenty-three students were awarded ADN degrees by College of the Albemarle during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• COA has an articulation agreement with Old Dominion University that allows students to enroll in the college’s ADN and ODU’s BSN programs at the same time.
• COA has an articulation agreement with Mid-Atlantic Christian University that allows students to enroll in the college’s ADN and MACU’s Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies programs simultaneously.
• College of the Albemarle partners with East Carolina University in a RIBN program.


14. Guilford Technical Community College - Jamestown


Guilford Technical Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Guilford University offers an ADN program at its Jamestown campus that’s tailored specifically for LPNs. Access to the program application won’t be granted unless you score 100 percent in all three modules of the college’s LPN
to ADN Bridge module.

This three-semester LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina begins in the summer semester. Once you’re accepted into the program and have completed an introductory “Nursing Transition Concepts” course, you’ll be awarded 23 credits toward completion of GTCC’s 70-credit ADN degree.

Guilford Technical Community College typically admits between 15 and 20 students into its LPN bridge program each year. Like several other LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina, GTCC’s admission process uses a weighted point system.

Though you can apply to the program with a minimum ATI TEAS score of 66 percent, the higher your TEAS score, the more likely you are to be admitted. Earning high grades on required general education and prerequisite classes—which must be completed prior to applying to the program—can also raise your chances of acceptance. Additionally, you must have an active, unencumbered North Carolina LPN license.


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

• Guilford Technical Community College ADN graduates had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 89 percent between 2019 and 2021.
• Seventy-four students graduated from GTCC with ADN degrees in the 2019-2020 academic year.
• GTCC has a traditional two-year ADN course, too.
• Guilford Technical Community College participates in a collaborative dual enrollment RIBN program with North Carolina A&T State University.


15. Sandhills Community College - Pinehurst


Sandhills Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Sandhill Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing – Advanced Placement option is similar to the accelerated LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina offered by several other community colleges.

If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll take a “Nursing Transition Concepts” course in the spring, designed to help you understand distinctions between the licensed practical and registered nursing roles. This course combines online and classroom elements. If you pass this course successfully, you’ll join the traditional ADN cohort and graduate in another three semesters. This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina consists of 42 credits.

Sandhills Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing – Advanced Placement option is one of the better LPN-to-RN programs in the Tar Heel State. So, it’s no surprise that its admissions process is selective. You must complete prerequisite classes with a grade of “C” or better. You’ll be required to score 75 or above on the reading and math sections of the HESI A2 exam. Qualified applicants are selected on the basis of how well they do on a points system. This program is only open to licensed practical nurses who hold North Carolina licensure and have at least six months of professional experience.


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

• The average three-year NCLEX-RN pass rate between 2019 and 2021 for ADN graduates from Sandhills Community College is 92 percent.
• In 2020, SCC granted 112 ADN degrees.
• Sandhills partners with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke on an RN to BSN completion program.
• UNC Pembroke is also SCC’s partner in the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses program.


16. Nash Community College - Rocky Mount


Nash Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: You must apply separately to Nash Community College and its LPN transition plan since competition for its limited spaces can be intense.

This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina uses a point system to assess each applicant’s suitability for the program. While to apply, you only need to earn a grade of “C” or higher in your general education and prerequisite classes and a “B” in nursing-related classes, the higher your grades are in these classes, the more likely you are to be accepted into the program. Successful applicants will also have taken the HESI A2 test.

Once accepted into the program, you’ll be required to take a “Nursing Transition Concepts” course to familiarize you with the protocols that RNs use in their daily practice. You’ll receive credits for your LPN experience, which you can apply toward your ADN degree once you’ve completed this class.

Additional classes in the 74-credit curriculum include “Health Care Concepts,” “Health System Concepts,” and Complex Health Concepts.” Each semester, you’ll participate in clinical experiences at healthcare facilities located in Nash and surrounding counties. You’ll graduate in three semesters. Only LPNs with a current, unencumbered license can take part in this LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina.


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

• The 2019-2021 NCLEX-RN pass rate for Nash Community College ADN graduates was 81 percent.
• Forty-seven students received ADN degrees from NCC during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• If you want to continue toward a BSN, you can transfer the credits you earned at Nash Community College to Barton College’s RN to BSN program.
• Nash Community College offers two traditional ADN pathways: The first is a daytime option, while the second is an evenings and weekends option.


17. Lenoir Community College - Kinston


Lenoir Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Lenoir Community College earned its reputation as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina by having consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates and varying the standard LPN-to-RN curriculum and admission requirements in unique ways. The program is only open to licensed LPNs.

At LCC, you’ll be required to pass a pharmacology exam before you’ll be admitted into the program. And you’ll take classes in family health and the health-illness continuum in addition to the “Health Care Concepts,” “Health System Concepts,” and “Complex Health Systems” that make up the complete nursing curriculum at so many similar programs in the Tar Heel State.

Upon provisional acceptance into this program, you’ll be awarded 15 credits toward the 76 credits needed to graduate with an ADN degree. This LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina typically takes four semesters to complete.

Applicants must complete 26 general education credits before they will be admitted into this program. If they don’t have an unweighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher from a College Prep Curriculum or a RISE placement, they must attend a math course specially designed for transition students. You must apply separately to Lenoir Community College and its Health Sciences division. Lenoir Community College is not associated with Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.


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

• Lenoir Community College ADN graduates had an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91 percent between 2019 and 2021.
• In 2019-2020, Lenoir Community College gave out 34 Associate Degrees in Nursing.
• LCC also offers a Paramedic to ADN option.
• Schools in the University of North Carolina system will apply the general education credits you earn at Lenoir Community College toward the completion of their RN to BSN programs.


18. Durham Technical Community College - Durham


Durham Technical Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Durham Technical Community College’s LPN to Associate Degree Nursing Track is a 73-credit campus-based program. Like the majority of LPN-to-RN programs in the Tar Heel State, this program is an accelerated option that applies credits toward an ADN degree upon successful completion of an LPN-to-RN transition course. Once you’re accepted into the program and pass this course, you will join the traditional ADN cohort for its second year of study.

You’ll need to complete general education and prerequisite courses before you apply to this LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina, but you’ll continue taking co-requisite classes in addition to core nursing courses throughout the three semesters you’re enrolled in the program.

While classes are taught during the day, clinical rotations may be scheduled on day, evening, or weekend shifts, depending upon facility availability. Expect to spend between six and 12 hours at your site for each clinical shift you’re assigned.

DTCC uses a point system to assess the suitability of applicants to its LPN to Associate Degree Nursing Track. You’ll be evaluated on the basis of your grades in prerequisite and general education classes as well as on your ATI TEAS test scores. The program is only open to LPNs with active, unrestricted licenses and at least one year of professional experience.


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

• Durham Technical Community College ADNs had an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 90 percent for 2019, 2020, and 2021.
• Durham Tech offers a traditional ADN program with flexible scheduling options, including day, evening, and weekend classes.
• DTCC’s ADN credits will transfer seamlessly to any University of North Carolina System school if you want to enroll in an RN-to-BSN program.


19. Bladen Community College - Dublin


Bladen Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Bladen Community College offers several courses in its LPN to RN – Bridge Program as distance learning options, which makes the program more convenient for working LPNs. The 69-credit curriculum is designed to be completed in four semesters, but you’re encouraged to complete as many of the required courses as you can before you apply for admission to this LPN-to-RN program in North Carolina.

The curriculum includes an orientation class that focuses on the difference between LPN and RN practice scopes with reference to concepts like evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and communication. Upon completing this course, you’ll join the traditional ADN cohort in its second year of studies. Unlike most other LPN-to-RN programs in the Tar Heel State, you won’t automatically receive advanced standing credit for your LPN learning, and some of your required ADN classes may seem redundant.

This program has exacting admission criteria: While Bladen Community College has an open admissions policy, its LPN to RN – Bridge Program only admits 10 students annually. You’ll need to apply to the college and the LPN-to-RN program separately and complete the transition course with a score of 80 or higher.


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

• From 2019 to 2021, Bladen Community College’s average NCLEX-RN pass rate was 85.
• Forty-three individuals earned ADN degrees from BCC in 2019-2020.
• In 2020, the Cannon Foundation awarded Bladen Community College a $100,000 grant to be used in the construction of a nursing simulation lab.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



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


Graduates of LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina average $59,580 a year at the first job they’re hired into right out of school. This is the same as $28.64 an hour, $1,146 a week, or $4,970 a month.

Hourly$28.64
Weekly$1,146
Monthly$4,970
Annual$59,580
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


On average, North Carolina LPN-to-RN bridge program graduates make $77,420 annually. This comes out to $37.22 an hour, $1,489 a week, and $6,450 a month. Nurses typically reach this milestone in their 10th year of practice.

Hourly$37.22
Weekly$1,489
Monthly$6,450
Annual$77,420
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


As LPNs who’ve gone on to become RNs acquire experience, they become more skilled in managing patients with complex health issues. Employers reward their enhanced skills with higher salaries.

In North Carolina, an LPN turned RN with one to four years of experience can expect to earn 9 percent more than an LPN turned RN who is fresh out of school. With five to nine years of experience, this same LPN turned RN can expect to earn 28 percent more, while with 20 to 30 years of experience, he or she will earn 41 percent more. With 20 or more years of experience, graduates of North Carolina LPN-to-RN bridge programs can expect to earn 69 percent more than the entry-level salary.

Level of Experience Hourly Weekly Monthly Annual
Entry-Level $28.64$1,146$4,970$59,580
1-4 Years of Experience $31.13$1,245$5,400$64,760
5-9 Years of Experience $36.75$1,470$6,370$76,430
10-19 Years of Experience $40.50$1,620$7,020$84,230
20 Years or More Experience $48.28$1,931$8,370$100,430
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


Registered nurses in North Carolina earn 46 percent more than LPNs earn in that state.

RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$77,420$53,010+$24,410+46.05%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


The differential between RN and LPN salaries is most pronounced in the North Carolina cities of Greensboro-High Point (53 percent), Winston-Salem (52 percent), and Fayetteville (52 percent), and least pronounced in the cities of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton (36 percent) and Rocky Mount (39 percent.)

Metro RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Asheville $78,990 $54,380 +$24,610 +45.26%
Burlington $75,040 $53,010 +$22,030 +41.56%
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $79,530 $55,160 +$24,370 +44.18%
Fayetteville $79,670 $52,520 +$27,150 +51.69%
Goldsboro $70,250 $48,780 +$21,470 +44.01%
Greensboro-High Point $80,260 $52,400 +$27,860 +53.17%
Greenville $75,640 $51,040 +$24,600 +48.20%
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton $70,390 $51,700 +$18,690 +36.15%
Jacksonville $70,350 $48,810 +$21,540 +44.13%
New Bern $68,210 $48,300 +$19,910 +41.22%
Raleigh $78,670 $55,520 +$23,150 +41.70%
Rocky Mount $72,810 $52,390 +$20,420 +38.98%
Wilmington $75,440 $52,580 +$22,860 +43.48%
Winston-Salem $80,230 $52,750 +$27,480 +52.09%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



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


Employment opportunities for RNs in North Carolina are expected to rise by 12 percent in the next 10 years, while employment opportunities for LPNs are expected to rise by 9 percent.

Occupation Employment New Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
2020 2030 Number %
LPN 16,74018,280+1,540+9.20%
RN 102,150113,920+11,770+11.52%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



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


In North Carolina on an annual basis, there are far more job openings for RNs than there are for LPNs: 6,780 compared to 1,480.

Occupation New Replacement Annual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
LPN 1541,3261,480
RN 1,1775,6036,780
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



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


From the point of view of your future earning capacity, enrolling in an LPN-to-RN bridge program in North Carolina is a smart move: Since most LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina are taught in community colleges, you can complete the education that will qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN for under $10,000. And as a registered nurse in the Tar Heel State, you’ll be earning nearly one and a half times the salary you made as an LPN—that’s $24,410 a year on average. You could easily recoup the return on your investment in a single year.



MY FINAL THOUGHTS


Licensed practical nurses perform valuable services and play a vitally important role in the North Carolina healthcare system. One of the great advantages of being an LPN is that it is comparatively easy to leave the stresses of the job behind when you leave work each day. You’ll make a comfortable salary and find employment opportunities comparatively easy to come by.

However, if you feel frustrated by the lack of independence in your role as an LPN, becoming a registered nurse may well be the right professional path for you. Wondering what are the best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina? North Carolina makes the transition from licensed practical to registered nursing affordable and convenient because the 19 best LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina for 2025 are offered at community colleges.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. WHO ACCREDITS LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA?

LPN-to-RN programs in North Carolina 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 NORTH CAROLINA?

In North Carolina, there are 22 accredited LPN-to-RN programs.

22


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

Once you complete your LPN-to-RN bridge program in North Carolina, you can anticipate earning $11.73 more per hour than you earned as an LPN.

RNLPNDifference
$37.22$25.49+$11.73


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

Graduates of North Carolina-based LPN-to-RN bridge programs make $2,030 more per month than they did as LPNs.

RNLPNDifference
$6,450$4,420+$2,030


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

On average, you’ll see an annual salary increase of $24,410 once you graduate from an LPN-to-RN bridge program in North Carolina.

RNLPNDifference
$77,420$53,010+$24,410


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

Graduates of LPN-to-RN bridge programs in North Carolina earn 13 percent less than graduates of similar programs in the nation as a whole.

Average North Carolina
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National LPN-to-RN
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$77,420$89,010-$11,590-13.02%


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



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