Do you feel “stuck” in your nursing career as a Tennessee-based LPN? Enrolling in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee is an excellent way to open up exciting new options. With an associate degree in nursing, you’ll qualify for specialty nursing positions that are not available to licensed practical nurses. Your salary will increase by 56 percent: RNs in Tennessee make $72,480 a year, while LPNs make $46,540. The demand for RNs in the Volunteer State will rise by 17 percent within the next 10 years. Much more information is available below in this guide to the 12 best LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee.
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 12 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee.
Program Details: If you are searching for the best LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University is definitely worth considering! LPNs with at least one year of work experience and who have completed prerequisites can enter with advanced standing and complete the program in three semesters, earning an Associate Degree in Nursing. New cohorts are admitted once per year in the fall semester.
Classes and clinicals are held in person on campus and at designated clinical sites. In the first semester of the program, you will attend classes one day per week and clinicals one day per week. The final two semesters require classes and clinicals each two days per week.
As a student in this program, you will develop and hone critical thinking abilities, preparing you to provide patient care in a variety of clinical settings. The program is a 60-credit pathway, which includes general education courses, eight credits for the LPN Mobility, and nursing coursework. You will be awarded six LPN Mobility credits for having a valid, non-restricted LPN license and two additional LPN Mobility credits for having proof of one year of work experience as an LPN.
At Lincoln Memorial University, you will have opportunities to develop more advanced nursing skills in sophisticated simulation labs and receive real-world experience through diverse clinical placements in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. By the time you complete the program, you will have participated in at least 500 hours of clinical practicum.
Why Choose This Program
• The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Lincoln Memorial University emphasizes practical learning through state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical rotations under the direction of experienced clinical faculty and preceptors.Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee offered at Columbia State Community College is an excellent option for licensed practical nurses who are ready to move up the career ladder and become RNs. After completing prerequisites, you can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing in just three semesters.
Classes are taught by dedicated, experienced faculty who care about your success. Lectures are taught on campus. However, courses are web-enhanced, utilizing a significant amount of web technology to promote interaction and learning. Additionally, at times, the program may use video conferencing to facilitate two or more groups of students attending the same class from different campuses.
The LPN-to-RN program features a 67-credit curriculum, which includes 18 general education course credits. You will study in classes, including Medical-Surgical Nursing, Developmental Psychology-Lifespan, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, and Professional Practice. According to the Nursing Student Handbook, one semester hour of clinical or laboratory credit equals 45 clock hours per semester. You will complete at least nine clinical credit hours, which means you will accomplish a minimum of 405 clinical hours in the program.
Why Choose This Program
• The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at CSCC offers affordable tuition rates, which makes earning your degree easier, even if you do not qualify for certain grants or loans.Program Details: Roane State Community College is home to another of our featured best LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee. This program offers classes in the evenings and on weekends, making it an excellent choice for working nurses. After you complete all the required perquisites/general education courses, there are four semesters of nursing courses that must be completed. Program start dates are based on the number of qualified applicants, which means it may not be offered every year. When it is offered, classes begin in the fall semester.
The 67-credit curriculum offers classes, including Advanced Concepts of Nursing, Health Assessment, and Patient Care Management. You will receive seven credits toward the degree after completing the LPN Challenge Exam. Most general education courses are offered online, in addition to a few allied health classes. Nursing courses and lab simulations occur on campus.
At Roane State Community College, you will practice critical procedures and patient care in the school’s high-tech simulation laboratories. You will also participate in a wide range of clinical opportunities at settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
Why Choose This Program
• The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Roane State University boasts a diverse faculty with many years of experience in various nursing specialties and nursing education. What this means for you is that you will gain knowledge from their insight and experiences to help you succeed!Program Details: Motlow State Community College offers an excellent LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee. The LPN-to-RN pathway begins in the summer semester and is designed for full-time study. It takes three semesters to complete the program.
The 66-credit curriculum includes classes such as Professional Practice in Nursing, Women’s Health and Childbearing Family, Medical Surgical Nursing, and Pediatric Nursing. Upon successful completion of the Transition to Professional Nursing course, you will receive seven prior learning credits for your HESI Fundamentals score and three prior learning credits for having an active, unrestricted LPN license.
You will participate in classroom learning as well as laboratory skills on campus. Motlow's labs feature state-of-the-art simulation technology, allowing you to practice nursing care prior to and in between actual clinical experiences in the field. The LPN-to-RN program also includes a broad range of clinical activities. Clinical learning occurs in campus classrooms, extended care facilities, area hospitals, and other community and public health agencies.
Why Choose This Program
• Motlow State Community College offers small class sizes, which creates an individualized learning atmosphere.Program Details: Chattanooga State Community College offers another outstanding LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee. As an LPN, once you complete the LPN Transition course, you will receive credit for the first two semesters of the traditional nursing track, allowing you to complete the program in just three semesters. The program, often referred to as the Nursing Transition Program, offers a day option that admits students annually. Additionally, in odd years, when there are enough candidates to form a cohort, a night program is available.
The program requires you to complete 66 total credits. The first 27 credits are earned through prerequisite coursework. After completing prerequisites, you will begin your first semester in the summer. You will receive seven articulation credits and earn the remaining credits through nursing coursework and clinicals.
In addition to classroom and laboratory learning, you will experience diverse clinical practicums in hospitals, rehabilitation units, interventional care units, emergency departments, and public health settings. All clinicals are arranged by program faculty and are completed under the supervision of clinical faculty or approved preceptors at clinical sites.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of Chattanooga State Community College’s LPN-to-RN program consistently have outstanding NCLEX pass rates, which is a strong testament to the type and value of the education you will receive at the college.Program Details: Another excellent option for LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee can be found at Dyersburg State Community College. This program, referred to as the Advanced Standing RN Fast Track Nursing Program, is designed for Licensed Practical Nurses and Paramedics with a current license who wish to become RNs. The program takes three semesters to complete and features classroom learning in addition to labs and clinicals. Admission to the program is competitive, with new cohorts beginning every other year in the spring semester.
By building upon the skills and experience you already possess as an LPN, Dyersburg State Community College will help you develop advanced competencies relevant to the role of an entry-level registered nurse. You will complete 66 credits by taking classes, including Women’s Health and the Childbearing Family, Professional Practice in Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Fundamentals of Nursing.
In addition to classroom learning, you will have access to high-tech simulation labs, where you will find a risk-free environment to learn and practice skills as you prepare for clinicals and post-graduation practice. Program faculty arrange clinical practicum assignments at various affiliate healthcare facilities. You will work under the supervision of clinical faculty or an approved preceptor when completing clinicals.
Why Choose This Program
• The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Dyersburg State Community College provides a welcoming learning environment where faculty and staff are dedicated to student success. You will work closely with academic advisors and faculty to find ways to help promote your success in the program.Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Pellissippi State Community College is another excellent program designed to help licensed practical nurses transition to careers as registered nurses. The program admits students in the spring semester yearly and takes twelve months to complete.
This LPN-to-RN Bridge program features a hybrid plan of learning. The 66- to 67-credit curriculum covers fundamentals such as Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Mental Health Nursing, providing the theoretical groundwork needed to apply clinical skills and pass the NCLEX-RN after completing the program.
In addition to classroom learning, you will complete at least 400 hours of laboratory learning and clinical practicum. Clinical practicums offer excellent opportunities to put the theory you learned in class into action as you provide care to patients in various clinical sites. Clinical faculty arrange and supervise all clinical practicums, ensuring you have adequate experience in a variety of settings.
Why Choose This Program
• At Pellissippi State Community College, you will have access to student learning labs that feature advanced simulation technology to help you prepare for clinicals and professional practice.Program Details: Walters State Community College offers another one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Tennessee. The program, also known as the Career Mobility Program, is an accelerated three-semester track. Students are admitted to the program annually in the spring.
The 66-credit program integrates theory classes, laboratory simulations, and clinical practicums to help you prepare for your LPN to RN transition. Once you complete the general education requirements, you will take classes, including Introductory Statistics, Professional Practice in Nursing, and Advanced Nursing Concepts. The program also includes several clinical experiences where you will practice hands-on skills providing care for patients in various healthcare settings. From developing skills such as communication, teamwork, and cultural competence, to learning about ethics, leadership, and healthcare policy, you will be prepared for your new role as a registered nurse.
The LPN-to-RN program emphasizes not only clinical expertise but also provides a solid foundation of instruction on important topics related to healthcare policy, ethics, and nursing leadership, as well as essential soft skills, such as cultural competence, communication, and teamwork.
Why Choose This Program
• In the LPN-to-RN program at Walters State Community College, you will have opportunities to participate in community health projects and service-learning projects designed to promote community health awareness and reduce health disparities.Program Details: Northeast State Community College offers an excellent accelerated LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee. After completing the required prerequisites, you will begin the nursing program in the summer semester and graduate after three consecutive semesters. Nursing courses and lab simulations are campus-based, and clinicals are in person at various healthcare sites.
To earn the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing, you must earn a total of 66 credits, which come from classes and clinical rotations. You will study Fundamentals of Communication, Pediatric Nursing, and Psychology. The program also stresses a strong emphasis on interprofessional education and integration of advanced technology in nursing instruction. You will learn to use advanced electronic health records and other digital tools that are integral in today’s healthcare environment.
The LPN-to-RN program also includes immersive field experiences. Your clinical experiences will include patient care across the lifespan in specialties, including maternal and infant, mental health/psychiatric, pediatric, and medical-surgical nursing. The Virginia Board of Nursing requires you to have a minimum of 500 clock hours of supervised patient care to be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. If you are an LPN who resides in Virginia, you will receive credit for 140 clinical hours from your practical nursing program and complete a minimum of 360 clinical hours in the LPN-to-RN program.
Why Choose This Program
• Northeast State Community College understands the importance of interprofessional collaboration and includes learning experiences with students enrolled in other healthcare disciplines at the college as part of the LPN-to-RN program.Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Jackson State Community College is an outstanding program! The program admits students once per year in the spring semester. Once prerequisites are complete and you are admitted to the LPN-to-RN program, you will participate in nursing theory classes combined with simulation laboratory experiences on campus and clinicals at various partner health facilities.
The program features a comprehensive 56-credit curriculum, which includes 20 credit hours earned from prerequisite coursework and 36 credits earned through nursing coursework. Students typically complete the LPN-to-RN program in three semesters after meeting prerequisite requirements.
The college offers state-of-the-art simulation labs designed to give you opportunities to learn and develop essential advanced nursing skills in a safe, controlled environment. Clinical practicums occur in various healthcare settings and are arranged by program faculty and supervised by faculty or approved preceptors. The Jackson State Community College School of Nursing promotes community and public health service and incorporates opportunities to participate in community education and disease prevention programs on campus and off campus in nearby facilities.
Why Choose This Program
• After completing the Associate Degree in Nursing at Jackson State Community College, you can continue your nursing education to the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level through a variety of educational articulation agreements the school has in place.Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee at Volunteer State Community College is another excellent option for licensed practical nurses ready to advance their careers and become registered nurses. LPN-to-RN students matriculate into the second semester of the traditional cohort in either the fall or spring semester. It typically takes three semesters to complete the program. The program includes lectures, laboratory simulations, and clinical instruction. Nursing courses, except clinical education courses, are taught on campus.
As an LPN, you may waive out of Fundamentals of Nursing and receive seven of the required credits by successfully completing Prior Learning Assessments, which include in-person checkoffs on skills, a dosage calculation review and exam, completion of a nursing care plan, and review of a fundamentals packet.
Students must earn a total of 66 credits to earn the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree. You will study in classes, including Women’s Health and Childbearing Family, Professional practice in Nursing, and Mental Health Nursing.
Why Choose This Program
• At Volunteer State Community College, you will learn from engaged faculty with decades of clinical experience. Their knowledge and expertise in nursing will prepare you for success in the program and in practice following graduation.Program Details: Southwest Tennessee Community College offers a three-semester LPN-to-RN program in Tennessee with excellent student opportunities. This LPN-to-RN pathway is a day program that admits new students each summer. The program features a blended learning format, combining classroom instruction with hands-on practice in diverse healthcare settings.
The program requires students to achieve 67 credits to earn the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. However, once you pass the Transition to Professional Nursing course, you will be awarded seven credit hours for prior learning to be applied to the program’s required hours. The curriculum includes classes that cover topics such as statistics, medical-surgical nursing, mental health/psychiatric nursing, and psychology.
Why Choose This Program
• Southwest Tennessee Community College embraces interprofessional education, which means you will have the chance to work with students from other healthcare professions. This experience teaches you to work with a team-based approach to patient care, which is crucial in today’s healthcare landscape.RN Average Starting Annual Salary | LPN Average Starting Annual Salary | Difference | |||
Number | % | ||||
$55,510 | $37,230 | +$18,280 | +49.10% | ||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Level of Experience | RN | LPN | Difference | ||
Number | % | ||||
Entry-Level | $55,510 | $37,230 | +$18,280 | +49.10% | |
1-4 Years of Experience | $64,210 | $43,310 | +$20,900 | +48.26% | |
5-9 Years of Experience | $76,200 | $49,780 | +$26,420 | +53.07% | |
10-19 Years of Experience | $82,730 | $57,890 | +$24,840 | +42.91% | |
20 Years or More Experience | $98,090 | $62,370 | +$35,720 | +57.27% | |
Average Salary | $78,240 | $50,430 | +$27,810 | +55.15% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Metro | RN Average Annual Salary | LPN Average Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | ||||
Chattanooga | $79,040 | $52,290 | +$26,750 | +51.16% | |
Clarksville | $75,180 | $52,910 | +$22,270 | +42.09% | |
Cleveland | $79,970 | $51,490 | +$28,480 | +55.31% | |
Jackson | $71,130 | $46,310 | +$24,820 | +53.60% | |
Johnson City | $72,910 | $46,920 | +$25,990 | +55.39% | |
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | $70,180 | $47,210 | +$22,970 | +48.65% | |
Knoxville | $69,910 | $48,260 | +$21,650 | +44.86% | |
Memphis | $82,140 | $51,270 | +$30,870 | +60.21% | |
Morristown | $69,200 | $47,940 | +$21,260 | +44.35% | |
Nashville-Davidson-- Murfreesboro--Franklin | $83,360 | $54,500 | +$28,860 | +52.95% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Occupation | Employment | New Employment Growth (2020-2030) | |||
2020 | 2030 | Number | % | ||
RN | 64,280 | 75,150 | +10,870 | +16.91% | |
LPN | 25,620 | 29,860 | +4,240 | +16.55% | |
Difference | +38,660 | +45,290 | +6,630 | +0.36% | |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Occupation | New | Replacement | Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) | ||
RN | 1,087 | 3,613 | 4,700 | ||
LPN | 424 | 2,096 | 2,520 | ||
Difference | +663 | +1,517 | +2,180 | ||
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Average Tennessee LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Average National LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Difference | |||
Number | % | ||||
$78,240 | $94,480 | -$16,240 | -17.19% | ||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |