8 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Washington – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

Can graduating from one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Washington State enhance your professional nursing options? It sure can! As an RN in the Evergreen State, you’ll have access to positions in specialties like pediatrics, dialysis, and critical care that aren’t open to you now as an LPN. Your salary will soar by more than 45 percent. (RNs in Washington State average $101,670 a year, while LPNs only average $69,950.) You’ll enjoy more job security, too: Demand for RNs will rise by more than 16 percent in the coming decade. If you’re a career-minded nurse in the Evergreen State, you owe it to yourself to check out this list of the 8 best LPN-to-RN programs in Washington State.



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

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 8 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Washington.


1. Bellingham Technical College - Bellingham


Program Details: Bellingham Technical College is home to one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Washington. The program is an advanced placement option for licensed practical nurses who wish to earn an associate degree in nursing and become registered nurses. The advanced placement LPN-to-RN program is only offered as a part-time plan of study with evening classes on campus. You will also have campus-based lab sessions and in-person clinicals.

This LPN-to-RN program in Washington has a competitive admissions process, admitting only 10 students per cohort. New cohorts are admitted each spring semester. You may apply for admission through the LPN-RN Nursing Application Portal.

The LPN-to-RN program is a 47-credit pathway. Classes for the program include Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare, Complex Health Concepts, and Ethics and Policy in Healthcare. Professional nursing concepts are practiced in clinical settings, including a wide variety of hospitals, community health agencies, and inpatient facilities. Clinicals are mentored by experienced preceptors and clinical faculty.


Why Choose This Program

• Bellingham Technical College is home to the largest nursing program in the Bellingham area. The school has a long history of preparing nurses since 1954!
• Graduates of the Bellingham Technical College LPN-to-RN program continue to exceed national first-time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN year after year!


2. Clover Park Technical College - Lakewood


Program Details: Clover Park Technical College offers an excellent option for anyone seeking an LPN-to-RN program in Washington. The program admits students twice per academic year and accepts a maximum of 24 students per cohort. This LPN-to-RN program is a perfect option for working nurses, as it is formatted as a five-quarter, part-time program. Classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends.

The LPN-to-RN is a 57-credit pathway. The curriculum includes 15 general education credits and 42 credits of nursing courses. You will take classes, including Variations in Health and Wellness, Psychosocial Issues in Nursing, and Ethics and Policy in Nursing. You will learn theory in classes on campus and practice skills in the simulation lab and clinical settings in the community. Clinical times vary and may range from 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. All clinicals are completed under the supervision of the program faculty.


Why Choose This Program

• At Clover Park Technical College, you will learn from graduate-prepared nurses with a broad range of nursing experience and knowledge. Their goal is to provide you with the highest quality nursing education to help you prepare for transitioning to becoming a registered nurse.
• Clover Park Technical College offers small class sizes, which facilitates personalized instruction and student support, along with dedicated faculty with extensive experience who are dedicated to your success.


3. Shoreline Community College - Shoreline


Program Details: In your search for the best LPN-to-RN programs in Washington, Shoreline Community College has a program worth considering. In this program, you will earn an associate in applied science-transfer degree, which enables you to transfer directly to many four-year institutions to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. The program is campus-based, offering in-person lectures and skills labs in the simulation laboratory. New cohorts are admitted in the fall, winter, and spring quarters each year. After completing the prerequisites, it takes four quarters to complete the LPN-to-RN program.

To earn the AAS degree, you must complete a total of 110 credits. Some credits are awarded for prior learning, and others are earned through prerequisite courses and nursing courses. In addition to classes such as Complex Health Disturbances, Nursing Practice and Psychosocial Disturbance, Nursing Practice and the Childbearing Family, and Nursing Practice and Health Promotion, you will have several opportunities to practice direct patient care in clinical practicums. Clinicals are completed at various clinical sites and supervised by program faculty or approved clinical preceptors.


Why Choose This Program

• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program in Washington at Shoreline Community College can easily transfer to RN to BSN programs through articulation agreements with schools like the University of Washington Bothell.
• The comprehensive curriculum and hands-on training offered by the program prepare you for success, which is evidenced by the program’s high completion rates and excellent NCLEX pass rates!


4. Pierce College District - Puyallup


Program Details: The ADN Completion program offered at Pierce College District is another featured LPN-to-RN program in Washington. The program admits students on a part-time or full-time basis, depending on your preference. If you enroll in the program full-time, you can complete the program in just three quarters. Part-time students attend classes in the evenings and on weekends and typically take five quarters to complete the program. Full-time students begin in the spring quarter and do not take summer quarter classes. Part-time students begin in the summer quarter and complete five consecutive quarters, including two summers.

The program is divided into two components: prerequisites, which include a focus on social and biological sciences, and nursing courses. The nursing course component of the program includes nursing theory, laboratory skills, and clinicals. In addition to completing 47 prerequisite credits, you must earn 40 credits from relevant nursing courses. The curriculum combines campus-based classes, including Advanced Concepts of Ethics and Policy in Healthcare, Psychological Issues in Healthcare, and Medical/Surgical Nursing, with 370 hours of skills labs, simulations, and clinical practicum experiences.


Why Choose This Program

• Pierce College District has articulation agreements with four-year institutions, including the University of Washington-Tacoma and Saint Martin’s University, where you can seamlessly transfer after completing the LPN-to-RN program and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing!
• Pierce College District offers one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in Washington with both full-time and part-time enrollment options, allowing you the flexibility to choose a pathway that is best suited for you.


5. Lower Columbia College - Longview


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Washington at Lower Columbia College is an excellent option for LPNs who wish to transition and take their careers to the next level by becoming registered nurses. The program offers two types of entry: a campus-based pathway and an eLearning pathway.

The campus-based LPN-to-RN program is a three-quarter program. This option accepts at least four students each fall, winter, and spring quarter, and these students enter the traditional ADN program in the fourth quarter. The eLearning pathway takes four quarters to complete. The eLearning option accepts approximately 60 students each fall quarter. Although the eLearning option features online theory classes, you must attend in-person clinicals to satisfy the program’s requirements for graduation.

After completing 45 prerequisite credits, you must earn 90 additional credits to accomplish the associate degree in nursing. As an LPN, you will be awarded 30 credits toward the 90-credit requirement. Clinical practicum includes components such as dosage calculation testing, skills testing, completing written assignments, and demonstrating clinical competencies. Clinicals may occur in healthcare facilities and simulation settings.


Why Choose This Program

• The Student Nurse Organization and nursing faculty at Lower Columbia College provide a peer mentoring program. Mentors and volunteers who have completed the first year of the traditional nursing program collaborate with fellow students to provide support and promote accountability.
• Both the campus-based and eLearning RN-to-LPN programs at Lower Columbia College have excellent completion rates. Additionally, graduates have outstanding NCLEX-RN pass rates and employment rates. All of these factors indicate the LPN-to-RN program is an excellent option for preparing you to become a registered nurse.


6. Tacoma Community College - Tacoma


Program Details: Tacoma Community College is home to another of our featured LPN-to-RN programs in Washington. The program admits licensed practical nurses who have completed prerequisites with advanced standing once per year in the Winter quarter. Once you are admitted with advanced standing, you will complete four consecutive quarters to earn the associate in nursing degree.

The LPN-to-RN pathway features a 51-quarter-credit curriculum with classes including Health and Illness Concepts, Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare, and Ethics and Policy in Healthcare. The college features a state-of-the-art simulation training center where you will hone clinical nursing skills.

The program includes a broad range of clinical experiences that occur in hospitals, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and other healthcare facilities. Clinicals begin in the first semester of the program and continue through the final semester. Program faculty determine appropriate clinical site assignments and secure qualified preceptors.


Why Choose This Program

• The LPN-to-RN program in Washington at Tacoma Community College reports excellent retention and completion rates, which is a good indication that the program delivers a high-quality education that students are pleased with.
• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program have excellent job placement rates. Most graduates report being employed as registered nurses within six months of completing the program.


7. Olympic College - Bremerton


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Washington at Olympic College is another excellent option for licensed practical nurses desiring to become registered nurses. Once you are admitted to the LPN-to-RN pathway, you must take a three-credit LPN-to-ADN Transitions course, which is offered in the winter quarter. After passing the transition class, you will begin nursing courses in the spring. The program is designed to be completed in four consecutive quarters once you begin the nursing course component.

While some general education courses are available online, most nursing courses are in-person and web-enhanced with digital components, including class discussions and activities. The curriculum includes 50-54 credits earned from in-program courses such as Clinical Applications, Mental Health Theory, and Medical-Surgical Nursing. The program includes four clinical practicums and a Professional Role Development Preceptorship.


Why Choose This Program

• Olympic College offers merit- and needs-based scholarships, as well as scholarships based on community service. In addition to scholarships, financial aid advisors can also help you apply for private and state or federally funded grants and low-interest loans. The goal of Olympic College is to help everyone find a way to afford to earn their degree!
• Students in the LPN-to-RN program at Olympic College enjoy a supportive environment that includes resources such as student counseling, tutoring, and job placement services.


8. Skagit Valley College - Mount Vernon


Program Details: If you are a licensed practical nurse seeking a quality LPN-to-RN program in Washington, Skagit Valley College has a program worth considering! The program admits students once per year in the fall quarter. After completing general education and nursing prerequisites, you can expect to complete this LPN-to-RN program in as few as three quarters of full-time study.

The program requires you to earn 99 total credits, 65 of which come from general education and nursing prerequisites. Once you begin nursing courses, you will take classes, including Nursing Advanced Obstetrics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Nursing Complex Medical/Surgical and Geriatric Patients. The first and second quarters of the program include theoretical instruction in the classroom accompanied by course-specific labs and clinicals.

The final quarter of the program consists of an Entry to Nursing Practice/Practicum lecture and corresponding practicum experience. All clinicals for the program occur at medical facilities as designated by the program coordinator. Clinicals are supervised by program faculty and may occur during various shifts and days of the week or weekends.


Why Choose This Program

• As a student in the LPN-to-RN program in Washington at Skagit Valley College, you will benefit from the school’s relationships with local healthcare facilities. Not only will you have exceptional clinical experiences because of these relationships, but they also make growing your professional network and finding job placement easier.
• The faculty of the LPN-to-RN program at Skagit Valley College are experienced professionals with diverse clinical backgrounds. They bring real-world knowledge to the classroom, which will be instrumental in preparing you to transition to your new role as a registered nurse.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED


1. Starting LPN VS. RN Salary In Washington: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


RN Average Starting
Annual Salary
LPN Average Starting
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$82,630$59,190+$23,440+39.60%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


2. Experience-Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Washington: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


Level of ExperienceRNLPNDifference
Number%
Entry-Level$82,630$59,190+$23,440+39.60%
1-4 Years of Experience$92,130$66,110+$26,020+39.36%
5-9 Years of Experience$107,720$76,190+$31,530+41.38%
10-19 Years of Experience$128,140$81,640+$46,500+56.96%
20 Years or More Experience$139,390$92,540+$46,850+50.63%
Average Salary$111,030$75,410+$35,620+47.24%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


3. Metro Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Washington: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


MetroRN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
Bellingham$106,590$70,450+$36,140+51.30%
Bremerton-Silverdale$106,710$74,230+$32,480+43.76%
Kennewick-Richland$104,600$74,670+$29,930+40.08%
Longview$108,210$72,810+$35,400+48.62%
Mount Vernon-Anacortes$106,080$75,910+$30,170+39.74%
Olympia-Tumwater$107,330$72,500+$34,830+48.04%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$115,170$78,460+$36,710+46.79%
Spokane-Spokane Valley$103,910$70,720+$33,190+46.93%
Walla Walla$102,560$69,080+$33,480+48.47%
Wenatchee$104,470$67,330+$37,140+55.16%
Yakima$97,180$71,410+$25,770+36.09%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


4. LPN VS. RN Job Outlook In Washington: Is The Job Outlook For RN Better Than LPN?


OccupationEmploymentNew Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
20202030Number%
RN61,56071,550+9,990+16.23%
LPN8,2108,730+520+6.33%
Difference+53,350+62,820+9,470+9.89%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


5. LPN VS. RN Job Openings In Washington: Are There More Job Openings For RN Compared To LPN?


OccupationNewReplacementAnnual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
RN9994,4315,430
LPN52688740
Difference+947+3,743+4,690
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


6. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In Washington VS. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In The Nation: Who Earns More?


Average Washington
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$111,030$94,480+$16,550+17.52%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.



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