Overview
Career outlook
Employers hire licensed practical nurses to provide basic patient care such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with daily needs under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
Getting in
What College of Western Idaho asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Prerequisite courses
- Background check
Kaplan Nursing Admissions Exam score above 60% (within 5 years) required; prerequisites (HLTH 101, GEM 3 math, plus an anatomy/physiology option) need a C or higher and must be within 7 years. Spring 2027 application window Oct 1-31, 2026, notification by Nov 15, 2026; cohort runs full time over three consecutive semesters (spring, summer, fall). Tuition $10,157 for the Intermediate Technical Certificate, $11,685 for the AAS; NCLEX-PN pass rate 100% for 2022, 2023 and 2024 graduates.
Checked Oct 2026 on the school's site. Requirements change each cycle, so confirm before you apply.
Paths
Routes into LPN. The first step is where you enroll today.
Medication Aide to LPN
Your medication administration experience counts. Bridge from certified medication aide into practical nursing and full LPN licensure.
CNA to LPN
Step up from nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse. The fastest license upgrade in nursing, and the standard bridge toward RN.
Find your next step.
Getting in starts with a path. Pick one, then follow the people who already did it.