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 St. Louis Community College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Background check
- Immunizations
- Drug screen
Selective admission with a requirements checklist (https://stlcc.edu/pathways/health/nursing/lpn-certificate/requirements-checklist.aspx); health history, physical exam, criminal background check, drug screen and immunization record required at student expense. Two semester certificate (38 to 46 credits) costing about $6,000 at the district rate of $127 per credit hour. NCLEX-PN 100% (5 of 5 candidates) for 2025.
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
CMA LPNYour medication administration experience counts. Bridge from certified medication aide into practical nursing and full LPN licensure.
- Timeline
- 1 year
- State
- All states
Support available to Spanish learners
Southwestern College
View path
CNA to LPN
CNA LPNStep up from nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse. The fastest license upgrade in nursing, and the standard bridge toward RN.
- Timeline
- 1 year
- State
- All states
Support available to Spanish learners
East Arkansas Community College
View path
Acceptees
Acceptees whose paths lead to this program, and how they got in.
Find your next step.
Getting in starts with a path. Pick one, then follow the people who already did it.