Because many hospitals are upping their educational requirements for nurses in general, the demand for LPNs in hospitals is falling relative to registered nurses with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

However, any claim they are being “phased out” isn’t accurate. LPNs remain in demand in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care and many other environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job opportunities for LPNs will rise approximately 5% from 2022-2032.*

The landscape is changing, but LPNs remain a vital contributor in the nursing community.

Considering a career as an LPN?

Your first step is to get a hands-on education to learn the fundamentals of nursing in a career-focused program. Herzing University's practical nursing program combines classwork with clinical experiences to help you earn your diploma and prepare you to become an LPN in as few as 12 months. Our program is available at several of our ground campuses:

• Akron, Ohio
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Kenosha, Wisconsin
• Brookfield, Wisconsin
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Orlando, Florida
• Tampa, Florida

Although the majority of LPNs work in nursing homes, retirement communities or assisted living facilities, many LPNs work in:

• Physician's offices
• Hospitals
• Colleges
• Insurance carriers
• Home care
• Community food and housing

You can see a full industry profile for Licensed Practical Nurses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

No, there are no accredited PN programs that are 100% online. LPN programs describing themselves as “online” will offer a hybrid option where you can take some classes online to supplement your primary classroom coursework.

Students enrolled in the Herzing PN program may complete general education courses online—but the bulk of the coursework must be completed on campus.

Ultimately there is no replacement for real hands-on clinical experience, practice in simulation labs and direct in-person support from nursing instructors with real healthcare experience. Learning the skills required to become an LPN requires the live educational experience to become an excellent Licensed Practical Nurse.

Certified Nursing Assistants will be required to take the full 12-month program to earn their PN diploma from Herzing University.

At this time Herzing University does not offer a CNA to LPN bridge program. We recommend CNAs experience the full program despite any prior experience in a nursing environment. Same goes for going from CNA to RN.

Potential employers may prefer a candidate with experience as a CNA, but it’s not necessarily a requirement for getting a job as an LPN (same goes for going from CNA to RN).

You aren't required to go from CNA to LPN and there is no prerequisite to be a CNA before enrolling in the Herzing University PN program.

PN program coursework is meant to be challenging, but not impossible.  As a Herzing student you’ll find support every step of the way, from faculty, staff, instructors and other students enrolled in the program. You’re never alone—and never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

Learn more about how hard nursing school is at Herzing University, and read some testimonials from former students describing their experience.

Apply now!

You may find some programs offering 6 month or 9 month paths to a PN diploma to become an LPN. Be mindful that accelerated diploma/degree programs aren’t for everyone and such a fast track can be overwhelming. If you’re considering a few months’ difference in time as a tipping point in your decision, remember the quality of your education is most important!

Herzing University’s 1-year PN diploma program gets you an excellent hands-on education in a short amount of time. You’ll learn the foundational concepts and skills in nursing needed to excel in your new career as an LPN.

Herzing University has no requirement for how much you can or can’t work during nursing school. Many ABSN program students work part-time while pursuing their ABSN coursework and clinicals. However, we recommend prioritizing your education as much as you can afford. The accelerated BSN program is very demanding and our priority is for you is to be successful.

If you’re considering a second career as a nurse but concerned about the workload in an accelerated program, there are several other paths you can take:

1. You can first become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). In 1 year you can earn a diploma in Practical Nursing and become an LPN. From there you can determine if you want to become a registered nurse.
2. Get an associate’s degree and become an RN. You can earn your associate degree in nursing and become a registered nurse in 20-24 months—this is the quickest way to become an RN outside of an accelerated program. You can choose an on-campus program or our online associate in nursing (ASN) program.
3. A traditional BSN program. Enroll in our 3-year bachelor’s of science in nursing program, earn your degree and become a highly qualified registered nurse. You can choose an on-campus program or our online BSN program.

It’s our goal to help you succeed in your second career. We’ll work with you to determine the best fit.

Our requirements for the accelerated BSN nursing program option are higher given the rigorous nature of the coursework and how fast it moves.

Herzing University’s goal is to help you find a path to a new career in nursing. If you’re worried a low GPA will keep you from being able to enroll, please get in touch with us and schedule an appointment with an admissions advisor. We may be able to work out a better solution for you.