Program type
Practical / vocational nursing (LPN/LVN) programs
Certificate or diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
Typical length
About 1 year“...typically take about 1 year to complete.” BLS OOH: LPNs and LVNs
Who approves it
Approved by your state's board of nursing. Graduating from an approved program is what makes you eligible for the NCLEX.
Accreditation
Some boards of nursing require national accreditation by rule; NCSBN keeps a map of which ones. Ask any program how its accreditation affects transferring credits later.
ACEN: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA (per ACEN).
Find accredited programsNLN CNEA: National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
Listed in the U.S. Department of Education's database of recognized accreditors.
Find accredited programsWhat to check before you enroll
- Board of nursing approval
- NCLEX-PN pass rates (many boards publish them)
- Clinical placements
- Credit transfer into ADN programs
Where it leads
Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Program finder
Searching approved programs by state and city is coming soon. Until then, use the accreditor directories above, your state board's approved list and the Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Sources
- BLS OOH: LPNs and LVNs
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing: find an accredited program
- National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation: find an accredited program
- NCSBN: Why boards of nursing approve nursing programs
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (U.S. Department of Education)
Checked against these sources on Oct 1, 2026.