State Info:
Arizona is one of the largest states in America, and like most other states, job opportunities for LPN nurses are on the increase all the time. This is due to an increasing demand for health care professionals to deal with new found knowledge in the health care industry and to take care of a constantly aging population. Arizona consists largely of dessert and job opportunities in the field of nursing are on the increase.
Licensing Requirements
In order to be licensed as an LPN in Arizona you will have to have:
- A high school diploma
- A clear ethical record
- Passed an accredited LPN course
- Passed the necessary examination
It is important to note that Arizona is a member of the National Licensure Compact which means that you will be able to practice in this state with a license that you have received in one of the other 23 states that belong to the compact. If you come from a state that does not belong to the compact you will still be able to apply for a transfer.
Exam Fee
In order to become an LPN in Arizona you will be required to pass the necessary exam. This exam has a fee of $200. There are additional fees that you will also have to pay. In total you will be required to pay $350 to the Arizona State Board of Nursing for licensing ($300) and for the criminal background check ($50) that they will run on you. Every two years you will then be required to renew your license if you wish to continue working as an LPN. The renewal fee that you will have to pay every two years is $160.
Salaries
Once you have an LPN qualification you will then be eligible to move on to an RN or BSN qualification which will not only expand your opportunities but also increase your salary. Therefore it is well worth having a good working knowledge of the LPN salaries offered for each category.
| Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
| LPN | $16.60 | $34920 |
| RN | $31.70 | $65951 |
| BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
There are plenty of financial aid option open to LPN student wishing to study in Arizona. It is essential that you apply for scholarships with all of the online and face-to-face schools that you are interested in applying at. Many of them will offer help and at times you may receive enough help so that you do not have to pay anything at all for your course. If you are receiving military or unemployment benefits this will go a long way to helping you pay for your LPN tuition fees. If you are currently employed in a nursing context you may be able to apply to your employer for help. Many employers are happy to help their CNAs upgrade to LPNs may even cover the entire cost of your training. Even if they do not cover the entire cost of your training you will probably be able to cover the additional charges by applying for grants and scholarships. On top of that many people qualify for state aid when studying to become an LPN. Ensure that you enquire carefully about your options in this regard.
List of Schools
There are a large number of schools to choose from when looking for an LPN program in Arizona, including vocational colleges, high schools, technical colleges and hospitals. The schools that you will be able to consider are:
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/az[/edu-search]
East Valley Institute of Technology
1601 W. Main Mesa, Arizona 85201
480-461-4054
www.evit.com
Estrella Mountain Community College/ SouthWest Skill Center
3000 N. Dysart Rd
Avondale AZ 85023
(623) 535-2700
www.emc.maricopa.edu/swsc/
GateWay Community College Fast Track PN Program
108 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-286-8531
gatewaycc.edu
Maricopa Skill Center
1245 E. Buckeye Road
Phoenix, AZ 85034-4101
602-238-4367
www.maricopaskillcenter.com
Pima Community College – CTD Health Occupations Programs
5901 South Calle Santa Cruz
Tucson, AZ 85709-6370
520-206-5140
www.pima.edu/business/training-dev/center/
Northland Pioneer College
PO Box 610
Holbrook, AZ 86025-0610
928-532-6136
www.npc.edu
Pima Community College
2202 W. Anklam Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-0150
520-206-6661
www.pima.edu
Pima Medical Institute Mesa Campus
941 S. Dobson Road
Mesa, Arizona 85202
480-644-0267, ext. 6230
www.pmi.edu
Yavapai College
1100 E. Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-2246
www.yavapai.cc.az.us
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions
8400 Datapoint Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3234
210-297-9100;
210-297-0915 Fax
Eastern Arizona College
615 N. Stadium Avenue
Thatcher, Arizona 85552
928-428-8396
www.eac.edu
International Institute of the Americas Ethel Bauer School of Nursing
6049 N. 43rd Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85019
602- 242-6265
http://iia-online.com
Maricopa Community College District Nursing Program
2411 W. 14th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
480-731-8923
www.nursing.maricopa.edu
Mohave Community College
1977 W. Acoma
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
928-505-3378;
928-505-3369 Fax
www.mohave.edu
Everest College
10400 North 25th Avenue, Suite 190
Phoenix, Arizona 85021
602-942-4141 ext. 2715
www.everest.edu
Apollo College
2701 West Bethany Home Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
602-433-1333
www.apollocollege.edu
Arizona Western College
PO Box 929 Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: (928) 317-6049
www.azwestern.edu
Central Arizona College
8470 North Overfield Road Coolidge, AZ 85228
520-494-5334
www.centralaz.edu
Cochise College
4190 W. Highway 80
Douglas, AZ 85607-6190
520-364-7943
www.cochise.edu
Coconino Community College
3000 N. 4th Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-2701
928-526-7665
www.coconino.edu
LPN to RN
As RN nurses earn a higher salary and have more advanced job opportunities, many people choose to use their LPN qualification as a stepping stone to becoming an RN nurse. This is not a bad idea at all, especially considering the vast number of opportunities out there for RN nurses. And, while you are working towards your RN qualification, you will be able to continue working as an LPN so that your financial situation remains stable at all times.
Distance Learning
If you are unable to find a school in Arizona that fits in with your timetable remember that there are several distance learning options for you to look into. Distance learning and online curses allow for you to work at your own pace and have a far more flexible schedule. You will also be able to continue your current job while studying and generally these courses are a lot cheaper as well. However, you need to keep the following considerations in mind:
- Is the school that you are doing distance learning with properly accredited? If it is not you will be wasting your time and money as your LPN qualification will be useless at the end of it all. To find out which schools are properly accredited check the Arizona state board of nursing.
- You will have to do practical work no matter what the online course promises you. It is impossible to do an LPN qualification entirely online, and if you choose this option you will be responsible for finding a health care institute near you where you can do your clinical training. You cannot receive your LPN qualification if you are not properly trained in both the theory and the practical side of the course.
- What kind of teaching methods do you benefit from the most? If you are someone who works well on their own and that can motivate themselves to do the work that is necessary, then an online program will be perfect for you and will slot into your schedule nicely. If however you excel in a classroom situation, if you need a lot of prompting and guidance to get through a course, and if you prefer to have interaction with lecturers and other students, than you should consider trying to do a face-to-face qualification instead as this will be a lot easier for you.
Personality requirements
In order to be an LPN you should ensure that you meet the following personality requirements as well:
- Confidence: you will need to display confidence in yourself and in your skills in order to put your patients at ease and in order to do your job properly, quickly and effectively. Confidence will develop as you progress through your LPN course.
- Multitasking: the job of an LPN is a difficult one and there will often be multiple things that require your attention at the same time. It is therefore essential that you are able to multitask and deal with the various problems that may arise at the same time.
- Good interpersonal skills. The key focus of your job is one your interpersonal interactions with your patients and you will therefore need to have the interpersonal skills of kindness and empathy in order to cope with this all important aspect of your job description.
- Attention to detail: this is an incredibly important part of being an LPN> your patient’s well being depends on your accuracy, so it is important to get things 100% correct in all domains. This includes the administration of medication as well as in the accurate recording of your patient’s vital signs and history.
There are many options open to you as a nurse living in Arizona and it should not be difficult for you to find the best school for you personally to complete your LPN training at. Take that big step forward now!
