State Info:
Qualifying as an LPN in the USA’s youngest state is one of the better career paths that you could choose. This is because Hawaii has the highest life expectancy which means that there is a large elderly population that may require professional care from LPN nurses.
It also has a high employment rate for medical practitioners, which means that if you work as an LPN nurse in Hawaii you can be guaranteed of job security right form the outset. The medical filed in general is a great one to get involved in as, while other industries are declining, the health industry is one the increase. Now is the best time to get your LPN qualification in Hawaii.
Licensing Requirements
The requirements for becoming an Licensed Practical Nurse in Hawaii are similar to the requirements required in the other states. In order to become licensed as an LPN you will need:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- A clear criminal record as well as a clear health record
- To have completed an LPN program that is approved by the Hawaii State Board of Nursing (this is very important – if the program you complete is not accredited than you will effectively be wasting your time and your money)
- To pass the NCLEX-PN exam for the state of Hawaii in order to become licensed
Exam Fee
As previously mentioned you will have to pass the NCLEX-PN in order to become licensed as an LPN in the state of Hawaii. The fee that you will have to pay in order to sit the exam is $200. You will also have to pay $40 to the Hawaii state board of nursing in order to be licensed. You will also need to prove your clear criminal record in order to become licensed. You will also have to renew your LPN license once a year at a cost of $125 if you wish to continue practicing as an LPN in the state of Hawaii.
Salaries
| Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
| LPN | $17.35 | $32590 |
| RN | $38.17 | $79408 |
| BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
Studying for your LPN qualification in Hawaii is not particularly expensive, but this does not mean that you should not apply for financial aid if you need it. For many people the only thing standing in the way of their further education is their lack of resources. If you want to study to be an LPN, but you don’t have the money than it may be a good idea for you top apply for financial aid wherever possible. You will be surprised at the number of institutions out there that are willing to help you get your qualification with as little stress on your part as possible. There are a few options open to you in this regard:
FAFSA
If you are looking for financial aid then the first place you should apply at is FAFSA is Hawaii. The application process is simple. You will simply have to fill in a form provided by FAFSA and then return it. After a short while FAFSA will provide you with feedback about what loans and grants you are eligible for. This should be the first port of call as all of the options that are open to you.
Loans: There are several loans that you may be eligible for, but if you are given other options than they should take priority over any loans that FAFSA Hawaii informs you of. This is because loans accrue interest which means that in total you will have to pay back more money than you originally loaned in the first place. And, although you usually only have to start paying your loan back once you have completed your studies, your loan may continue gaining interest during this time so that your repayment will be even higher. There are generally two types of loans that you may be informed of:
Federal Loans: Federal loans usually come with the best interest rates that you are likely to find anywhere. If you have the option of applying for a federal loan, and if there is no other way for you to fund your LPN training, then this is definitely what you should do. There are plenty of federal organizations that are willing to give out loans in the right circumstances. However, these circumstances are very specific and you may find that the criteria that you have to fulfil in order to be eligible for a federal loan are quite stringent. So, although this is the best loan option that you are likely to get, it may not be the most realistic.
Private Loans: This brings us to the second type of loan that you may be eligible for. There are many private organizations that are willing to provide loans to students who wish to study further for their LPN qualification. Like federal loans, these loans also have their pros and cons. The main pro is that they are a lot easier to qualify for then federal loans, so you stand a much more realistic chance of getting this type of loan. Conversely, these loans come with a much higher interest rate.
These are the loan options that you are likely to be informed of when you inquire with FAFSA Hawaii. However, as you have to repay these loans, this is not necessarily the most financially viable option that is open to you. Consequently you may want to consider the other options that FAFSA may inform you of.
Grants: Another type of financial aid that you may be informed of through FAFSA Hawaii is grants. A grant is a portion of money that you are given that you will never have to repay. So, this is a far more financially viable option if you qualify for this. However, as great as this may sound, grants cannot be given to everyone and are therefore based on a needs basis. Basically, students who are in worse financial situations are more likely to get a grant. However, it is still worth inquiring about the various grant options that will suit your needs as you will be in a great position if you are able to qualify for one of these grants.
FAFSA is a great place to start looking for financial aid, and there are several options that they will bring to your attention. Remember to also inquire with other organizations as well to make sure that you have taken all options into consideration. The other types of financial aid that you may be able to get are:
Scholarships: Scholarships are a great way to fund your studies and they are offered by both federal and private organizations, and sometimes even by the school that you are hoping to study with. A scholarship, like a grant, is an amount of money that you will not have to pay back. However, unlike a grant, your academic record counts for something. Grants are based on a needs basis, but scholarships are based more on whether or not you are a good student. Scholarships serve as rewards for good work, so if you have a good academic record from high school than you may find that it is a lot easier for you to get a scholarship.
Work and Study Programs: Some schools will offer you the option to work on their campus in some minor position in order to generate some extra income to cover the costs of your studies. This, again, cannot be given to everyone, of course, so it is largely based on a needs basis. However, it is a great way to make your resume shine as you will be able to add work and educational experience once you have completed your LPN training. If you are eligible for a program like this than it is well worth applying for a work and study program. Not all grants and scholarships will cover all of your expenses, so this could be a way to deal with the left over costs.
Loan Forgiveness Programs: If you have gone the route of taking a loan, the time will come when you will have to start paying it back. In this case you may want to look into loan forgiveness programs. If you are eligible for a program like this you will be able to be ‘forgiven’ for a certain portion of your loan in exchange for working at a voluntary organization for a set period of time.
List of Schools
As compared to other states there are not a lot of schools to choose from in Hawaii. However, what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality. The following is a list of schools in Hawaii where you will be able to study towards your LPN qualification.
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/hi[/edu-search]
Kapiolani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 734-9305
Hawaii Community College
200 West Kawili Street
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 974-7560
University of Hawaii – Kauai Community College
3-1901 Kaumualii Highway
Lihua, HI 96766
(808) 245-8325
Maui Community College
310 Koahumanu Avenue
Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 242-1205
