State Info:
In Idaho the health care industry is one of the largest industries. There is an increasing demand for health care professionals in this state, making the health care industry the perfect field to enter if you are able.
In Idaho there are plenty of opportunities out there for people to enter the health care industry as an LPN. Starting off as an LPN is a great way to get your foot in the door of this industry, and once you have an LPN qualification there are many opportunities for advancement.
For example you could go on to become a registered nurse or even study for a bachelor degree in nursing. These are just some of the career paths that you could take. Getting started as an LPN in Idaho is easy and is one of the best career choices you could ever make.
Licensing Requirements
In order to be licensed as an LPN there are a few requirements that you will first have to meet. Firstly, in the state of Idaho, you are required to be older than 18 if you hope to qualify as an LPN. This is not a serious qualification and is something that you will definitely be able to achieve at some point. However, on top of that you will need to have a high school diploma or a GED. This is essential and you will not be able to enter an LPN program if you do not. The next step is then of course to enter an LPN program. This program will have to be certified and accredited by the Idaho State Board of Nursing. If it is not you will not be eligible to write the examination and your time and money would have been for nothing. Most states require that you have a clean criminal and health background in order to be officially licensed. Proof of this will have to be presented with you licensing fee.
Exam Fee
In order to write the exam and become licensed as an LPN in Idaho you will have to pay certain fees.
- To write the exam you will be required to pay a fee of $200.
- To apply to be an LPN you will have to pay $40.
- To become licensed you will have to pay $75.
- To be fingerprinted you will have to pay $30.
You will also have to provide an ID photo in order for your license to be made and for your licensing to officially go through.
Salaries
Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
LPN | $15.50 | $32160 |
RN | $28.30 | $58850 |
BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
Many LPN students in Idaho give up on their dreams of becoming an LPN simply because they have a belief that they cannot afford it. This is not true for two reasons. Firstly, LPN programs in Idaho, especially online LPN programs, are very cheap in comparison. Secondly, even if you really don’t have ANY money to spend on your studies, there are plenty of financial aid options for LPN students in the state of Idaho that you should inquire about. There are plenty of options out there for you and you should not give up on your dream of becoming an LPN.
Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness program
One of your first options is the Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness program which you can apply for through the school that you are hoping to study with. All schools have a financial aid office and you will be able to apply for this program quickly and easily. Inquire at the school that you are hoping to study through for more information.
About the program: This program is one that allows your loan to be forgiven. This basically means that if you go the route of taking out a loan for your studies, you will not necessarily have to pay it back if you are able to get into the Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness program. In order to be eligible for this loan you will need:
- To be enrolled in a certified LPN program in the state of Idaho (it is essential that the program you enroll in is in fact properly accredited or else you will be wasting your time and money as well as not being able to apply for the Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness program)
- To be able to maintain a GPA of 3.0
- To be willing to work as an LPN in a medical facility in the state of Idaho once you have graduated
If you meet these requirements and are willing to work in a set environment for a set amount of time than you should be able to enroll in the Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness program and get the worries of your loan off your shoulders.
Idaho Nursing Scholarship
Another option that is open to you when it comes to financial aid for LPN programs in the state of Idaho is the Idaho Nursing Scholarship. A scholarship is basically a portion of money that is given to you to pay for your studies that you will never have to pay back. This makes it a far more financially viable option than a loan, which is why so many students apply for the Idaho Nursing Scholarship on a yearly basis. Obviously the scholarship cannot be given to everyone, so there are some very strict criteria that you will have to fulfil in order to be eligible for this scholarship. Firstly you will have to be an academic star. The scholarship is in part a reward for those students who have achieved great things academically. To be eligible for this scholarship you will have to be among the top achievers. Secondly the scholarship is generally given to those people who are financially disadvantaged. It is worth applying for all scholarships that are available to you in the state of Idaho, but do not place all of your hope in these scholarships.
Scholarships and Grants
Apart from the above mentioned scholarship there are plenty of scholarships and grants available from Colleges of Nursing. A grant is like a scholarship in that it is a portion of money that is given to you in order to pay for your studies. Unlike scholarships, however, it is based mainly on your economic and financial position and you do not usually need to be a great student in order to get one. This is a very financially viable option if you qualify. The various nursing institutes across Idaho have a variety of options when it comes to grants and scholarships so make sure that you don’t miss out. If you get a grant that only pays part of your fess than you will be able to fund the rest of your education with a loan or through a work and study program. However, the important thing is not to miss out on the options that do exist.
Turn to your employer
You many already be working in a medical institute, perhaps as a CNA and you would like to upgrade your qualification to that of an LPN> in this case you would be surprised how many employers would be willing to help you with your tuition fees and provide incentives for further study. Inquiring with your employer as to what their policies are regarding employee study may save you a lot of time and effort looking for other grants and scholarships. It will also, of course, save you a lot of money in the long run and give you a good reputation in that company.
Work and Study
Some nursing colleges offer work and study schemes where you are able to work on the campus in some capacity in order to help you fund your studies. Like most financial aid this help cannot be given to everyone, so you may find it difficult to get into a work and study program. Generally speaking preference is given to people in dire financial conditions in order to ensure that everyone, regardless of the financial position, is able to study further.
List of Schools
There are a number of different schools for your consideration in the State of Idaho. The following is a list of schools with all the contact information you will need to make further inquiries.
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/id[/edu-search]
Boise State University
College of Applied Technology
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725
Pam Springer, PhD, RN
(208) 426-4143
Carrington College
1122 N. Liberty Street
Boise, ID 83704
Diane Fuhrman, MSN, RN
(208) 377 8080
College of Southern Idaho
College of Technology
P.O.Box 1238
Twin Falls, ID 83303 – 1238
Tammy Pehrson, MSN, RN
(208) 732 6720
Eastern Idaho Technical College
1600 S. 25th E.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Dianna Johnston, MSN, RN
Nursing Programs Administrator
(208) 524 3000 Extension 3421
Idaho State University
College of Technology
Campus Box 8074
Pocatello, ID 83209
Joanne Pearce, RN, MSN
Practical Nursing Coordinator
(208) 282-1052
Lewis – Clark State College
Divisions of Nursing and Health Sciences
500 Eighth Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
Pam Gotch, LPN Director
(208) 792 2518
North Idaho College
College of Technology
1000 W. Garden Ave.
Couer d’Alene, ID 83814
Manuelita Burns, MS, RN
(208) 769 3452