State Info:
In Louisiana there is a high demand for nurses that hold a degree, but there are not a lot of places available in the schools that offer these degrees. Therefore it is a better idea to get started as an LPN.
There are plenty of schools in Louisiana that are accredited by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing where you can qualify as an LPN. Once you have qualified as an LPN it then becomes easier to move on to become an RN or earn your BSN. Some these changes can even be effected by studying online. In short, if you want to get a foot in the door in the fast growing medical industry in Louisiana then you should start off by studying to become an LPN nurse.
Licensing Requirements
The first step for getting your LPN license it to enter an LPN program that is certified by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. In order to qualify for enrollment in such a program you will have to meet the following criteria:
- You will have to be older than 18 years of age
- You will need to have a high school diploma
- You will need to have basic computer knowledge
- You will have to pass the entrance test required by your college
- You will have to pass a criminal background check
- You will have to pass a drug test
Once you are enrolled in the program (which is absolutely HAS TO BE accredited) you will then take about a year to complete it. Once you have completed it you will be required to write the NCLEX-PN examination and pay the licensing fee to become licensed.
Exam Fee
There are several fees that you will have to pay in order to both write the NCLEX-PN examination as well as to become properly certified and licensed as an LPN in the State of Louisiana. The fees are as follows:
- $200 to be paid to Pearson Vue, the company that administers the NCLEX-PN examination
- $100 to be paid to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing in order to apply for the examination
- $45.25 for the fingerprinting that you will have to undergo to check that you have a clear criminal background
- A renewal fee in order to renew your license every year
If you want to work in Louisiana with an LPN qualification from another state you will be able to apply for transfer.
Salaries
As you have the option of upgrading your LPN qualification to an RN or BSN, it is well worth considering the average LPN salaries for each position in the state of Louisiana.
Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
LPN | $13.68 | $28120 |
RN | $29.05 | $60429 |
BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
There are many options open to students who wish to qualify as an LPN in the state of Louisiana but who do not have the financial means to do so.
Grants and Scholarships:
There are many different options open to you when looking for a way to fund your LPN training. If you want to find a way to fund your studies that will not cost you anything at all then you should consider the various grants and scholarships available in the state of Louisiana. A grant is a portion of money that is given to you that you will never have to pay back. Of course, this cannot be given to everyone, so there are criteria you will have to meet in order to qualify. In many cases grants are given on a needs basis only, which may put you out of the running. To find out if there are any grants that you qualify for, inquire with FAFSA. Scholarships are also a very financially viable way to get through your studies as they too do not need to be repaid. However, for many people these are even harder to qualify for that grants. This is because scholarships tend to work on a reward basis. This means that you have to have an academically strong history in order to qualify for a scholarship. Scholarships are often offered by schools and colleges where you can study. There are also several private sources that you can look into in order to find a scholarship.
Loans:
When you inquire at FAFSA you will also be provided with a list of loans that you are eligible to apply for. Loans do, however, need to be repaid, and, although in most cases you will only have to repay them once you have completed your studies, they often do accrue interest over this time. There are several sources for loans. Federal loans have the best interest rates, but you may find it quite difficult to meet the necessary criteria to qualify for one. Private loans are also an option, and they are much easier to get, but in general they come with a much higher interest rate. If you do not qualify for a grant or scholarship or if your grant or scholarship does not cover the full cost of your studies, then you may have to consider getting a loan to get trough your studies.
Employers:
If you are already employed in the medical industry, then it is well worth your while to apply to your employer for financial aid to complete your LPN qualification. There are plenty of employers who would be all to glad to upgrade their employees to a higher qualification. In return you may have to work for your employer for a set period of time once you have qualified, but this is beneficial for you as it provides a job and work experience when you want to look for a new one.
Work and Study Programs:
Some colleges that offer an LPN qualification also offer work and study programs whereby you can generate the income you need to cover your studies by working on the campus where you are studying. This advantage cannot be given to everyone, however, so you may find that it is not exactly easy to qualify. However, it is well worth inquiring about this at various LPN schools in your area.
Loan Forgiveness Programs:
If you have gone the route of taking a loan you may want to consider a loan forgiveness program whereby a portion of your loan will be dealt with in return for your employment at a non profit organization.
List of Schools
If you are hoping to qualify as an LPN in the state of Louisiana, then you need to consider the following schools that offer this qualification. However, it is very important that you ensure that the school you end up choosing is in fact certified by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/la[/edu-search]
Louisiana Technical Colleges (LTC)
LTC Acadian Campus
1933 West Hutchinson Ave.
Crowley, La 70526
(337) 788-7521
ETC-Gulf Area Campus
1115 Clover Street
Abbeville, La 70510
(337) 893-4984
LTC Alexandria Campus
P0. Box 5698
Alexandria, La 7 1307-5698
(318) 487-5435
LTC-Avoyelles Campus
P.O. Box307
Cottonport, La 71327
(318) 876-240!
LTC-Bastrop Campus
P.O. Box 1120
Bastrop, La 71221-1120
(318)283-0836
ETC-Baton Rouge Campus
3250 N. Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge, La 70805
(225) 359-9233
ETC-Hammond Campus
P.O. Box 489
Hammond, La 70404
(985) 543-4120 or 4122
LTC-Huey P. Long Campus
303 South Jones Street
Winnfield, La 71483
(318) 628-4342
LTC Jumosville Campus
Pa 0. Box 725
New Roads, La. 70760
(225)638-8613
LTC Lafayette Campus
P0. Box 4909
Lafayette, La 70502-4909
(337) 262-5962
www.1lafayette.tec1la.us/
ETC-Charles B. Corel! Campus
1124 Vocational Drive
Ville Platte, La 70586
(337) 363-2197
ETC-Delta-Ouachita Campus
609 Vocational Parkway
West Monroe, La 71292
(318) 397-6100
LTC-Evangeline Campus
P.O. Box 68
600 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
St. Martinville, La 70582
(337) 394-6466
LTC-Florida Parishes Campus
P.O. Box 1300
Greensburg, La 70441
(225)222-4251
LTC-Lafourche Campus
1425 Tiger Drive
Thibodaux, La 70301
(985) 447-0926
ETC-Lamar Salter Campus
15014 Lake Charles Highway
Leesville, La 71446
(337) 537-3135 or 3138
ETC-Mansfield Campus
P.O. Box 1236
Mansfield, La 71052
(318) 872-2243
LTC-Margaret Surles Campus
P.O. Box 368
Lake Providence, La 71254
(318) 559-0864
LTC-Morgan Smith Campus
P.O. Box 1327
Jennings, La 70546-1327
(337) 824-4811
LTC-Natchitoches Campus
P.O. Box 657
Natchitoches, La 7 1458-0657
(318) 357-3162
ETC-Shelby M. Jackson Memorial Campus
P.O1 Box 1465
Ferriday, La 71334
(318) 7574501
LTC-Shreveport-Bossier Campus
2010 Market Street
Shreveport, La 71107
(318) 676-4811
LTC-North Central Box 548
605 N. Boundary W.
Farmerville, La 71241
(318) 3683 179
LTC-Sullivan Campus
1710 Sullivan Drive
Bogalusa, La 70427
(985)732-6640
ETC-Northeast La Campus
1710 Warren Street
Winnsboro, La 71295
(318) 435-2163
ETC-Northwest La Campus
814 Constable Street
Minden, La 71055-0835
(318) 371-3035
LTC Oakdale Campus
P.O. Drawer EM
Oakdale, La 71463
(318) 335-3944
ETC River Parishes Campus
181 Regala Park Rd.
Reserve, La 70084
(985) 536-4418
ETC Rod Brady Campus
P.O. Box 62
Jima, La 71342
(318) 992-2910 or (318) 992-8150
LTC-Ruston Campus
PO Box 1070
1010 James St.
Ruston, La 71273
(318) 251-4145
LTCT.H. Harris Campus
332 E. South Street
Opelousas, La 70570
(337) 948-0364
LTC Tallulah
P.O. BOX 1740
Tallulah, La 71284-1740
(318) 574-4820
Campus
LTC-Tech Area Campus
609 Ember Drive
New Iberia, La 70560
(337) 373-0011
LTC-Westside Campus
59125 Bayou Road
Plaquemine, La. 70764
(22.5) 68745392
LTC Young Memorial Campus
P.0. Box 2148
Morgan City, La. 70381
(985) 380-2436