LPN Programs in New Hampshire

State Info:

Like in many other states New Hampshire is experiencing a decline in many industries. However, one industry not affected by this trend is the medical and health care industry. This industry is still going strong and always will be there.

There is ever a demand for more health care professionals in New Hampshire and if you are willing to take the plunge and fulfil the necessary requirements, you could join this exciting industry and grow with it. A job in the health care industry is one that comes with security and peace of mind and one of the best ways to get your career started in the health care industry is o qualify as an LPN. There are several LPN programs in New Hampshire that are worth your consideration, and you will be able to attend these programs in order to learn all of the theoretical and practical skills that you will need not only to pass the examination but also to do your job well as an LPN. Once you have your LPN qualification it automatically becomes easier for you to get a more advanced qualification, such as an RN qualification or a BSN. With these qualifications you can go very far in the health care industry.

Licensing Requirements

The first step to being licensed as an LPN is enrolling in an accredited LPN course. In order to do this you will:

• Need to be older than 18
• Need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification
• Need to be able to pass the basic skills test that will be administered to you
• Need to pass a background check
• Need to pass a health check

Once you have enrolled in the program you will then have to complete the theoretical and clinical sides of the course over a period of about 1 or 2 years. Then you will have to write the NCLEX-PN exam. On completion of the exam you will be licensed to practice as an LPN.

Exam Fee

In order to write the examination you will need to pay an amount of money to the company that administers the exam. This company is called Pearson Vue and the amount of money that you will have to pay is $200. To apply for the exam you will also have to pay an amount of money to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. This amount of money is $120. You will then also have o renew your license once every two years at a cost of $100.

Salaries

Financial Aid Available

For anyone wanting to qualify as an LPN in New Hampshire but who doesn’t have the necessary resources to do so, you will be happy to hear that there are several programs available whereby you will be able to fund your studies.

The first step is to apply to FAFSA in order to find out what loans and grants you qualify for. Loans and grants differ in some very crucial ways:

• A loan is an amount of money that is given to you to help you fund your studies that you will have to repay with interest.
• A grant is an amount of money that is given to you to help you fund your studies that you will never have to repay with money (although at times a specific grant may require you to work for a set amount of time in a specific health care industry in return for the money that is given you for your studies)

Consequently, if you are given a list of both loans and grants from FAFSA to consider, move the grants to the top of your priority ranking as they are far more financially viable.

Grants can be provided by a number of state and private organizations. In many cases you will be able to apply at the school that you are hoping to study at for a grant. Make sure that you consider all of the options in this regard before making your final decision.

Another thing that may be available from the school that you are interested in applying at is a nursing scholarship. Scholarships are similar to grants in that they do not have to be repaid. However, while grants are primarily given n a needs basis, scholarships are primarily given on rewards basis. So, if you are in dire financial straits then you stand a higher chance of getting a grant. If you are in the top tier academically and if you have achieved well previously, you stand a higher chance of getting a scholarship. Again, make sure that you are fully informed on all of the options.

If you are employed in a healthcare facility then you may be able to apply to your employer for financial aid. Your employer will most likely be more than happy to help you achieve your study goals. In return for this you may be obligated to work for that employer for a set amount of time. This works out in both your favors. Your employer will have a qualified LPN on his or her staff that is already familiar with the facility and the way things work in that facility. You will have completed your studies successfully, will be guaranteed of employment once your studies are complete, and you will be able to add some valuable experience to your resume for when it comes time to look for another job. Even if your employer is unable to help you there is certainly no harm in asking.

Many colleges offer work and study programs whereby you are able to study while working t the same time. This can be beneficial in that you will be generating income for yourself in order to cover the costs of the initial studies.

If you have gone the route of taking out a loan than you may be interested in the loan forgiveness programs that are available in the state of New Hampshire. There are many of these available to you. A loan forgiveness program is a service whereby a portion of your loan is dealt with by an organization or the state in return for which you work in a health care facility that is specified by that organization or state for a set period of time. Often these facilities will be in understaffed rural areas. You can gain more experience for when you are free to look for a different job in this way.

List of Schools

If you are hoping to study as an LPN in New Hampshire you will be happy to hear that there are a fair number of schools for you to choose from. Make sure that the school is accredited by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing before enrolling. The following is a list of the schools that offer LPN qualifications in New Hampshire along with the contact details you will need for making further inquiries.

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New Hampshire Technical Community College: Claremont
1 College Drive
Claremont, NH 03743-9707
www.claremont.nhctc.edu
542-7744, ext. 2723

New Hampshire Technical Institute – Concord
31 College Drive
Concord, NH 03301
www.nhti.net
271-7168

Health Career Training Associates
60 Rogers Street
www.hcta.net

New England School of Practical Nursing
Manchester, NH 03103
622-8400

First Choice Training Institute
19 Keewaydin Drive
Salem, NH 03079
www.firstchoicetraining.net
890-8999

St. Joseph School of Practical Nursing
5 Woodward Avenue
Nashua, NH 03060
www.sjhacademiccenter.org
594-2567

Harmony Health Care Institute
10 Al Paul Lane, Suite 204
Merrimack, NH 03054
www.harmony-health.org
603-886-0822
1-877 886-0822

Care Med Educational Services
24 Southmayd Road
Campton NH 03223
www.caremednurse.com
726-9992
726-9980

Tips for choosing a school

Now that you are aware of what schools are available to you, you have to choose from among the options. This may not be easy, but if you use the following as a guideline, you should be able to reach a sensible conclusion:

• Location of the school
• Tuition fees: Although the cost of the LPN program is an important consideration, it should not be the only criteria you use to judge the suitability of a program. Here are many other parameters that you will have to consider before making your final choice about LPN school.
• Percentage of NCLEX-PN passed candidate from the school in last years
• Length of the program
• Course ware
• Clinical facilities and exposure: The clinical facilities are important because you will have to complete a clinical part of your training in order to qualify. For this you will want a school where the clinical faculties are suitable and where you will be able to learn everything that you will need to know quickly and efficiently.
• Reputation of the college
• Financial aids
• Guidance provided by the school for NCLEX-PN exam: The point of LPN training is to equip you to pass the examination. If you are not being fully prepared for your examination then you are wasting your money. Make sure that the school you eventually enroll in is one where you will be properly prepared.