State Info:
Ohio is a densely populated state with a varying but consistently humid climate. In Ohio there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to join the fast growing health care industry. While other industries decline the health care industry is on the increase. Consequently it is a good industry to become involved in.
The best way to start a career in the health care industry is by qualifying as an LPN. There are a number of schools in Ohio where you will be able to achieve this. Just make sure that the school you choose is accredited by the Ohio State Board of Nursing. Once you are an LPN you will have the opportunity of advancing even further in the health care industry by qualifying as an RN or even getting your BSN qualification. The opportunities are many and varied. If this appeals to you, read on to learn the LPN nursing facts for Ohio.
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 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 and licensure you will also have to pay an amount of money to the Ohio Board of Nursing. This amount of money is $75. With this application fee you will have to include a passport photo and a notarized affidavit. You will then also have to renew your license once every two years at a cost of $65 and with proof of 24 hours of continuous training.
Salaries
Once you are an LPN you will be able to upgrade your qualification through further training. Here is a comparison of the average LPN salaries you can expect to earn in the state of Ohio as an LPN, an RN, and a nurse with a BSN.
| Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
| LPN | $16.28 | $33860 |
| RN | $28.78 | $59849 |
| BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
There are several financial aid programs available in Ohio, which makes it a whole lot easier for more people to study to become LPNs. It is in your best interests to explore the different options before just giving up on your goal of becoming an LPN.
The Nurse Loan Repayment Program
The Nurse Loan Repayment Program is administered by the Ohio Board of Regents, and the aim of The Nurse Loan Repayment Program is to recruit a new generation of educators in the nursing profession. This loan repayment program is best for those people who want to stay in the state of Ohio for at least five years. In return for five years of work as a nursing educator or as a nurse in a health care facility, you can receive complete loan repayment.
FAFSA
Applying to FAFSA to find out what options you have in terms of financial aid is one of the more obvious steps to take. FAFSA will provide you with a list of programs that you are eligible for. These will mostly consist of:
Loans: A loan is an amount of money that is given to you in order for you to pay for your studies. You will be required to pay this money back. This money will also accrue interest so the amount of money that you pay back will be a lot higher than the amount of money that you originally borrowed. FAFSA will probably provide you with information about federal loans and a number of private loans. Private loans tend to be a lot easier to qualify for, but they come with high interest rates. Federal loans have lower interest rates but are harder to get. In many cases you may only be required to pay back your loan once you have finished studying. However it is important to remember that your loan may accrue interest over this time period which may make repayment challenging for you.
Grants: Like loans grants consist of monetary amounts that are given to you in order to help you pay for your studies. However, unlike loans, grants do not need to be paid back. They are usually given to people who are in deep financial need, so the more unstable your financial position, the higher your chance of getting a grant. Grants cannot be given to everyone who applies for them, so you may find that you will not get one. However it is still well worth your time to apply. As grants are more financially viable options than loans, it is suggested that you consider grant options first before looking at loan options.
Scholarships
Like grants, scholarships do not need to be paid back with money, although many of them require that you work in a designated facility for a designated period of time in repayment for the financial aid. A scholarship will often only be given to a student who is at the top academically. In a way a scholarship functions as a reward for people who work hard and achieve outstanding results. However your need of the money also comes into play. Scholarships are given out by the state, nursing schools, and private sources, so it is well worth your while o explore the various options and see if you qualify.
Ask Your Employer
You would be surprised by how many employers are willing to help you study further especially if you are already employed in the health care sector. Employers often jump at the chance to help you upgrade your educational qualification. In return for this you are normally required to work for them for a set period of time. This works out well for both of you:
- Your employer will have a dedicated worker who already knows the ropes in the organisation and who is a known entity
- You will receive help with paying for your studies, you will be guaranteed of employment once your studies are complete, and you will have something to put on your resume when t comes time to look for alternative employment
List of Schools
There are only a small number of schools available in Ohio where you can get your LPN qualification. The choice may seemed limited but remember that the quality of education is very high. Make sure that you enrol early for your program in order to ensure that you get place in the program. On top of that it is important to make sure that the program you choose is accredited by the Ohio Board of Nursing otherwise you will be wasting your time and effort. Here is a list of the schools along with some contact details that will help you find out more:
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/oh[/edu-search]
School of Practical Nursing-Post Secondary
528 Educational Highway
Warren, OH 44483
(330) 847-0503 x1420
Upper Valley Joint Vocational School of Practical Nursing
Stouder Center, Suite 1472
1100 Wayne Street
Troy, OH 45373
(937) 440-0550
Wayne Adult School of Practical Nursing
518 West Prospect Street
Smithville, OH 44677
Tips for choosing a school in Ohio
Choosing from among the options can be daunting. Use the following criteria as a guideline for finding the perfect school for you:
- Location of the school
- Tuition fees: The fees may be a big concern for you, but remember not to base your choice solely on this parameter. There are many other aspects of a school that are very important. Going for the cheapest school may mean that you get bad quality or that you get good value for money. There is no way to judge a school based on the fees alone.
- Percentage of NCLEX-PN passed candidate from the school in past years
- Length of the program
- Course ware: Different programs will differ slightly or significantly in the specific courseware that you will complete. In this case it is important to only consider those schools where the courseware will adequately prepare you for the examination, which is the most important part of your LPN training. Of you are not preparing for the exam, then you are effectively wasting your time.
- Clinical facilities and exposure
- Reputation of the college
- Financial aids: Many people require financial aid in order to study. Several schools offer financial aid programs as a matter of course, so if you need help in this regard you may have to focus your attention only on hose schools that will be able to help you pay for your tuition fees.
- Guidance provided by the school for NCLEX-PN exam
