State Info
Although Wyoming has the least number of people, there is still a high demand for nurses. If there is a high demand for the skills that you possess then you will always have a secure position in the job market. And this will never change. The reason for this is that the medical industry is always going to be on the increase. There will always be growing demand for health care professionals. This makes the health care industry in general a good one to be involved in. A good way to jump start your career in the medical industry is to become an LPN. From there your options are limitless.
Licensing Requirements
The first step to being licensed as an LPN is enrolling in an accredited LPN program. 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 get a C grade or a 2.5 GPA in prerequisite courses
- Need to have WY CNA certification
- 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
- Need to undergo drug screening
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 licensure you will also have to pay an amount of money to the Wyoming Board of Nursing. This amount of money is $130. You will also have to pay $60 for the criminal background check. You will then also have to renew your license once a year at a cost of $90 and with proof of 20 hours of continuous training.
Salaries
There are many advantages to becoming an LPN. One of the main advantages is that you will be in a position to easily upgrade your qualification to that of an RN or BSN nurse. Obviously having a higher position in the nursing world also comes with many benefits. One of these benefits is salary. The table blow gives you an idea of the approximate amount of money you can expect to earn as an LPN, an RN and a BSN in the state of Wyoming.
| Program | Hourly Rate | Annual Rate |
| LPN | $15.04 | $32580 |
| RN | $26.88 | $55906 |
| BSN | $30 | $63,876 |
Financial Aid Available
If the only reason you have not qualified as an LPN is because there are financial constraints holding you back, then worry no more. There are a number of financial aid options open to you in Wyoming that will allow you to study and consequently kick start your career.
The Wyoming Healthcare Provider Loan Repayment Program
The Wyoming Healthcare Provider Loan Repayment Program is a program by which a portion of your loan will be dealt with on your behalf by the state so that you do not have to deal with it yourself. In return for this you will agree to work in a state designated facility for a set period of time. This facility will often be one where there is a shortage of staff. In this way you will be guaranteed of a job and of gaining experience for when it comes time to write your resume and find another position. This is not the only loan forgiveness program available. Inquire into the various loan forgiveness program options in Wyoming and make sure you know all of you choices before deciding which form of financial aid you would like to make use of.
FAFSA
If you apply to FAFSA you will be given advice on what loans and grants you can apply for in the state of Wyoming.
A loan is an amount of money that is given to you that you will be required to repay at a later point in time. Remember that loans accrue interest which means that you will be repaying more money than you originally borrowed. If you want to take out a loan make sure that you have a plan in mind for repaying the loan when the time comes. Some loans only need to be repaid once you have finished studying. You can repay them in monthly installments. However, remember that while you are studying your loan may accrue quite a lot of interest so if you are able to make small payments on a monthly basis you may be able to come out on top. Federal loans are the best, but they are difficult to qualify for. However, as they have the lowest interest rates generally speaking, it is in your best interests to find out about any federal loans that you may be eligible for. Private loans are usually easier to get but the interest rates are killer.
You may also be eligible for grants. If you are, think about those first before applying for any loans. This is because grants do not need to be repaid which makes them the best way to fund your studies. It is almost like studying for free! Grants are not easy to get, but it can’t hurt to try. If you get a grant then you will be a very lucky person indeed.
Scholarships
Scholarships are also amounts of money that don’t have to be repaid, at least not in monetary terms. Some scholarships are given on the understanding that you will work in a health care facility that is designated by the state. In return for this you will be given the money you need to study. This is to get LPNs to work in the undeserved parts of the state and to try and balance the distribution of health care professionals across Wyoming. However there are also scholarships that come with no strings attached. Some, like grants, are given on a needs basis to people who can demonstrate that they have a real financial need for the money. In many cases scholarships are given on a rewards basis to students who have achieved excellently in the past.
Ask Your Employer
Your employer may be a surprising source of financial aid, especially if you are currently employed in the health care sector. An employer may be more than happy to help you pay for your studies in exchange for which you will promise to work for them for a set period of time. You will also be able to get valuable job experience right from the word go.
List of Schools
As compared to some other states, there are not that many LPN schools in Wyoming. However the ones that you will find there are of great quality. Here is a list of your options along with the contact details you will need to make further inquiries:
[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/wy[/edu-search]
Laramie County Community College
1400 E College Nursing Director
Cheyenne WY 82007
Tel: 307-778-1133
FAX: 307-778-1399
Northern Wyoming Community College
Gillette Campus
300 West Sinclair
Gillette WY 82718
Tel: 307-686-0254 Ext 1203
FAX: 307-686-0339
Northern Wyoming Community College
Sheridan Campus
PO Box 1500
Sheridan WY 82801
Tel: 307-674-6446 Ext 6153
FAX: 307-674-4293
Northwest College
231 West 6th
Powell, Wyoming 82435
Tel: 307-754-6484
Director: 307-754-6479
FAX: 307-754-6484
Western Wyoming Community College
2500 College Dr.
PO Box F-370
Rock Springs WY 82901
Tel: 307-382-1713
FAX: 307-382-7665
Western Wyoming Community College Outreach
P.O. Box 2430
Evanston, WY 82931
Tel: 307-789-3988 ext. 139
FAX: 307-789-8818
Choose a school
The next step is of course to choose a school form among the various options. This is not easy. In order to make your decision al little easier to bear it is suggested that you consider the following aspects.
- Location of the school
- Tuition fees
- Accreditation
- Percentage of NCLEX-PN passed candidate from the school in last years
- Length of the program
- Courseware
- Clinical facilities and exposure
- Reputation of the college
- Financial aids
- Guidance provided by the school for NCLEX-PN exam
Personality requirements
People always speak about the educational and licensing requirements for being an LPN in Wyoming but not many of them think about the personality that you should have in order to be a successful LPN. Have a good look at these personality requirements. If you think you fall short of any of these then you need to think very carefully about pursuing your intention of becoming an LPN.
- A Caring Nature
- Be Empathetic
- Be Detail-Oriented
- Be Emotionally Stable
- Be Adaptable
- Have Physical Endurance
- Be a Quick Thinker
- Have Great Judgement
- Be Hard-Working
- Have Great Communication Skills
