The fact that you can train to be a licensed practical nurse in the space of a year, and start earning money is highly attractive to many people who long to enter the medical field and play a role in administering medical assistance to those in need. LPN requirements vary from college to college and state to state, but wherever you go there will be requirements that you need to fulfill in order to be admitted to a college or university.
Many career colleges offer career-focused LPN certificates or diploma programs, for which the prerequisite is a high school diploma or GED. Another option is to take an LPN degree program from a nursing college or university. While LPN education requirements may be different for every college, it is mandatory by the National League for Nursing to take pre entrance exams for any nursing program. Your maths mark as well as English and other subjects are what colleges use in carefully selecting their nursing students, and it is also mandatory by the National League for Nursing to complete a background check.
Find the College That’s Right For You
Basically, in order to become a nurse, you will first need to find the college that is right for you. You will need to do a bit of research about the particular college so that you can meet the requirements set by their admissions process. A CNA or certified nursing assistant already has general nursing knowledge, and colleges will take that into account. Each LPN must first graduate from high school and then pass the requirements of the State Boards of Nursing. In fact, good scores in the LPN education requirements are exceptionally important simply because these days colleges don’t have a lot of openings, and admission is often based on the cumulative score you get from admission tests. Yes, there are some facilities that do not require certification, but they want to see some sort of proof that you have in fact completed a nurse aid course. This is because with the high demands of health care, it is a requirement to have certification.
Are You Free from a Criminal Record?
Most institutions require that with LPN requirements, their applicants are at least 18 years of age and that their applications are endorsed by a couple of professionals like a trusted pastor, professor, school principal or guidance teacher for example. On top of that they will want to also ensure that the student does not have a criminal record or has been involved with drugs. Some colleges will even require that a personality test be done. Because LPNs will have direct contact with patients and they are often required to work under tremendous pressure, they need a certain set of skills to remain cool under pressure and be caring and compassionate. LPN requirements will include good communication, decision making, and observation skills.
A licensed practical nurse is also known as a licensed vocational nurse, and throughout the years the requirements of these nurses have changed; and because of the extent of the work, training is more thorough and intense. Of course, if you are going for an LPN degree, you can go on to get your BSN degree which is a four-year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, which will also guarantee an increase in salary. LPN requirements mean that you become emotionally and physically available to your patients and that their interests and needs are your top priority.
A Requirement of an LPN is Hands-on Skills
The road to becoming an LPN requires a license, and this means that attending the right quality college and following specified courses is imperative. Training is offered at different hospitals, vocational or technical schools, community colleges or at university. One of the requirements of studying to be an LPN is that you only enter approved and accredited places of learning by the state’s Board of Nursing. NAPNE or the National Association Practical Nurse Education is a good place to start looking for information on accredited nursing venues on online courses. You also get nursing colleges that offer LPN degrees and then the course will take a little longer to complete. The training will also include hands-on training in a community health care facility to get a feel for the real thing. Anatomy, nutrition, medical and surgical nursing, CPR, psychiatric nursing, pediatric nursing and physiology are just some of the subjects that will be a requirement to become an LPN.
When you apply to a college for LPN training, your current position will also determine the requirements you will need to fulfill, because if you already have some nursing or medical experience behind you, less will be required from you as compared to someone with no former training.
The need for licensed practical nurses is as high as ever, and students are able to get challenging and rewarding jobs in hospitals, clinics, retirement centers, as well as private nurses for people with special needs. If you feel that this is the career for you, you will want to know which requirements you will need to meet.
Academic Requirements
The very first of LPN requirements is the Entrance Exam. Not every college or university requires this but some do because they want to assess the academic status of their prospective students. The entrance exam will determine the student’s ability in all their subjects, but there may even be subjects that they watch out for particularly. Most of these entrance exams have multiple choice questions.
To prepare yourself for these exams,
you can actually find some test examples online which can be downloaded. To start with, you should have a high school diploma, known also as GED, and another requirement is that you are 18 years of age. On completion of your LPN course, you will need to pass a certificate exam referred to as NCLEX-PN, and after you have passed this exam, you can start with actual nursing. Each state has its own set of requirements for LPN certification, so it is important for you to find out the requirements of the states in which you intend to work.
Some websites from which you can get tips and course information from regarding LPN tests and exams are:
- Health Education Systems, Incorporated – review courses, study materials, software
- Intelpnet Exam – web-based practice NCLEX nursing tests
- Meds Publishing – offers review courses, software, books, audio and video tapes
- Nurse Success – offers private and group NCLEX courses
You Will be Interviewed
Some schools will want to interview prospective students as part of their LPN requirements. If you are invited to an interview you will need to be prepared for it, and you can start by dressing in a professional and appropriate manner. These interviews are about getting to know a little more about you and to establish if you are well suited for a career in nursing. Apart from assessing you in an interview, other things will be taken into account such as:
- your previous work experience
- the area you live in
- your scores from the nursing admission tests
- any other certificates or diplomas you may have
- the kind of high school education you had
You can always contact the college you are interested in attending and find out what their particular admission requirements are.
Financial Aid Requirements
Many of those who wish to become LPNs feel they cannot because they don’t have the necessary funds. If you need financial aid to pay for your LPN program, you will need to find out about if you are eligible to apply and to get the necessary paperwork in as early as possible to apply for scholarships and grants. You can speak to your financial aid office to find out what your options are. When applying at FAFSA, remember they have deadlines which remain pretty similar year after year. If you need help with how to go about finding out about the requirements for applying for financial aid, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID or 1-800-433-3243 or you can even visit the federal student aid website for more information.
Legal Requirements
Aside from the educational prerequisites, there are also legal LPN requirements to becoming an LPN, and that is to take the NCLEX-PN, which is the National Council Licensure Examination — Practical Nursing – certification examination. This is to ensure that nursing standards remain consistent through every state. You will then only be allowed to legally work in the state in which you took the NCLEX-PN. If you move you have to re-take the exam to become legally certified in that particular state.
Fulfill All LPN Requirements to get Accepted
Becoming an LPN promises a wonderful career but you need to find out about how to become an LPN. Find out what LPN education requirements and training involve in your state to get you started in this necessary and worthwhile occupation.
