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How to Become a Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) Professional: Schools, Apprenticeships & Licensing

Two ways in: pay for school (1,250 U.S. schools offer Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs at certificate/associate level, median net price $10,043/yr) or get paid to train (417 registered apprenticeship sponsors nationwide). State board of nursing licensure required everywhere (NCLEX-PN); Pell-eligible; hospital-sponsored programs sometimes cover tuition for work commitments.

US schools
1,250
Median net price / yr
$10,043
Median earnings (10 yr)
$38,679
Apprenticeship sponsors
417
paid training

Licensing at a glance

State license required: Texas, Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan.

Requirements differ sharply by state — check your state's page below for the specific rule, hours, and exam, each cited to the official board.

Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) aid deadlines & apprenticeship alerts

Aid windows and sponsor application openings, for your state.

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Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) schools & apprenticeships by state

School data: U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026). Apprenticeship data: U.S. Dept of Labor. Licensing summaries cited to official state boards per state page. Methodology.