LPN Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana requires all LPNs to graduate from an approved LPN diploma or degree program, including classroom education and clinical rotations, to get hands-on experience providing basic nursing care. Such programs tend to last about one year. Coursework includes nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, nutrition, physiology, and medical-surgical nursing.

Students should confirm that any LPN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or approved by the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners. Accreditation or state approval of LPN programs ensures graduates can sit for the NCLEX-PN examination.

To apply for licensure by exam, you must first create an account in the LSBPNE nurse portal and pay a $100 nonrefundable application fee. You must then have your official transcripts sent from your PN program to the Louisiana Board of Nursing.

A state and FBI criminal background check (CBC) is required for an LPN licensure. Applicants must:

• Print the form and fill it out.
• Obtain two fingerprint cards from your local police department. Some stations may require a fee for this service.
• Mail the application, fingerprint cards, and $39.25 CBC application fee to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. The payment must be a money order payable to Louisiana State Police.

Aspiring LPNs must register with Pearson VUE and submit a $200 nonrefundable examination fee to get an authorization to test (ATT) email for approval to take the NCLEX-PN.

You must schedule your test date within 90 days of receiving your ATT email. Visit the Pearson VUE website to search for testing centers, rules, and requirements for the exam day.

Preparation is key. Start studying for the NCLEX-PN at least 2-6 months before the exam date. The best way to set yourself up for success is to take a combination study approach, including enrolling in a test prep course, reading an NCLEX-PN review book, and completing group study, tutoring, or self-study.

Once you pass the NCLEX-PN, you will receive your official results through the LSBPNE nurse portal message center, usually within 7-10 days of your test date. With a $7.95 fee, you can access your unofficial results via Pearson VUE Quick Results 48 hours after your exam.

Please note that LSBPNE no longer issues paper licenses.

Using agency recruiters, attending job fairs, or joining professional organizations are great resources for finding LPN career options. Searching job boards or professional nursing organization websites is also a great platform for exploring open roles.

The BLS reports that skilled nursing facilities have the highest percentage of LPNs, and consulting services pay the highest annual average salary of $72,720. LPNs can also work in hospices, home health agencies, nursing homes, physician offices, mental health facilities, and other healthcare sites.

Once you land a job, you must understand your scope of practice. LPNs perform duties such as:

• Monitoring vital signs
• Assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Collecting specimen samples
• Transferring patients
• Administering medications
• Charting
• Overseeing CNAs

All Louisiana LPN licenses expire on January 31 of each year and must be renewed annually between November 1 and January 31. Renewal requires timely submission of an application and payment of the $61.08 renewal fee. There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for LPN license renewal in Louisiana, although some employers may require CE as a condition of continued employment.

Failure to renew one’s LPN license by midnight on January 31 will result in your license automatically becoming “inactive-lapsed.” To renew an “inactive-lapsed” license, you must apply for reinstatement, which costs $162.88.