Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Programs in Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the many states in the country facing a nurse shortage, and groups like the Tennessee Hospital Association are advocating to fill those roles. Students can take advantage of this increased demand for nurses and begin a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Practical nursing programs in Tennessee can be completed in around one year, offering a quick path to licensure and employment. They also can set up a graduate for potential career advancement as a registered nurse (RN).
Discover board-approved LPN programs in Tennessee below, and learn more about the state’s licensure process and employment opportunities.
Quick Facts
- Tennessee reports increasing demand for LPNs, with an expected job growth rate of nearly 20% between 2022-2032.
- Applying for a Tennessee LPN license through the Tennessee Board of Nursing is free.
- LPN programs in Tennessee do not need ACEN accreditation to qualify graduates for licensure — just board approval.
- The highest-paying cities for LPNs in Tennessee include Nashville and Clarksville.
Compare Practical Nursing Programs in Tennessee
The following schools offer practical nursing programs that have been granted full approval by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. These institutions are listed alphabetically and not ranked according to our methodology.
Compare details like program length, format, and cost to determine the best LPN program for you.
Chattanooga College
- Diploma (in-person)
- 82 credits
- $244 per credit
✔ Board-approved
X Not ACEN-accredited
As a private, for-profit school, Chattanooga College, MDTC, specializes in healthcare and beauty programs. It offers two nursing programs: a practical nursing diploma and a three-year bachelor’s in nursing.
Students can complete the practical nursing diploma in 12 months with full-time day classes or in 18 months with part-time night courses. Both in-person programs include hands-on experience with lab simulations and clinical rotations.
Chattanooga State Community College
- Diploma (in-person)
- 1,357 clock hours
- $185 per credit
✔ Board-approved
X Not ACEN-accredited
Chattanooga State Community College serves students in Dayton, Chattanooga, and Kimball. This public, two-year school offers several healthcare degree and certificate programs, including a practical nursing diploma program through ChattState’s Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
This full-time, on-campus LPN program lasts three semesters (one year) and immerses students in topics like medical surgery, intravenous medications, and leadership. Students gain hands-on experience through clinical hours each semester, and graduates report a 95% job placement rate.
South College
- Certificate (in-person)
- 59 credits
- $5,500 per quarter
✔ Board-approved
– Not ACEN-accredited (candidate)
South College, a private, for-profit institution, has campuses across six states, with two locations in Tennessee. Both the Nashville and Knoxville campuses offer the same in-person LPN program comprised of four 11-week quarters (about one calendar year).
The curriculum covers topics such as pharmacology, geriatric nursing, maternal-infant nursing, and vocational relations. Students participate in several clinical simulations to gain hands-on experience.
Once licensed, certificate graduates may continue their education with South College’s LPN-BSN program, offered at both Tennessee campuses.
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology
- Diploma (in-person)
- 1,296 clock hours
- $4,308-$8,489 per program
✔ Board-approved
X Not ACEN-accredited
The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) offer competency-based technical training at more than 20 campuses statewide. Each college offers unique vocational training programs, including the popular practical nursing program.
While the cost varies by location, all TCAT practical nursing programs require 1,296 on-campus hours and are held primarily in a full-time, 12-month format. Only the Henry/Carroll, Hohenwald, Northwest, Shelbyville, and Upper Cumberland campuses offer both full- and part-time classes in programs that last up to 18 months.
Each TCAT campus sets different practical nursing admissions requirements. Most call for HESI exam scores, while a few locations accept ACT scores or set prerequisite courses.
Since the practical nursing diploma program prepares students to take the NCLEX-PN, the curriculum at each location is similar and includes extensive clinical training. Schedules differ, though. Campuses like Hohenwald offer night classes for working students.
TCAT campuses with fully approved practical nursing programs:
- Athens
- Dickson
- Elizabethton
- Hartsville
- Henry/Carroll
- Hohenwald
- Jackson
- Knoxville
- Livingston
- Memphis
- Morristown
- Murfreesboro
- Nashville
- Northwest
- Shelbyville
- Upper Cumberland
Why Approval Matters
Any student seeking nursing licensure in Tennessee must attend a program approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The board reevaluates programs annually and awards one of three approval types: initial, full, or conditional.
Initial approval goes to new schools or nursing programs that have met the board’s curriculum standards. It extends long enough for the first round of students to complete the LPN program. Based on continued observations, the board may move the school to full approval, which means it has fully complied with all board requirements.
If the board discovers that a fully approved program no longer meets the curriculum standards, it may change the approval to conditional and suspend enrollment. The school must make changes within one year, or the board will remove its approval.
As of November 2024, Tennessee offers 19 fully approved LPN programs. Four hold initial approval, and three have conditional approval.
Does my LPN program need to be accredited?
Generally, you’ll want to attend an LPN program at a school that holds institutional accreditation, which proves the entire school has met high academic standards and passed a strict third-party review process.
Additionally, you may want to look for programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). ACEN sets high academic and industry standards for nursing degree programs nationwide.
Accreditation affects federal financial aid eligibility. Only students at accredited institutions — or freestanding nursing schools that hold programmatic accreditation — can apply for federal financial aid.
In many states, nursing students must attend an ACEN-accredited program to apply for licensure. However, the Tennessee Board of Nursing only specifies board approval — not ACEN accreditation — for LPN and RN license applicants.
ACEN has accredited many nursing programs in Tennessee, but thus far only degree programs. As of March 2025, no LPN diploma or certificate program holds ACEN accreditation in the state.
How to Fund a Tennessee LPN Program
Learners typically start the funding process with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form helps determine eligibility for federally funded grants, scholarships, and loans.
Besides federal aid, practical nursing students in Tennessee should consider state funding options. For example, the Tennessee Promise program offers scholarships to community college and trade school students who need extra funding after federal awards or other scholarships.
Other Tennessee funding options include the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, which awards $2,000 per year to students attending TCAT. The Tennessee Student Assistance Award gifts up to $4,000 annually to state residents with financial need, while the HOPE Scholarship offers up to $2,250 to students at two-year schools.
Explore the College for TN website for more state funding programs. Learners can also look for school-specific scholarships. For example, South College offers identity-based scholarships to eligible students.
How to Become an LPN in Tennessee
Students can often start working as licensed practical nurses in Tennessee within a few weeks or months of finishing an LPN program. They can accelerate the process by starting the online forms and document gathering before they graduate.
After the Tennessee Board of Nursing receives post-graduation transcripts, it usually takes several weeks to process eligibility. Students then have 90 days to take the NCLEX-PN exam. Review the specific steps, documents, and fees required to become an LPN in Tennessee below.
- 1
Complete a state-approved LPN program.
Before applying for an LPN license in Tennessee, applicants must pass a board-approved nursing program. They can use the Tennessee Board of Nursing’s list of practical nursing schools to choose an LPN program or check a program’s approval status.
Tennessee LPN programs typically take 12-18 months to complete. However, students do not need to wait until graduation to start the next steps toward licensure.
- 2
Request a background check.
During the last six weeks of study, LPN candidates should start the background check process. They can schedule an in-person fingerprint appointment through Tennessee’s IdentoGO service, inputting the agency name, applicant type, and OCA number (1704 for LPNs).
Keep in mind that the fingerprint scan must occur within two weeks of exam registration. The background check costs around $37.
- 3
Collect required documents.
Students should also use the last few weeks of their LPN program to gather application resources. Besides the background check, the Tennessee Board of Nursing requires a signed and notarized Declaration of Citizenship form and a signed passport photo taken within six months of application.
Candidates must also request that the nursing program send official transcripts to the Tennessee Board of Nursing immediately after graduation to avoid any delays. Students may need to prepare extra documents, like an accommodation request letter or a Tennessee driver’s license for multistate licensure.
- 4
Apply for licensure through the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
Create an account on the Tennessee Department of Health’s Licensure and Regulatory System website within the four weeks before graduation. Under the new application option, choose the Board of Nursing, then the initial licensure by exam application. Candidates with out-of-state licensure should select the endorsement application.
Respond to the prompts with the required educational, professional, and general information, then attach the citizenship form, photo, and any other documents. Remember that transcripts and fingerprints go directly to the state board and are not attached to the application.
As of 2019, the application is free. Eligibility processing can take 4-6 weeks — longer if the applicant needs to provide extra documentation.
- 5
Register for the exam.
Students should register to take the exam while waiting for eligibility approval from the Tennesse Board of Nursing. Complete the online Pearson VUE form, available through the NCLEX website, no sooner than two weeks before graduation.
Upon registering, candidates must pay a $200 fee. Make sure to complete the correct registration form, as changing from the RN to the PN exam costs an extra $50.
- 6
Schedule and take the exam.
Once registered and approved for the NCLEX-PN exam, students receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice via email. The ATT is typically valid for 90 days, during which period candidates must sit for the exam.
Find local testing locations and schedule the exam through Pearson VUE. On the day of the exam, students should remember to bring valid identification.
Receiving test results may take up to six weeks. Once the Tennesse Board of Nursing receives a student’s exam scores, it will notify them of the results.
- 7
Maintain your license.
The Tennessee Board of Nursing requires LPNs to renew their licenses every two years. Nurses receive a mailed notice 45 days before the deadline, but they can renew up to 60 days before the expiration date. Renewal costs $100.
Discover Other Programs in Tennessee
How Much Do LPNs Make in Tennessee?
Median Annual Salary for LPNs (May 2023)
Tennessee
$49,780
U.S.
$59,730
According to the BLS, as of May 2023, the salary for LPNs in Tennessee ranges from around $31,110 for the lowest 10% of earners to around $70,440 for the top 10% of earners. The median wage for LPNs statewide totals just under $50,000 — around 17% lower than the national median salary. However, the state’s cost of living also ranks as one of the lowest nationwide.
Several urban areas report a higher median salary, but none as high as the national median. For example, LPNs earn a median wage of $54,910 in Nashville and $53,020 in Clarksville. Cities with the lowest median salary include Jackson ($47,050) and the Kingsport-Bristol area ($47,240).
Are LPNs in Demand in Tennessee?
Projected Job Growth for LPNs
Tennessee (2022-2032)
19.6%
U.S. (2023-2033)
3%
Demand for LPNs in Tennessee is growing exponentially. Projections Central predicts an above-average growth rate of nearly 20% for LPNs in Tennessee between 2022-2032 — over six times the projected national growth rate.
Around 18,840 LPNs are employed statewide. Over 25% work in the Nashville area, while Memphis and Knoxville also employ a significant portion of the state’s LPNs — 15% and 13%, respectively. Cleveland reports the lowest LPN employment of just 250 (around 1%), and Morristown follows closely with 300 LPNs.
FAQ About Practical Nursing Programs in Tennessee
No, LPN programs are not usually online due to the hands-on training requirements. The TCAT McMinnville campus offers a hybrid practical nursing program, but the Tennessee Board of Nursing does not list it as an approved program for LPN licensure.
