Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN / LVN) Career Guide
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs—called Licensed Vocational Nurses or LVNs in California and Texas) deliver hands-on clinical nursing care, administer medications, perform wound care, and supervise nursing assistants in long-term care, outpatient, and hospital settings.
At-a-Glance Career Snapshot
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) national benchmark.
Projected national healthcare employment expansion.
Recognized accrediting body for educational programs.
1. Role Overview & Clinical Scope of Practice
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) form a vital clinical tier of the nursing workforce, bridging Certified Nursing Assistants and Registered Nurses. In just 12 to 18 months of concentrated nursing education, graduates qualify for a full state nursing license and earn a median salary approaching $60,000 per year.
Under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Physician, LPNs carry substantial clinical responsibilities: they administer oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, and (with state/IV certification) intravenous medications, perform complex sterile wound dressings and ostomy care, insert and manage urinary catheters, administer enteral tube feedings, and perform tracheostomy suctioning.
In skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), subacute rehabilitation centers, and assisted living communities, experienced LPNs frequently serve as Unit Charge Nurses—supervising teams of CNAs, communicating patient status changes to attending physicians and families, and reconciling admission/discharge orders. Moreover, accredited LPN-to-RN (ADN or BSN) bridge programs allow working LPNs to fast-track into Registered Nursing with advanced placement credit.
2. Core Clinical & Technical Responsibilities
In daily clinical practice, a Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN / LVN) performs the following core responsibilities:
- Administer prescribed oral, topical, inhalation, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and (where state-certified) intravenous medications and fluids.
- Perform focused nursing assessments—auscultating lung and bowel sounds, assessing neurovascular status, and monitoring vital signs and blood glucose trends.
- Perform sterile and clean wound care, negative-pressure wound therapy (Wound VAC) dressing changes, ostomy care, and urinary catheterizations.
- Manage enteral gastrostomy/PEG tube feedings, tracheostomy care, oxygen therapy, and nebulizer treatments.
- Serve as unit charge nurse or medication/treatment nurse in skilled nursing and subacute facilities, delegating ADL tasks to CNAs.
- Document nursing interventions, medication administration records (eMAR), and clinical responses in the electronic health record.
3. Education Requirements & Accredited Schools
Recognized Program Accreditor: State Board of Nursing / ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing)
Prospective LPNs/LVNs complete a 12- to 18-month state-approved Practical Nursing diploma or certificate program at a community college, county vocational-technical institute, or hospital school of nursing (many programs also hold national accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing — ACEN).
The curriculum combines classroom instruction in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and dosage calculations, medical-surgical nursing, maternal-newborn and pediatric nursing,gerontological nursing, and mental health with 400 to 600+ hours of supervised clinical rotations in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
4. National Certification Exams & State Licensure
Interstate Compact & Portability: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) — Covers both RNs and LPNs/LVNs across 41+ compact member states with a single multistate license.
Every state requires LPNs/LVNs to graduate from a state-approved practical nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to obtain a State Practical Nurse License.
Licensed LPNs can earn post-licensure certifications in Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Long-Term Care (CLTC), Pharmacology (NCP), Gerontology, and Wound Care (WCC), or enroll in 12-month LPN-to-RN bridge programs.
5. Salary Percentile Breakdown & Top-Paying Settings
Compensation for a Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN / LVN) varies based on clinical experience, specialty certifications, shift differentials, geographic region, and facility type.
| 10th Percentile Entry-Level Tier | 25th Percentile Early Career | 50th Percentile National Median | 75th Percentile Experienced Tier | 90th Percentile Senior / Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45,610 Starting Wage | $51,890 1–3 Yrs Exp | $59,730 BLS Median | $66,940 Specialty / Acute | $77,870 Top Metro / Lead |
6. Work Environment & Career Advancement Ladder
Primary Employment Settings: Skilled nursing and subacute rehab facilities, assisted living communities, physician offices, home health, correctional & community clinics
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) → Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN / IV-Certified) → Unit Charge Nurse / MDS Coordinator → LPN-to-RN Bridge to Registered Nurse (ADN/BSN).
Many hospital systems and healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement and clinical ladder differentials for professionals who pursue specialty certifications or bridge degrees.
7. 50-State Licensure, Compact Status & Regulatory Directory
Use the interactive directory below to review state regulatory boards, interstate compact participation, and license renewal requirements for Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN / LVN) professionals across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
| State / Jurisdiction | Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) | State Regulatory Authority | Licensure & Renewal Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | Member (NLC) | Alabama Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Alaska AK | Pending/Single-State | Alaska Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Arizona AZ | Member (NLC) | Arizona Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial / 4-yr) |
| Arkansas AR | Member (NLC) | Arkansas Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| California CA | Single-State Endorsement | California Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Colorado CO | Member (NLC) | Colorado Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Connecticut CT | Enacted (NLC) | Connecticut Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Annual / Biennial) |
| Delaware DE | Member (NLC) | Delaware Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| District of Columbia DC | Single-State Endorsement | District of Columbia Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Florida FL | Member (NLC) | Florida Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Georgia GA | Member (NLC) | Georgia Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Hawaii HI | Single-State Endorsement | Hawaii Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Idaho ID | Member (NLC) | Idaho Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Illinois IL | Single-State Endorsement | Illinois Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Indiana IN | Member (NLC) | Indiana Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Iowa IA | Member (NLC) | Iowa Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Triennial / Biennial) |
| Kansas KS | Member (NLC) | Kansas Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Kentucky KY | Member (NLC) | Kentucky Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Annual / Biennial) |
| Louisiana LA | Member (NLC) | Louisiana Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Annual / Biennial) |
| Maine ME | Member (NLC) | Maine Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Maryland MD | Member (NLC) | Maryland Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Massachusetts MA | Enacted (NLC) | Massachusetts Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Michigan MI | Single-State Endorsement | Michigan Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Minnesota MN | Single-State Endorsement | Minnesota Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Mississippi MS | Member (NLC) | Mississippi Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Missouri MO | Member (NLC) | Missouri Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Montana MT | Member (NLC) | Montana Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Nebraska NE | Member (NLC) | Nebraska Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Nevada NV | Single-State Endorsement | Nevada Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| New Hampshire NH | Member (NLC) | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| New Jersey NJ | Member (NLC) | New Jersey Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| New Mexico NM | Member (NLC) | New Mexico Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| New York NY | Single-State Endorsement | New York Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Triennial (3 yrs)) |
| North Carolina NC | Member (NLC) | North Carolina Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| North Dakota ND | Member (NLC) | North Dakota Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Ohio OH | Member (NLC) | Ohio Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Oklahoma OK | Member (NLC) | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Oregon OR | Single-State Endorsement | Oregon Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Pennsylvania PA | Member (NLC) | Pennsylvania Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Rhode Island RI | Member (NLC) | Rhode Island Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| South Carolina SC | Member (NLC) | South Carolina Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| South Dakota SD | Member (NLC) | South Dakota Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Tennessee TN | Member (NLC) | Tennessee Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Texas TX | Member (NLC) | Texas Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Utah UT | Member (NLC) | Utah Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Vermont VT | Member (NLC) | Vermont Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Virginia VA | Member (NLC) | Virginia Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Washington WA | Member (NLC) | Washington Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Annual / Biennial) |
| West Virginia WV | Member (NLC) | West Virginia Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Wisconsin WI | Member (NLC) | Wisconsin Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |
| Wyoming WY | Member (NLC) | Wyoming Board of Nursing | NCLEX Exam + Criminal Background Check (Biennial (2 yrs)) |