A career as an LPN is exciting and fast-paced, allowing you to help people every day. An LPN can work in many medical facilities, including nursing homes, private practices, hospitals, or clinics. As a certification program, an LPN certificate is quick to earn, leading to a lucrative career in the medical industry. Many LPN programs can be paired with additional medical training and degrees, paving the way for future success as a registered nurse.
What is an LPN Program?
Many LPN programs are offered as certificate training, which can be completed in as little as three semesters. Following the necessary instruction and coursework, students can take an exam to become a licensed practical nurse. Once a license is obtained, nurses can work in many fields, assisting registered nurses and doctors alike. Many LPN programs can be enhanced and modified to allow for a mobility LPN program that will award students an Associate’s Degree upon completion. An LPN program typically includes both theoretical coursework, and clinical practice. Many LPN programs focus on the patient, helping prospective nurses make critical decisions safely and logically that benefit the patient.
Top 5 LPN Programs in Alabama
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reid State Technical College | Evergreen, Alabama |
| 2 | JF Drake State Community College and Technical School | Huntsville, Alabama |
| 3 | Trenholm State Community College | Montgomery, Alabama |
| 4 | Northeast Alabama Community College | Jackson County, Alabama |
| 5 | Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
What Are the Benefits?
The nursing industry is rapidly growing, and the need for medical professionals has accelerated in recent years. As an LPN, you will be able to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in various medical facilities in just a short amount of time. With many programs taking three semesters to complete, earning your LPN designation in a little more than a year is possible. This certificate puts you on the fast track to a lucrative and rewarding career. Besides having a stable job, an LPN designation allows you to help patients in need of care. Many LPN professionals go on to work in hospitals or nursing homes where they can make a direct impact on their local community.
What is the Outlook and Salary?
An LPN career trajectory continues to grow, with an anticipated 16% career growth over the next ten years. Hospitals and private practices are routinely hiring new LPN professionals, so this is a career with stable job security. As an LPN, professionals can expect to make about $40,000 per year. Top paying careers as an LPN tend to reach their ceiling at about $49,000 per year.
Choosing a school to earn your certificate to become an LPN can be difficult with many available options in Alabama. We understand just how big of a decision you need to make, so we try to make it easy for you. We have put together a list of the best LPN programs in Alabama to help you compare the available schools. With our list, you can find the right school for you that suits your needs and intended career path.
The Best 10 LPN Programs in Alabama
Reid State Technical College
The LPN program offered at Reid State Technical College is perfect for students who want to have a rewarding career helping others. This small school offers an accelerated program to give students one-on-one education and attention from trained and professional faculty and staff. The program has four core values that it teaches to students. Nursing students will learn professional identity, the spirit of inquiry, professional care, and nursing judgment.
The certificate program is one year in length. It gives students the necessary knowledge and experience to work as an entry-level nurse at a hospital, nursing home, or private practice. This certificate is often paired with other degrees and programs offered by the Department of Health Sciences at Reid State.
- Application Requirements: Application, Application Fee, Special Nursing School Application, Placement Test
School Overview
JF Drake State Community College and Technical School
Approved by the Alabama State Department of Education, JF Drake State Community College and Technical School offer students a comprehensive program to study nursing and become an LPN. This program mixes both practice and theory to help students become knowledgeable practicing nurses and professional and safe nurses.
After the first three semesters of this program, students will have the opportunity to take their exams to become LPN. Following a successful exam, students may opt to continue for an additional two semesters. This further study will give students the knowledge needed to take the exam to become an RN in Alabama. This program sets students up for success, teaching them quick decision-making skills, critical thinking, technical, and communication skills.
- Application Requirements: Application, High School Diploma or GED, High School Transcripts, Nursing School Application, ACT Test Scores
School Overview
Trenholm State Community College
The LPN program offered at Trenholm State Community College is perfect for students seeking an entry-level nursing job in the health sector. This program helps prepare students for careers working at nursing homes, hospitals, private practices, or clinics. This program is geared to teach students safe medical procedures for practical nursing and patient-centered approaches to nursing.
The certificate consists of three semesters, with a total of 26 credits. The first semester is rooted in nursing theory, while the second and third semesters have a clinical practice. The third semester also introduces students to critical thinking and clinical reasoning to help make fast, accurate decisions for their patients.
- Application Requirements: Application, High School Diploma or GED, High School Transcripts
School Overview
Northeast Alabama Community College
Practical nursing at Northeast Alabama Community College takes an approach to help students become caring and logical nurses. The program is based on logic and understanding, assisting students in making quick and accurate decisions that benefit the patient’s safety and well-being. Students enrolled in the LPN program will have both a theoretical and hands-on practical education.
Students who wish to enroll in the LPN program see a high completion and graduation rate, with over 60% of the enrolled students graduating and completing the program. These students go on to find rewarding, entry-level jobs in hospitals, clinics, private practices, or nursing homes.
- Application Requirements: Application, Minimum 2.5 GPA, High School Diploma or GED, ACT Test Scores
School Overview
Shelton State Community College
The LPN program offered by Shelton State balances general education coursework with targeted nursing classes. Students will learn nursing and medical theory in the classroom and balance their education with hands-on lab and clinical work. This approach gives students a balanced and well-rounded nursing education.
This LPN program is a certificate program offered by Shelton State Community College. Students who complete the certificate will have the knowledge and ability to take the NCLEX-PN exam. With a successful and passing exam score, students are free to practice entry-level nursing as an LPN in Alabama.
- Application Requirements: Application, High School Diploma or GED, Official High School Transcripts
School Overview
Fortis College
Offering a balance of theory and practice to students, the LPN program at Fortis College is comprehensive and inclusive. The program is designed to give students the knowledge and experience necessary to work as an entry-level nurse in a wide variety of medical fields. While many schools focus on students’ ability to work in hospitals and nursing homes, the program at Fortis College also focuses on LPN professionals working in labor and delivery, pediatrics, and oncology.
The courses offered at Fortis College give students a general education, as well as nursing-specific courses. While students are required to take anatomy and biology, they also will enroll in emergency care and surgical nursing.
- Application Requirements: Application, Application Fee, High School Diploma or GED, Official High School Transcripts
School Overview
Coastal Alabama Community College
The nursing program offered at Coastal Alabama Community College gives students plenty of options for their education and future career track. Students have the option of enrolling in the LPN certificate program. This program will provide students with enough experience, theory, and practical knowledge to take the test required to become a practicing LPN. Once a student passes the exam, they will be licensed to practice nursing in Alabama.
Following a successful exam, students will have the opportunity to further their nursing education in a specific field, earning their Associate’s Degree. Students may choose to pursue a dedicated degree as a Mobility LPN and Paramedic to ADN (RN) in their continuing education program.
- Application: Application, Application Fee, GED or High School Diploma, ACT Test Scores, Minimum 2.0 GPA
School Overview
Central Alabama Community College
The nursing program at Central Alabama Community College is part of the Health Sciences Department, giving students plenty of options to pursue their education. Students can pursue many nursing program paths, including earning an LPN certificate to practice nursing at hospitals, nursing homes, or clinical practices.
The school also offers an Associate’s Degree in LPN to RN Mobility, which gives students the option to pursue their RN license. This sets students up with the knowledge and experience necessary to earn an Associate’s Degree and take the required exam to become an RN in Alabama.
- Application: Application, Application Fee, ACT Test Scores, High School Diploma or GED, High School Transcripts, Minimum 2.5 GPA
School Overview
Wallace State Community College
The LPN program offered at Wallace State Community College allows students to earn a certificate in a rewarding and high-demand career field. The LPN program will set students up with the necessary knowledge and experience to practice nursing in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. This program has small class sizes ensuring one-on-one attention with faculty and staff. Plus, Wallace State Community College has a phenomenal track record with job placement following graduation.
The program also offers the opportunity to earn an Associate’s Degree in nursing or an LPN Mobility degree. Wallace State Community College makes it easy to transfer credits to other colleges and universities for students who wish to continue their education following their certificate or degree.
- Application: Application, Application Fee, High School Diploma or GED, Official High School Transcripts
School Overview
Lawson State Community College
Lawson State Community College offers a range of nursing programs for students. Students have the opportunity to enroll in three different paths, including an LPN, pre-nursing, or nursing track. This nursing department allows students to find an education and career path that works best for them and will enable students to change their path mid-career to further their education.
This program is based on both theory and practical experience, giving students a well-rounded approach to nursing. Those who graduate from the certificate program to become an LPN will work in private practices, hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics.
- Application Requirements: Application, High School Diploma or GED, Official High School Transcripts, Financial Aid (If Necessary)
School Overview
Methodology
To rank the best LPN programs in Alabama, we utilized a two-part ranking system based on two metrics. The first metric examined the overall cost of tuition based on a per-credit rate. If a school listed their tuition as an annual expense, the total was divided in half, assuming two semesters, and further divided by 12 to account for 12 credits per semester. In all cases, the out-of-state tuition cost was used. The school with the lowest tuition cost per credit was awarded the most amount of points, giving it the most favorable ranking.
The second metric used to score the best LPN programs in Alabama was the school’s overall enrollment size. It was assumed that schools with a smaller enrollment size offered a better learning environment. It follows then that the schools with the smallest enrollment received the most amount of points. The points accumulated from the tuition score and enrollment score were added together, giving one total cumulative score. This final score then ranked the best LPN programs in Alabama, with the highest point total receiving the top place on our list.
If your school has been featured on our list and has one of the best LPN programs in Alabama, we would love to hear from you! If you notice that the information we have listed is incorrect or out of date, let us know. We understand that choosing a school for your LPN program is a big decision, and we always want to give prospective students the most accurate and up-to-date information possible.
