Top LPN Programs in Idaho

Idaho LPN Schools, License Requirements, Job Outlook, and Salary

Licensed practical nurses are often considered as the backbone of the health care industry due to their intensive support in hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, ambulatory care settings, etc. From traditional job roles to more expertise-driven roles, these professionals are required everywhere. However, as a matter of fact, there is a huge demand of LPNs in the state. As per the projections of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for licensed practical nurses in the USA will increase 16% by 2024.

LPN programs generally complete in 12-18 months and have a very rigorous coursework, requiring you to study several subjects like Algebra, Psychology, Physiology, Pharmacology, etc. You also get opportunities to do practice under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. In order to get complete information about accredited nursing schools in Idaho, license requirements, salary, and job outlook for these professionals, go through this article.

LPN Schools in Idaho

OUR METHODOLOGY +

A nursing school ranks on the top according to the following criteria-

• Higher Passing Rate of Alumni in NCLEX
• Financial Aid that a school provides
• Higher number of students

The nursing schools were then included in the ranking on the basis of following factors-

• Well-developed Architecture
• Better Infrastructure
• Superior Technology
• Ranking in US News and World Report
• Teachings offered by world-class faculty
• Inclusion of world-class facilities
• World-class Opportunities

We hope that the list will help you to opt the best college as per your preferences in the state. The programs available in these colleges will give you an opportunity to begin your journey as a successful nurse.

Here is a list of the best LPN programs in Idaho.

License Requirements for an LPN/LVN in Idaho

The job of a practical nurse is very demanding, both mentally and physically. Due to this, the state requires every aspirant to obtain a license from Idaho Board of Nursing.

Licensure by Examination

Here is the stepwise procedure to obtain LPN license by examination.

1. Complete the LPN Program

The first prerequisite for becoming a practical nurse is to complete an LPN course from any of the accredited nursing schools in Idaho. However, the choice of course type or the location from where to pursue is entirely yours. On a side note, pursuing the course in the same state in which you intend to practice in future proves to be beneficial at the time of licensure.

2. Application

Once the course is completed, you are required to apply for the NCLEX-PN exam and licensure. The procedure for the same is as follows:

• Create an account on the Idaho Nurse Portal and submit an online application along with the required fees.
• Request the college from where you have completed your course to send a transcript of course completion to the Board.
• Declare your primary state of residence.
• Fax/mail/upload the properly signed Idaho State Police Privacy Statement to the Board.
• Obtain the fingerprint card from the board, punch your fingerprints and send the same to the Board by post.

Once all of these documents are submitted and attested, the board will verify them. If you are found eligible to take the exam, you will receive an ATT (Authorized to Test), using which you can schedule the exam. If you want to start practicing immediately after completion of the exam, you may send an application for temporary license and fee to the board. The temporary license remains valid for 90 days.

3. Clear the NCLEX-PN Exam

NCLEX-PN exam is specifically designed to test the knowledge and skills of the potential nurses. Several online practice tests are available to help you get acquainted with the format of the exam. You can check your area of weakness and learn to manage your time by taking these online tests. Once you are declared pass, you will be issued an LPN license.

Licensure by Endorsement

If you already have a practical nursing license in another state, the process for obtaining one in Idaho is slightly different and largely depends on your primary state of residence.

Procedure for the NLC States

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among 25 states of the U.S. that allows the nursing professionals with a valid license in one state to practice in any member state without following tedious licensure procedure. So, if you possess nursing licence in any of these 24 states- Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin, you just need to fulfill the following requirements –

• Apply for licensure by endorsement.
• Pay all applicable fees.
• Provide a proof of declaration of your primary state of residence.

Procedure for the Non-NLC States

If you possess a license in any state apart from those listed above, then the procedure gets a little lengthy.

• Apply for licensure by endorsement and pay the applicable fee.
• Verify your existing license at Nursys.com. If your original state of licensure is not a participant at Nursys.com, then you need to fill the verification form and mail it to your home state’s nursing board.
• Submit a duly filled employment reference form that requires the details of your employment in the last three years. If you have not practiced in the last three years, you need to contact the board before starting the application process.
• Declare your primary state of residence and accept & submit the Idaho State Police Privacy Statement.
• Obtain the fingerprint card from the board, punch your fingerprints, and mail the same to the board.

On receiving all these documents, the board will start processing your license, and in the meantime, issue a temporary license (only if your previous license was active and valid) to you so that you can start practicing.

Idaho Nursing License Renewal

The license issued by the board is valid only for two years and needs to be renewed after that, if you wish to continue practicing. LPN licenses are renewed in even-numbered years. The license gets expired on August 31st of the applicable year and can be renewed 3 months before the expiration date. If you renew your license before the expiration date, you will have to pay $90.00 as the renewal fee. You are supposed to pay $35.00 as late fee if you fail to renew the license on time.

The renewal process is simple and can be done online. Just log in to the Idaho Nurse Portal, fill the form and submit it with the requisite fees.

License Verification

Every nurse licensed to practice in the state has his/her name added to the Idaho nurse aide registry. License verification is the online service through which every employer can verify the credentials of the practical nurses before hiring them. Also, the nurses can use this service to track the status of their license.
For online verification of LPN license, click here.

License Reinstatement

If your license has expired due to non-renewal or if you had earlier put it in the inactive status, and want to start practicing again, then you need to apply for license reinstatement. Submit a duly filled application form along with the requisite fee to get your license reinstated.

Name Change

In case you have undergone name change, you have to submit an application for it. Your form must be completely filled and notarized. Also, you should send it back to the board as soon as you can, so that information on your licensure records can be changed. For offline application form, click here.

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Idaho

As per the statistics of Indeed.com (as of 17 November 2016), the annual salary of licensed practical nurses was $33,000. While the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the mean annual salary and average hourly wage of these professionals were $39,870 and $19.17, respectively, in May 2015.

Information Source: indeed.com

As the above table shows, there is a wide gap between salaries of practical nurses on the basis of their work settings. Psychiatric Nurses made an average salary of $37,000 per annum, while Patient Care Technician Students took home only $11,000 per annum.

Annual Mean Salary of LPNs in Different Cities of Idaho

Information Source: salary.com

As per the data of the above table, salaries of LPN professionals are fairly distributed across every city of Idaho. As of November 17, 2016, practical nurses in Boise claimed the highest mean annual salary of $43,962, while LPNs in Caldwell were paid the least, i.e., $37,146 annually.

Job Outlook for LPNs in Idaho

The job opportunities for practical nurses is expected to increase in the coming years. As per the statistics of the US Department of Labor, there were 2,560 licensed practical/vocational nurses in the state of Idaho in May 2015. Overall, a growth of 16% in the employment for LPNs is projected by the BLS by the year 2024, which is much faster than other occupations. After gaining some work experience and completing higher education, LPNs can attain higher positions like RN (Registered Nurse).