Top LPN Programs in Maryland

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

Maryland's health care sector constitutes a group of industries that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care and social services to the individuals and families. There are a vast number of LPN programs offered by community, vocational, and technical colleges in the state.

Nurses are trained to provide care to the patients through the extensive education programs that last for 1-2 years. They are given clinical training in real work settings along with the focus on the theoretical concept. Just completing the LPN course from an accredited nursing school in Maryland won’t solve your purpose; you are also supposed to pass the NCLEX-PN test to get the license and start practicing. Though the state offers a lucrative salary to the nurses, it further depends on experience, geographical location, education, and work settings.

LPN Schools in Maryland

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.

License Requirements

A licensed practical nurse can attain a license in the state of Maryland either by examination or endorsement. In order to gain complete information about the ways to obtain a license and how to maintain it, read further.

Licensure by Examination

Once you complete the LPN course from a state authorized college, the next step is to clear the NCLEX-PN test. On passing the test, one gets the license. The possession of license entitles you to work as an LPN in the professional environment. In the case; the candidate fails to pass the exam in the first attempt, then s/he can retake the test after 45 days. NCLEX-PN basically tests the skills of the candidates that are required to practice as a licensed practical nurse.
For the U.S. Educated Practical Nurses
Complete the following requisites:

1. You must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
2. Complete your LPN coursework meeting any one of the following requirements:
   • The Board-approved practical nursing program; or
   • A practical nursing program from any other state of the US that is equivalent to the LPN program in Maryland; or
   • The Board-approved registered nursing program, or a registered nursing program from any other state of the US that is equivalent to the RN program in Maryland.
3. Submit the following applications:
   • Application for Maryland Board of Nursing Licensure by Exam
   • Declaration of Primary State of Residence
   • Criminal History Record Check

The applicants can apply online for LPN licensure exam or can request the NCLEX application package from the Board by dropping an email to [email protected] or calling at 410-585-1929.

For International Educated Practical Nurses

Apart from Application for Maryland Board of Nursing Licensure by Exam, Criminal History Record Check, and Declaration of Primary State of Residence, the applicants need to submit the following documents:

1. Proof of passing any one of the following exams:
   • IELTS with passing scores of 6.5
   • TOEFL iBT with passing scores of 26
   • ILA OPI with passing scores of 3
2. Request your school of nursing to submit your academic records the Maryland Nursing Board.
3. Request your licensing agency for validation of registration.
4. Submit Credentials Evaluation Service Application.

Licensure by Endorsement

Maryland was the first state to participate in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). LPNs who have acquired their license in any other state can get the license in Maryland through endorsement. For endorsement, you must have fingerprints (printed from Maryland Board of Nursing).

• Go to the following link and complete the online application
  https://license.mdbon.org/nets
  You would require
  • A digital passport size picture
  • Active license from another US state
  • A 12-digit number under the bar code on purple printing card
• After completing the application, go to the following site and check if your state of licensure is enlisted there or not.
  https://www.nursys.com/NLV/LicenseVerificationJurisdictions.aspx
  • If it is, complete the verification at www.nursys.com
  • If the original state of licensure is not in the list, then print the Verification of Original Licensure Form and complete the top 1/3rd part and mail it along with the fee to the Board and they will correspond to the Maryland Board of Nursing, furnishing the required information.
  • Oral English Test

You can take either of the following exams: OPI, ILA, TOEFL IBT or IELTS.
In case of any doubt, you can contact the endorsement department at [email protected]
The nursing license verification can also be done with the help of Maryland Nurse Aide Registry.

Maryland Nursing License Renewal

The license earned by passing the NCLEX-PN test remains valid for a duration of two years. After that, it has to be renewed. The Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) has eased the process of renewal by making it online. The candidate must have a valid email address as the transaction information will be sent to the email id. Along with this, the application is required to provide mandatory information like last name, social security number, and nursing licensure number.
For online renewal of your Licensed Practical Nurse license, click here.

If any legal action has been taken against you since the last time you got the license renewed, then online renewal might not take place. In that case, the candidate should contact the MBON at 410-585-1901 between 8 AM – 5 PM.

The LPNs, whose license is going to expire, are supposed to undergo the process of criminal history record check, in order to get the license renewed. The information would be delivered to you through mail. To speed up the process of license renewal, submit a copy of the information by sending it to:

4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Attn: Renewal Department
Alternatively, you can mail it to [email protected]

Nurses who are practicing in Maryland under Nursing Licensure Compact are not required to undergo a criminal history record check.
If you are completing the renewal form online, you are supposed to pay the fee online. On the other hand, if you wish to submit the application through the mail, then submit the fee via money order along with the paper application.

Reinstatement of the LPN License

All those who did not get the license renewed prior to its expiration have to get it reinstated.

1. For getting the license reinstated, the candidates must have a work experience of 1000 hours as a nurse in the past five years.
2. Those who have not completed a refresher course must complete that. Nurses applying for a refresher course will be issued a temporary license (valid for only 90 days). Once the course is completed, the candidate with an inactive license must submit the following things to the Maryland Nursing Board.
   • A copy of the course certificate
   • Fee via money order payable to the "Maryland Board of Nursing"
   • A Conversion from Inactive or Volunteer to Active Form and Supplemental Renewal Form.

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Maryland

The data obtained from indeed.com states that the average annual salary of licensed practical nurses in Maryland was $52,000 (as of August 31, 2016). According to the statistics of the BLS, the mean hourly and annual income of these professionals was $24.59 and $51,140, respectively.

Information Source: indeed.com (as of August 31, 2016)

The analysis of the above table reveals that with $59,000, Psychiatric Nurses were paid the highest salary, whereas Patient Care Technician Students earned the least with $17,000 per annum.

Average Annual Salaries of LPNs/LVNs in Different Cities of Maryland

Name of the City	Salary
Baltimore	$46,090
Bowie	$49,151
Frederick	$44,505
Dundalk	$46,090
Germantown	$49,151
Silver Spring	$49,151
Potomac	$49,151
Bethesda	$49,151
Columbia	$46,090
Ellicott City	$46,090
Gaithersburg	$49,151
Glen Burnie	$46,090
Rockville	$49,151
Towson	$46,090
Waldorf	$49,151

Information Source: salary.com (as of August 31, 2016)

Frederick City offered the least pay (i.e., $44,505) to the LPNs as compared to other cities in Maryland. On the other hand, Bowie, Germantown, Waldorf, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Potomac offered the maximum pay (i.e., $49,151 per annum).

Job Outlook for Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses in Maryland

Those students who want to pursue a career in practical nursing have good career prospects, as the job opportunities for the LPNs are expected to grow in the near future. As of May 2015, 11,640 LPNs were working in Maryland. The private health clinics and hospitals are providing flexibility and higher pay to the budding licensed practical nurses, creating a strong job outlook for them. Some hospitals in the state encourage students to opt for LPN by offering students bonuses, discounts, and student loan reimbursement.