Top LPN Programs in Washington

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

The city aims at improving the health of its inhabitants through global research, collaboration, and training. The mission is to safeguard the public health and well-being by assuring safe and quality care. There are more than twenty colleges that train the students in the practical nursing programs in Washington.

LPNs are healthcare professionals who work under the guidance of RNs or senior doctors. In some selected states, LPNs are allowed to assist in surgeries and may administer the prescribed medicines. These professionals participate actively in team discussions where the aim is to deliver the best to the patient.

There is no need of having any medical experience while applying for an LPN. The aspirant must have completed high school and attained 18 years of age. Also, s/he must not be involved in any illegal practice and should have no criminal record. There are various factors that need to be considered before selecting an LPN school. The LPN program should be approved by the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC). Washington Nurse Aide Registry maintains the list of all the licensed practical nurses in the state. To earn a good status, the LPN program should have an NCLEX-PN pass rate of 80%. We are providing you a list of 23 LPN schools in Washington that provide quality education in the state.

LPN Programs in Washington

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.

Licensure Requirements

All those students who desire to become an LPN should get enrolled in an LPN course. The candidates must perform at least 60 hours of coursework (including theoretical and practical sessions). After pursuing the LPN course from an accredited nursing school in Washington, the students are required to pass a licensure test to get the license and start practicing as a practical nurse.

License by Exam for Students Educated in the United States

• If you have completed your graduation in nursing from Washington, request the director of your LPN program to send an electronic certification of completion to the office of Washington Board of Nursing so that you can become eligible to appear for the NCLEX-PN exam.

If you have completed your graduation in nursing from another jurisdiction or state of the U.S., send the out-of-state Nursing Program Certification of completion form (which comes with the application packet) to the director of your nursing program and request him/her to fill it and return to the Nursing Commission.

• Request your nursing school to submit your transcripts with degree listed to the Nursing Commission.
• For the sake of background check, submit fingerprints (if you have an out-of-state address listed on the application) which should be obtained on the fingerprint card issued by the Department of Health.
• After sending the application, register with Pearson Vue (https://home.pearsonvue.com). Pearson Vue will send you ATT (Authorization to Test) via email, through which you can schedule the exam.

Once you clear the NCLEX-PN exam, your license will be issued, and you’ll get a one-time paper license via the mail after 8-10 days of its issuance. You will receive a temporary practice permit until the permanent license is issued.

Click here to download the Licensed Practical Nurse by Examination Application Packet.

License by Exam for Students Educated Outside the United States

If you hold a license in another U.S. state or jurisdiction, fill the LPN Endorsement Application.

• Request your nursing school to submit your transcripts with degree listed to the Nursing Commission.
• If you have completed your graduation in nursing out of the U.S. except for the Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Australia, United Kingdom, Guam, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada (except Quebec), you are required to give and clear an English Proficiency Test- either International English Language Testing System (IELTS- a total score of 6.5 with a score of 6.0 in speaking, writing, reading, and listening) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL- total score of 79 with a speaking score of 26).
• Complete the PVR (Personal Vocational Relationship Course) which is a 15-hour self-directed course and costs $150.
• Once your application is approved by the Nursing Commission, register with Pearson Vue to take the licensure exam.
• For the sake of background check, submit fingerprints (if you have an out-of-state address listed on the application) which should be obtained on the fingerprint card issued by the Department of Health.

LPN License by Endorsement

• Visit www.nursys.com and follow the instructions to verify the license. If the original state of license is not a part of NURSYS, submit the NON-NURSYS verification form to the Board of Nursing of the original state. Request them to complete the form and send it back to the office of Washington Nursing Board.
• Request your state board of nursing or school of nursing to send transcripts to the office of Washington Nursing Board if your original state of license cannot verify your nursing education on NURSYS or NON-NURSYS license verification form.
• Complete the requirements of English Proficiency Exam and Background Check as mentioned in the above section.
• Submit the proof of your active/current LPN license along with your application.
• Clear the NCLEX-PN exam if you have completed your education in nursing outside the U.S.

The Licensed Practical Nurse by Endorsement Application Packet can be downloaded by clicking the below-given link:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/669224.pdf

Washington Nursing License Renewal

The LPN license earned after qualifying the NCLEX-PN test remains valid for a time period of two years. After which, it gets expired. The renewal reminders are mailed by the board to the candidates 90 days before the expiration date. In case the candidates do not get the notice 4 weeks prior to the expiration date, the candidate must contact the board at [email protected] or can make a call at 360-236-4703.

The renewal application must be received by the board till midnight of the expiration date. Otherwise, it would be considered late, and an additional late fee would be charged. Following are the renewal fee (non-refundable) charged in different cases

• LPN license renewal: $96
• LPN late renewal penalty (this is the additional fee): $50
• LPN inactive license renewal: $61
• LPN expired license re-issuance (This fee plus renewal fee and late renewal fee): $70
• LPN expired inactive license re-issuance (this fee along with the inactive renewal fee, if late): $40
• LPN inactive late renewal penalty(this fee along with the inactive renewal fee if late): $30

Continuing Education Requirements for LPN License Renewal

• Licensed Practical Nurses must have documents indicating at least 45 clock hours of CE (continuing education) and 531 hours of active practice within a 3-year cycle. The first renewal cycle begins after initial licensure on your first birthday.
• Attest every 3 years to confirm you have fulfilled the continuing education and practice requirements.

Methods of License Renewal

• Online- The license can be renewed online at https://secureaccess.wa.gov. You will have to pay $2 as the convenience fee. Read the instructions to renew the license online at:
  http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission/NurseLicensing/LicenseRenewal/OnlineRenewal
• In Person- The license can be renewed in person by visiting

Town Center 2
111 Israel Road S.E.
Tumwater, WA 98501

The license can be verified between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Verification fees can be paid via credit or debit cards (MasterCard and VISA), money order, check, and cash.

• Via Mail- You can renew your license through mail by providing your current mailing address, credential number, name, renewal payment, and other requisite documents to the licensing unit.

Contact Information Change

If you want to change your email, fax number, phone number, and address, download the form by clicking the below given link:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=NursingCommissionCICF%20

The completely filled form can be emailed to the Department of Health or can be faxed or mailed to:

Washington State Department of Health
Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
P.O. Box 47864
Olympia WA 98504-7864
Fax 360-236-4738

Reactivation of the LPN License

If the license is in the inactive state, the candidate can get it back to the active status by following the instructions given below.
A. If the license is inactive for less than 3 years or more than 3 years but you have an active license in any other state:

• The candidate should provide an evidence of 45 hours of continuing nursing education and 531 hours of active nursing practice in the last 3 years.
• The nurse should also pay the left over renewal fee to get the license back in the active status before his/her next birthday.
• If the candidate is unable to complete the above requirements, s/he must complete the continuing competency attestation that suggests the nurses to complete 15 continuing education hours and 177 active nursing practice hours within a period of one year from the date of reactivation and submit it with the payment.
• The candidate should submit an application if the license has been expired for more than 3 years.

B. If the candidate does not have an active license in any other state, and it has been inactive for more than three years:

• The nurses should complete the application and submit it with a fee. After that, the candidate must check the box in front of the application next to limited education authorization if there is a need for a refresher course.
• The candidates must complete a refresher program approved by the Commission.
• Once the Commission reviews your application, it sends a limited education authorization that is an approval to complete the clinical portion of the refresher program. When the candidate completes the refresher program, and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission receives the completion letter of the course from the director, it issues a valid license. The refresher program should meet all the demands of the continuing competency.

C. If the license is expired
(i) For less than a year:

• In this case; the candidate is not required to complete and submit the application. S/he must pay the renewal and the late fee to the board before the next birthday.
• The candidates should also complete a continuing competency attestation for 45 continuing education hours and 531 active nursing practice hours in the past renewal cycles of three years.
• If continuing competency is not pending, then the candidate must complete the hours indicated above before the end of the current cycle.

(ii) The license has expired for more than one year but less than three years, and the candidate has an active license in any other state:

• Submit the application along with the requisite fee.
• Submit late fee as well as renewal fee to activate your license until your next birthday.
• Provide a proof of 45 hours of CE and 531 hours of nursing practice in the past 3 years.
• If you do not meet the above requirements, complete and sign the continuing competency attestation indicating that you will complete 15 continuing education hours and 177 active nursing practice hours within a year from the date of reactivation of license and submit it with the fee.

(iii) If the candidate does not possess a valid license in any of the states and the license is in the expired status for more than three years:
The candidates should meet all the conditions that are mentioned in section B.

The application packet for reactivation of inactive/expired license can be downloaded by visiting the following link:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/669213.pdf

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Washington

As per the information provided by indeed.com, the average salary of LPNs in the state was $53,000 (as of 11 Dec, 2016). According to the reports of Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean income of these professionals was $49,980, whereas their mean hourly wage was $24.03 (as of May 2015).

Information Source: Salary.com

As per the data provided by salary.com, LPNs received the highest pay ($48,982) in the city of Bremerton, whereas they received the least ($42,401) in Pasco (as of Nov 30, 2016).

Various Job Titles for LPNs with Average Annual Salaries

Job Title	Salary
Long-Term Care LPN	$28,000
Renal Dialysis Nurse	$54,000
LPN Ambulatory	$35,000
Nurse RN LPN	$51,000
CNA Medical Surgical	$28,000
Nar Nursing Assistant Hope	$26,000
Clinical Nurse LPN	$39,000
LPN Primary Care	$48,000
Patient Care Technician Student	$18,000
Medical Assistant Family Practice	$30,000
Correctional Prison Facility LPN	$24,000
LPN Cma Rma	$32,000
LPN Long-Term Care	$34,000
LPN LVN	$42,000
Psychiatric Nurse	$59,000

Information Source: indeed.com

According to the above information, Patient Care Technician Students received the least salary (i.e., $18,000) as compared to the other professions associated with the practical nursing. On the other hand, Psychiatric Nurses earned the maximum (i.e., $59,000).

Job Outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in Washington

LPNs hold a bright prospect ahead with the vacancies mounting up in the near future. Along with job satisfaction, the career offers a decent salary to these professionals. They can get employment at schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, hospitals, private clinics, and other healthcare services.