Top LPN Programs in Kentucky

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

The dramatically growing aging population has witnessed several job openings for the licensed practical nurses in the state of Kentucky. If one wants to be an LPN, then s/he must fulfill some essential requirements like the completion of a high school degree, submission of the fingerprint and criminal background report, completion of the practical nursing course from the accredited nursing school in Kentucky, passing the NCLEX-PN exam, etc. During the training, the students will get to know about the legal system, laws, ethical principles and practices that underpin all the aspects of the nursing care.

Kentucky has numerous colleges that train the students to become a competent practical nurse. Individuals are required to spend a lot of time practicing in the hospitals, clinic, nursing homes, or health facilities as part of the clinical rotation requirement. The institute plays a big role in shaping the skills and giving knowledge of the patient care. You can select an appropriate college on the basis of the NCLEX-PN pass rate, the number of hours of course, student-teacher ratio, etc. To make your work easy, we are providing you the list of the best LPN schools in Kentucky.

LPN Programs in Kentucky

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

Just completion of an LPN program does not entitle you to start working as a licensed practical nurse; possession of a license is essential. The LPN license can be obtained by passing the NCLEX-PN test. Initially, there is an online jurisprudence examination. Once the application is submitted, candidates can appear for this examination. It is an open-book test and has to be completed in one sitting. If, somehow, the candidate is unable to complete the test within three weeks, s/he will have to pay the fees ($9) again and take the test. Along with this, fingerprint report card is another essential requirement that needs to be sent to the Kentucky Board of Nursing along with a fee of $16.5. The candidates also require a state background check. After all this, the candidates must register for the NCLEX-PN test. Once the candidate is authorized, the Kentucky Nursing Board arranges for the examination. If the candidate fails in the first attempt, the Board grants him/her the time of 46 days before retesting. The Board does not issue license cards; rather it is an online process where the candidates get the license number via email. In order to fill the application form online, visit the following link and select the “examination” option.
https://kbn.ky.gov/licensees/Pages/default.aspx

By depositing a fee of $125 and providing the Social Security Number (SSN), you can proceed further.

Kentucky nurse license verification can be carried out with the help of Kentucky nurse aide registry.

Out-of-State LPNs

The LPNs who have been licensed in any other state can get the license by endorsement. Just visit the below-mentioned link and select the option of endorsement.
https://kbn.ky.gov/licensees/Pages/default.aspx

The procedure requires you to deposit a fee of $165.

Kentucky comes under the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) that allows the licensed practical nurses of other states to practice in the state. All those nurses who are willing to practice the profession out-of-the-state must apply for the licensure by endorsement.

For this, you need to fulfill certain requirements. They are as follows –

1. You need to request for a Kentucky Criminal Background Report from the Administrative Office of the Courts. Kentucky Board of Nursing will receive an electronic copy of the document.
2. A fingerprint card with a fee of $12 payable to the “Nursing Board of Kentucky.” Processing may take about 2 to 3 weeks once the card is mailed to the state board.
3. After filling the endorsement application, candidates are required to complete the Kentucky Jurisprudence Examination online.
4. Verification of your original license is required to be submitted by the state in which you took and passed the NCLEX examination.
5. Transcripts: In case; you were licensed from one of the following states, you need to request your nursing program to send an official transcript (depicting degree and graduation date) to the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

The states are- California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Kentucky Nursing License Renewal

Once you get the license, it will be valid for a period of 2 years. After that, in order to continue working as an LPN, you have to renew the license by submitting the application form, a fee of $65, and one of the following documents.

• An evidence showing completion of 14 contact hours of nursing education.
• A national certification or recertification pertinent to the nurse role earned during the period.
• Involved with a nursing-related project as an investigator, project director, or co-investigator.
• You should have published an article concerned with the nursing.
• The evidence of the approval of the nursing presentation developed by the applicant and shown to the nurse or health care professional through a letter, course syllabi, or a program brochure.
• A proof of 7 contact hours along with a nursing employment evaluation attested by the supervisor and earned during 6 months of the valid license period.
• Played a role of preceptor for at least one nursing student or a neophyte employee going through orientation (for a minimum of 120 hours). The preceptorship should be backed by the documentation.
• Meet the continuing education requirements.

Note: A semester signifies 15 contact hours, whereas a quarter refers to 12 contact hours.

Successful completion and submission of the online form will get the license renewed on the next working day.

To apply online for the license renewal, click here.
To download the offline application form, click here.

Reinstatement of the LPN License

A license gets lapsed if you fail to renew it within the prescribed time limit. Now, you need to reinstate it so that you can again continue your services as an LPN. For reinstatement, visit the below provided link and deposit a fee of $135.
https://kbn.ky.gov/licensees/Pages/default.aspx

You need to submit a reinstatement application along with the proof of at least 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment within past five years, or any of the following, depending on the time lapsed.

Within One Year

• 14 CE obtained within the past one year; or
• 7 CE and a nursing employment evaluation obtained in the last year; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years; or
• One of the continued competency validation methods as provided in 201 KAR 20:215, Section 2.

Within One to Two Years

• 28 CE, out of which, 14 must belong to the last year; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years.

Within Two to Three Years

• 42 CE, out of which, 14 must be obtained within the last year; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years.

Within Three to Four Years

• 56 CE, 14 should have been obtained in the last year; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years.

Within Four to Five Years

• 70 CE, 14 obtained in the last year; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years.

More Than Five Years

• 120 CE, 14 must have been obtained in the previous year; or
• An evidence showing the completion of the KBN-approved refresher course. The course should have been completed within two years of the date the application is received by the KBN; or
• Verification of minimum 500 hours of Non-Kentucky nursing employment in the last 5 years.

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Kentucky

The average salary of LPNs in the state of Kentucky was $44,000 as per the statistics of indeed.com (as of January 16, 2017). As per the BLS, mean annual mean and hourly wages of the licensed practical nurses were $39,180 and $18.84, respectively (as of May 2015).

Information Source: www.indeed.com

Psychiatric Nurses were the highest paid professionals with $49,000 per annum, while with $15,000 per annum, Patient Care Technician Students were the lowest paid professionals.

Average Annual Salary of LPNs/LVNs in Different Cities of Kentucky

Name of the City	Salary
Bowling Green	$39,370
Hopkinsville	$40,417
Owensboro	$39,140
Covington	$43,657
Lexington	$42,341
Frankford	$42,971
Richmond	$42,341
Louisville	$42,975

Information Source: salary.com

LPNs were paid the highest (i.e., $42,975) in the Louisville, whereas they were paid the least (i.e., $39,140) in Owensboro.

Job Outlook for Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses in Kentucky

People working as an LPN or who want to opt LPN as their career hold a bright future ahead. Currently, the U.S. is facing a shortage of licensed practical nurses. Moreover, with technological advancements and reforms in the nursing industry, it has become easy to avail the health care services. It has also augmented the demand of LPNs in the country. The BLS has predicted that a large number of LPNs will retire in the next 10 years, creating job opportunities. So, pursue the practical nursing course and obtain the license to grab the upcoming opportunities.