Top LPN Programs in New Jersey

New Jersey LPN Schools and License Requirements, Salary, and Job Outlook

Nursing is a growing field with huge job opportunities in the United States of America. According to the prediction of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment level of licensed practical nurses is going to rise 16% (which is much faster than the average rate) from 2014-2024. Thus, there is a bright future scope for the aspirants of LPN. Besides this, the salary of the LPNs all over the country is very good, which is another reason that makes it an alluring profession among the nursing students.

High-quality classroom course, as well as technical training, is essential for becoming a successful licensed practical nurse. There are about 40 accredited nursing schools in New Jersey; some of these are vocational high schools, some are community colleges, while others are technical centers. All these colleges and universities are approved by the board of nursing in the state and provide high-quality education.

Here is the detailed information about the LPN schools, licensure, salary, and employment outlook in New Jersey.

LPN Schools in New Jersey

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.

Given below is the list of top nursing schools in New Jersey that offer approved practical nursing programs –

License Requirements for LPNs in New Jersey

Gaining a license is essential to practice as a licensed practical nurse in New Jersey. The process of acquiring the license in the state is regulated by the Nursing Board of New Jersey. To become a licensed LPN/LVN in the state, every student has to meet certain requirements as asked by the state board. One can get the license either by examination or endorsement.

Step 1. Complete the LPN Program

The very first step that students need to take to practice as an LPN is to gain a certificate, diploma, or degree in licensed practical nursing from an accredited school, university, or college. There are numerous schools approved by the New Jersey Nursing Board that offer LPN programs.

Step 2. State Exam

Soon after completing an LPN educational program from an accredited institute, candidates must send the certificate of completion of their program to the Board. After this, you are required to sit for the state exam (NCLEX-PN). It is mandatory to pass this exam. Once you clear the test, you are eligible to apply for the licensure to the state Board.

Step 3. Application of Licensure

Once you score passing marks in the state exam, send an application form to the New Jersey Nursing Board. Along with the application, you are also required to send the Certificate and Authorization Form, an identifying photo (passport-style), and $200 as the fee.

Step 4. Verification

The Board will verify all your transcripts and documents and issue your license in some weeks or months. Also, after this, the Board will include your name in the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry, and you will be considered eligible to work as an LPN in the state.

Step 5. Maintenance of the Licensure

It is important for an LPN to maintain the license; otherwise, it may lead to hindrance in your job. So, before the expiration of the licensure period, nurses should renew their license.

Methods to Obtain License in New Jersey

Licensure by Examination

If you are an out-of-state LPN and want to practice in the state of New Jersey, you can gain licensure by examination, since New Jersey is not a compact state.

Some instructions that a candidate needs to follow for obtaining a license by examination are as follows:

1. At first, you must register with Pearson Vue at https://home.pearsonvue.com/
2. Completely fill the application form for licensure by examination. As you are applying for a licensed practical nursing license, mention it there and answer all the questions.
3. Sign the form in the presence of a notary public.
4. A 2" x 2" full-face, clear, and original passport size photograph from your head to shoulders is required to be attached with the application form. Your photograph must not be older than 6 months. Do not forget to sign the back of the photo (photocopies and selfies are strictly prohibited).
5. If your birthplace is in the U.S., you have to submit a copy either of your U.S. passport or birth certificate.
6. If you are naturalized citizen of the United States of America, submission of your certification of naturalization or the U.S. passport is required.
7. If you are a legal alien in the country or having any other immigration status, you have to submit your USCIS immigration documents (copy of both the front and back sides of your card is required).
8. If you have changed your name legally, submit a proof of it. It can be a marriage license, court order, or divorce decree (if your name differs in it from that of your birth certificate).
9. For criminal history background check, submit a completely filled Certification and Authorization Form.
10. If you do not reside in metropolitan New Jersey, log in to http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/contactus.aspx and request for fingerprint cards. Fill the Morpho Trust Universal Form and two fingerprint cards- a black (New Jersey), and a blue (F.B.I.). With this, you have to submit a check or money order of $58.69, payable to Morpho Trust.
11. If you reside in the metropolitan area of the state, you will get the digital fingerprint information via mail. Schedule your appointment soon after you receive the information.
12. If you have a criminal background, submit all the documents related to your criminal history.
13. Attach a money order or check of $200 payable to the Nursing Board of New Jersey.
14. Once the board receives a letter of completion or complete transcript (for the non-state nursing program) from your school, college, or university, an original colored photograph, and proof of your legal name change, you will be considered eligible to sit for the licensing examination.
15. If you have completed an out-of-state nursing program, you have to arrange for the complete transcript that states the degree conferred to you and the conferral date. It has to be directly sent to the state Board.

For online application, click here.

Note- If you previously had a nursing licensure in the state of New Jersey, then instead of completing an exam application, you should consult the Reinstatement/ Renewal Department for completion of the form for reinstatement.

Licensure by Endorsement

Certain steps and instructions that a candidate needs to follow while applying for licensure by endorsement are as follows –

1. Attach a 2" x 2" full-face, passport size photograph that displays your head and shoulders. It should not be older than past 6 months. At the back of the picture, write your name (selfies and photocopies are not allowed).
2. Fill the application form and sign it in the presence of a notary public (question 6, page 2, 3 and 7, and the Affidavit).
3. If you are born in the United States of America, submit a photocopy of your U.S. passport or birth certificate.
4. If you are a naturalized citizen of the U.S., you are required to submit a copy of your certificate of naturalization or the U.S. passport.
5. If you are having an immigration status, such as a legal alien, you have to submit USCIS immigration documents (photocopy of both the sides of the card).
6. If you have ever undergone a name change, you have to submit a proof of your name change (divorce decree, marriage license, or court order) in which, your name is different from the one on your birth certificate.
7. For a criminal history background check, you have to complete the Certification and Authorization Form.
8. If you live out of the metropolitan area of New Jersey, log in to http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/Fingerprint-Request.aspx and request for fingerprint cards. Along with this, complete the Morpho Trust Universal Form and two (2) fingerprint cards- one blue (F.B.I.) and a black (New Jersey). Also, the candidate is required to submit a money order or check of $61.44, payable to Morpho Trust.
9. If you reside in the metropolitan area of New Jersey, you will get digital fingerprint information on mail. Once you receive the information, schedule your appointment.
10. If you have any criminal background, you are required to submit the criminal history documents related to it.
11. Properly written verification of licensure in good standing from the state where you are currently licensed or were originally licensed, or from any state where you were licensed. You need to submit the verifications and transcripts directly to the Nursing Board of New Jersey from the boards of the state(s) that are not enlisted in NURSYS License Verification Form.
12. Pay $200 to the New Jersey Board of Nursing either in the form of a money order or a check (non-refundable Application Fee of $75, mandatory non-refundable Alternative to Discipline Fee of $5, and $120 as License Fee).
13. You also have to submit the completed "Checklist for Endorsement", and sign at the bottom.

Click here for applying online for licensure by endorsement.

Reinstatement of the LPN Licensure

For reinstatement of the license in New Jersey, nurses are supposed to follow these instructions –

• Complete the application form and attach the important documents like Certification and Authorization for a Criminal History (if applicable), passport size photo with full-face and shoulders and your signature on the back of the photograph (the photo should not be older than 6 months) and submit it with the required fee to:

New Jersey Board of Nursing
124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 45010, Newark, NJ 07101

• Certification of Employment - Candidates need to submit a properly signed and dated Certification of Employment that shows you were in the profession during the period your LPN license has been inactive. With this, it must also comprise the name, phone number, and address of every employer with whom you have worked. Also, you have to provide detailed information about the kind of projects and work that you handled during the period
• Proof of Competency - With the application form, you have to attach a proof of maintaining proficiency by completing the education credits or hours that is essential for renewing an active license or certificate of registration or certification (N.J.A.C 13:37-5.2(i) 2).

Duplicate License

In case; your license has been stolen, or you have lost it somewhere, you can apply for a duplicate license to the State Board of Nursing. For this, you have to pay a fee of $35 in the form of a check or money order and have to fill a form. You can get this form for a duplicate license here.

Temporary License

If you want to gain a temporary license in the state of New Jersey, you need to pay a fee of $140, including initial license, surcharge, and application fee. For more information and application form for a temporary license, click here.

Average Annual Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Jersey

As per the statistics of indeed.com, the average salary of a licensed practical nurse in New Jersey was $55,000 (as of September 2, 2016). Whereas, according to the bls.gov, mean hourly wage and annual salary of LPNs were $25.62 and $53,500, respectively.

Information Source: indeed.com (as of September 2, 2016)

According to the above data, the salary of the Psychiatric Nurses was the highest (i.e., $62,000), while the Patient Care Technician Students were paid the least (i.e., $18,000).

Salaries of LPN/LVN in Different Cities of New Jersey

Name of the City	Salary
Atlantic City	$39,370
Bayonne	$40,417
Bergenfield	$39,140
Bloom Field	$43,657
Camden/th> $42,341
Clifton	$42,971
East Brunswick	$42,341
East Orange	$42,975
Edison	$42,971
Elizabeth	$42,971
Hackensack	$42,971
Hoboken	$42,971
Irvington	$42,971
Jersey City	$42,971
Lakewood	$42,971
Middlesex	$42,971
New Brunswick	$42,971
Newark	$42,971
Paramus	$42,971
Passaic	$42,971
Paterson	$42,971
Perth Amboy	$42,971
Plainfield	$42,971
Sayreville	$42,971
Somerset	$42,971
Toms River	$42,971
Trenton	$42,971
Union	$42,971
Union City	$42,971
Vineland	$42,971
Wayne	$42,971
West New York	$42,971
West Orange	$42,971

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

From the above table, we can conclude that licensed practical nurses earned the least, i.e., $46,946 per annum, in Camden, while in 15 cities of New Jersey, these professionals received $53,126 per annum.

Job Outlook for Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses in New Jersey

According to the statistics of the bls.gov, New Jersey was the 5th top-paying state in the United States of America (as of May 2015). The state also has a high employment level for Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses. Employers like Correct Care Solutions, Rutgers University, Kennedy Health System, Noble Care Staffing, etc., offer jobs to these professionals.

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