Top LPN Programs in New Mexico

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

Licensed practical nurses are the medical professionals who care for the patients in different phases of life. For the well-being of their clients, they do everything, from acute care to health promotion. They do not work independently. Instead, they practice under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Physician.

LPN is one of the most booming nursing specialties, and these nurses have numerous job opportunities in the United States of America. A report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the employment level of licensed practical nurses will rise at a much faster rate between 2014-2024. Also, these professionals are paid quite well in almost every state of the country. Thus, a high salary and a great scope in the future for this profession are making it quite popular amongst the nursing aspirants.

New Mexico aims to provide top quality health care to the patients. Therefore, in order to accomplish this task, the state has been encouraging approved nursing programs. According to a recent study by the bls.gov, jobs for LPNs will increase by almost 16% by the year 2020. Several community colleges, vocational high schools, and technical centers offer degree, diploma, or certificate in license practical nursing in New Mexico. Here is the detailed information on LPN programs, license, salary, and job outlook.

LPN Schools in New Mexico

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.

The list of accredited nursing schools in New Mexico that offer LPN programs with excellent clinical, classroom, and laboratory facilities is as follows-

License Requirements for an LPN in New Mexico

To work as a licensed practical nurse in the state, the aspirants need to obtain a license from the New Mexico Board of Nursing. Here are the steps that you need to follow to get a license in New Mexico.

Step 1. Complete an LPN/LVN Program
Gaining a certificate, degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program is the initial step towards becoming a practical nurse. For this, you need to join an educational course approved by the New Mexico Nursing Board.

Step 2. Clear the State Exam
Soon after completion of an LPN educational program from an accredited school, university or college, a candidate must send a certificate of completion of the LPN program to the state board. After this, the candidate would be eligible to take the state exam (NCLEX-PN). Clearing this exam is mandatory for the further procedure of licensure.

Step 3. Application for the Licensure
After passing the state exam, candidates have to send an application form to the board of nursing to obtain the LPN license. The application form should be completely filled and signed. With the form, you need to provide your passport size photograph, application fee, certification, and authorization form.

Step 4. Verification of the Documents
After receiving your application for the license, the board verifies all your information, transcripts, and documents. This process may take a few days or even weeks. After proper verification of all the facts and information given by you, the board enlists your name in the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 5. Maintenance of the Licensure
If you have obtained a license in the state, it doesn’t mean that you will remain registered as an LPN in the state forever. The license remains valid just for 2 years, and you are required to renew it within this duration if you want to practice without any hindrance.

License Verification

Verification of the LPN license can be done through the NURSYS system, maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. To get the detailed knowledge of NURSYS system, one can login to https://www.nursys.com.

One can also verify the LPN license online by visiting the below-given link:
https://www.bon.state.nm.us/lookup.html

Here, you can look up the license by providing the license number, social security number, or first and last name.

Click here to download the paper application. Fill it and submit with a fee of $30.

Licensure by Endorsement

If you are a resident of a compact state and want to practice as an LPN in New Mexico, you have to gain the licensure by endorsement with that state board of nursing.
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin are counted in compact states.
To renew your license, you need to submit an online LPN application or paper application along with the fee, 3M Cogent background, fingerprints, and verification form.
There are some prerequisites that a candidate needs to fulfill in order to apply for the license by endorsement. They are as follows –

• You must have completed LPN course from an approved university, college or school.
• Must own a license in any other state or territory of the United States of America.
• You must be licensed by passing a national licensure exam in English.
• Must submit a completely filled application for licensure by endorsement along with the required fee.
• LPN applicants with a license after July 1, 1969, have to meet all the educational requirements.
• LPN applicants who are military personnel and have written the national licensing examination after July 1, 1977, may be licensed by endorsement in New Mexico. For this, they need to provide their DD-214 showing the related civilian occupation to be an LPN.
• Applicants from Canada who have been endorsed by any other state after passing the NCLEX or the Canadian nursing exam in English are eligible for endorsement in NM.

Requirements to be fulfilled for getting an LPN license:
1. For In-State Applicants:

• You can register online or via telephone at 1-877-996-6277.
• A fee of $44 for your criminal background check is to be paid directly to 3M Cogent.
• Select a fingerprint location.
• Travel to the fingerprint location and pay for the criminal background check (in case payment is not made online) and any other fees required by the fingerprint location.

2. For Out-of-State Applicants:

• Go through New Mexico Processing Service Handout.
• Obtain 2 fingerprint cards.
• Register online or via telephone (1-877-996-6277).
• Fingerprint cards (FD-258): Submit fingerprint cards with the application and a fee of $44 to 3M Cogent. You can pay using MasterCard, Visa, or via Money Order.

3. For International Applicants:
If you are an international applicant for LPN license in New Mexico, there are some requirements that you have to fulfill.

• Educated nurses, who are the residents of someplace other than the United States of America, have to prove their proficiency in English to obtain the LPN license in New Mexico. For this, they have to clear an approved English Competency test, such as –
  • Completion of an English-medium nursing program in any other country.
  • The scorecard that proves you have passed a nursing exam in English in any other country.
  • Certification of qualifying the tests like Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English language Testing System (IELTS), or Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).

License Renewal

Nursing license renewal in New Mexico is quite easy. Licensees, who want to renew their license, can apply online. This makes the process of renewal fast and easy. The New Mexico Nursing Board will mail you a License Renewal Notice along with your online Registration Code one month before the expiration of your license.

Click the below-provided link to get the license renewed online.
http://nmbon.sks.com/uploads/files/Online%20Renewal%20Notice_20May2016.pdf

Before starting online renewal process, you must have your credit card, registration code (pin #), and license number.
If you are new to the online procedure, you need a registration code and license number to get registered. If you are already registered on the Online Licensing site, log in by entering your user name and password.

Residency/Address/Name Change

Click the following link for online declaration of primary state of residence, or if you want to change your name or address on the license.
http://nmbon.sks.com/name-address-residency-change-licensure-verification-form.aspx
Attach the requisite documents and submit after providing your electronic signature.

Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Mexico

As per the statistics of indeed.com, the average salary of licensed practical nurses in New Mexico was $44,000 per annum (as of September 8, 2016). Whereas, according to the bls.gov, as of May 2015, the average hourly wage and annual salary of these professionals were $22.48 and $46,760, respectively.

Information Source: indeed.com (as of September 8, 2016)

According to the above data, the salary of the Psychiatric Nurses was the highest. i.e., $50,000. The Patient Care Technician Students were paid the least (i.e., $15,000).

Average Annual Salary of LPNs in Different Cities of New Mexico

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

From the table above, we can conclude that the licensed practical nurses earned the highest, i.e., $41,577, in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. In Roswell, these professionals were paid the least (i.e., $25,299).

Job Outlook for Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2015, there were 2,150 licensed practical nurses employed in New Mexico. This shows that demand for these professionals is quite high in the state. Thus, New Mexico is a perfect place for the individuals who aspire to practice as an LPN. The state ranks 43rd among all the states of the country in terms of salary it offers to these nursing professionals. They are offered jobs from various employers such as Genesis Health Care, AHC Staffing, Correctional Health Care Companies, and Gila Regional Medical Center.