Top LPN Programs in North Carolina

North Carolina LPN Schools and License , Salary and job Outlook

Practical nurses are the most important professionals in health industry as their involvement with patients is throughout the treatment. Doctors diagnose, prescribe, and treat the patients, but practical nurses administer daily medication and undertake the responsibility for certain activities related to patients like taking vital readings, collecting samples, making beds, and everything that provides comfort to them. It is due to such extensive role that the job of a practical nurse is considered very demanding but then it is also equally satisfying.

As of 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 16,330 employed licensed practical nurses in North Carolina. But as per the current estimates, even such a large workforce is not sufficient to meet the growing demands largely due to aging population. If the statistics by the US Department of Labor is to be considered, the number of job opportunities in this sector is assumed to grow by 16% till 2024. So, it would be beneficial for you to make a career in licensed practical nursing.

If you are planning to practice as an LPN in the state of North Carolina, there are certain factors that you should keep in your mind. To let you know about the accredited nursing schools in North Carolina, licensure requirements, salary of these professionals in the state and job outlook, we have accumulated everything in this article.

LPN Programs in North Carolina

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.

List of top nursing schools in North Carolina

License Requirements for an LPN/LVN in North Carolina

Soon after completing LPN course from any accredited school, university or college, you have to acquire a license from the state board. Processing related to the license is regulated by the Nursing Board of North Carolina. Every individual has to meet the demands of the state board of nursing. The license can be gained either by endorsement or exam. Every student has to follow the basic process given below, in order to practice as a practical nurse in North Carolina.

Step 1. LPN/LVN Programs

The very first thing that a candidate needs to do is to complete a certification, diploma or degree program related to licensed practical nursing from an accredited college or university. The state has some approved nursing schools that provide various programs related to LPN. You can opt the most suitable course and school out of the top nursing schools in North Carolina.

Step 2. State Exam

Just after the completion of the certification, degree or diploma program of LPN, candidates are eligible to sit for the state licensed practical nursing exam known as NCLEX-PN. On passing this exam with required marks, you can apply for a license to the North Carolina State Board of Nursing. It is compulsory for every candidate to clear this examination.

Step 3. Application of Licensure

After passing the exam, you can apply for a license as a licensed practical nurse. You just need to fill an application form and submit it to the Nursing Board of North Carolina. With the form you also need to attach a passport sized photograph, the fee for application via check or by money order and certification and authorization form.

Step 4. Verification

Once the board officials receive all your documents and transcripts, they will take some time to cross check all the information. This may take some weeks or months. If the data provided by you satisfies the nursing board, your name will be enlisted in North Carolina nurse aide registry, and then, you are considered as a registered licensed practical nurse. After that, it will be legal if you practice as an LPN in the state.

Step 5. Maintenence of Licensure

In addition to obtain a license in any state to work as a licensed practical nurse, it is must for an individual to maintain and renew the licensure after every 2 years. Candidates need the renewal of it before their licensure period expires, to continue practicing as LPN without any disturbance.

North Carolina Nursing License Renewal

In order to continuously practice as registered practical nurse in the state of North Carolina, a candidate has to renew the license by sending a filled application to the state board. For this, you need to satisfy certain requirements. They are as follows –

• You must hold a current license in which there is no declaration about your primary residence in another compact state. To know about your eligibility to seek a license in North Carolina, click here.
• Date of expiry must be within 3 months
• You must meet all the continuing competence requirements. To have complete information about it, click here.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony or some charges pending (that are not reported to the state board); or if you have any actions over any professional license (that are not reported to the state board), you need to submit additional documents and transcripts related to it. Only after that, your licensing renewal procedure will be initiated by the board.

License for an LPN is valid for only 2 years in the state. While applying for renewal, it is must for every candidate to have the following information-

• North Carolina license certificate number.
• Birth Month
• Social Security number
• Valid debit or credit card-Master Card or Visa or Savings or Checking Account.

License Reinstatement

If you have gained the licensure in North Carolina and want to become licensed in the state again, you have to apply for reinstatement for it. If your license has lapsed recently as you failed to renew it before expiration and want to become currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse, you need to apply for license reinstatement.

Note - Since you do not own a current license, your right to practice nursing in the state is secured unless you obtain a multi-state nursing license from any other compact state. In case a nurse works with a lapsed license, strict actions can be taken against him/her.
The procedure that a candidate needs to follow in order to reactivate or reinstate the license as an LPN in North Carolina is as follows –

1. Completely fill the online application form of reinstatement. Pay the application fee via a checking or savings account or using a valid debit or credit (VISA or MasterCard).
2. Fulfill all Continuing Competence requirements. For complete information related to it click here .
3. If your license has bee expired for, or more than 6 months, keep a complete criminal background check. IF you are a resident of some other country or state the criminal background check packet will be sent to you soon after the submission of your reinstatement application.
4. If your license has been lapse for 5 or more years, you need to take a refresher course accredited by the state board or need to show an active license in some other state of jurisdiction in the last 5 years. For more information related the refresher course, click here.
5. You must hold a current license where you are not mentioned as a resident of any other compact state. For complete information about your eligibility to gain license in North Carolina, you can refer this, Multi-State Compact Information.

License of a nurse in North Carolina expires on the last day of licensee’s birth month. Licensure period is 2 years or less depending on your birth month.

Licensure by Examination

In order to select the candidates capable of working as a licensed practical nurse, the nursing board of North Carolina uses the National Council Licensure Examination for LPNs i.e. NCLEX-PN. This examination is prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). NCSBN contacts with Pearson VUE to conduct the licensure exam. For complete information about this test, click here.

Requirements that one needs to satisfy in order to gain licensure by examination –

Every individual seeking a license as a licensed practical nurse in the state of North Carolina has to complete an educational program related to LPN. This program must be accredited by the state board. After the completion of program, all the candidates, whether from state of out of the state, have to fulfill the following eligibility requisites –

• You must have completed the Nurse gateway registration.
• You must have paid the application fee of $75 (non-refundable).
• Submission of the NCBON identification document.
• Completion of the registration process with Pearson Vue with payment of registration fee of $75 (non-refundable).

Graduates of North Carolina Programs - Candidates from North Carolina who have successfully completed their LPN educational program are just required to submit verification electronically within a month of the program end date.

Graduates of Out-of-State Programs - Candidates need to submit an official transcript that includes –

• Your legal name.
• Degree, diploma or certificate awarded to you.
• Date of completion of the program or conferral.

Graduates of international nursing education programs - International applicants need to complete a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES Professional Report) or submit a CGFNS Certificate or VisaScreen. An English proficiency test is also required for many non-American candidates. For detailed information about the international graduates, click here.

Out of state candidates have to mail all the official transcripts from their educational institute or college at –

NCBON
Exam Department
PO Box 2506
Raleigh, NC 27602-2506

Note - North Carolina Board of Nursing allows the students to undertake NCLEX-PN any number of times. If you own a degree, diploma or certificate in LPN, but have never been licensed, current rules and regulations of the state give you the permission to become licensed after completing the educational program successfully. Refresher courses are not compulsory for the candidates.

Licensure by Endorsement

Those candidates who are from any Nurse Licensure Compact state need not give examination in order to gain license in the state of North Carolina since NC is a compact state. Thus, such individuals easily gain licensure by endorsement.

Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in North Carolina

According to indeed.com, an average salary of a licensed practical nurse in North Carolina was $49000, as of 11 October 2016. Also, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics salary of practical nurses was $41,940 and $20.16 as annual and hourly mean wages, respectively. For complete information about the wages of different job titles related to LPN and in all the cities, of North Carolina, consider the data given below-

Information Source:indeed.com (as of October 11, 2016)

Data in the table given above shows that the highest salaried job title of LVN/LPN were Psychiatric Nurse with $55,000, while the lowest wage, i.e. $16,000 was of Patient Care Technician Student.

Annual Median Salaries of OTs in Different Cities of North Carolina

Name of the City	Annual Median Salary
Asheville	$40,783
Burlington	$43,573
Cary	$44,954
Chapel Hill	$44,954
Charlotte	$45,035
Concord	$45,035
Durham	$44,954
Fayetteville	$41,248
Gastonia	$45,035
Greensboro	$43,573
Greenville	$38,964
Hickory	$41,073
High Point	$43,776
Jacksonville	$39,401
Kannapolis	$43,455
Raleigh	$44,954
Rocky Mount	$41,906
Salisbury	$43,455
Wilmington	$38,653
Wilson	$41,421
Winston Salem	$43,776

Information Source:salary.com (as of September 30, 2016)

As per the data of salary.com, in North Carolina, practical nurses earned the most in Gastonia, Charlotte with $45,035, while their lowest earnings were in Wilmington with $38,653.

Job Outlook of a Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse in North Carolina

As per the reports, licensed practical or vocational nurses are paid quite high in all the regions of North Carolina. The average salary of the state is 27th among all the states of America. Also, there are tremendous job opportunities for these professionals in North Carolina. Due to these reasons, it is a great place for the individuals who want to make a successful career in this profession. As per the reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 16,330 employed licensed practical nurses in the state of North Carolina as of May 2015. Thus, this state offers a good platform for the candidates to pursue their LPN/LVN diploma, degree or certification course and to work as a registered licensed practical nurse.