Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, program formats, and career outcomes at every approved LPN school in Washington.
By 2032, Washington expects a 10.52% increase in its LPN workforce, a projection that reflects sustained demand for bedside caregivers. Practical nursing certificates, earned in as little as nine months at public community colleges, offer the fastest entry into licensed nursing roles.
Programs vary sharply in price, pace, and admission selectivity. Full-time LPN tracks at affordable LPN programs may cost under $6,000 in tuition, while part-time and hybrid options stretch the timeline to 21 months to accommodate working students. NCLEX-PN pass rates and bridge agreements with RN programs add another layer of comparison.
Washington LPNs earn a median $79,700 annually, well above the national figure, but seats in accredited programs remain limited: admissions often rely on points-based scoring and waitlists that reward experienced healthcare workers.
Washington’s LPN programs offer a variety of schedules and price points, from quick nine-month certificates to part-time evening options that span nearly two years. The schools below stood out for their combination of affordability, NCLEX-PN performance, and practical training. Use this ranking to find the program that aligns with your timeline and career goals.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen, WA | $5,000/yr (net price) | Rural learners needing affordable hands-on training | |
Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen offers a Practical Nursing Certificate of Proficiency that prioritizes hands-on clinical skills and ethical practice. The competitive program requires a current NA-C license, TEAS exam, and a 2.5 GPA, reflecting its focus on prepared, committed students. With a low net price and small class sizes, it serves rural learners well, and institution-wide, graduates earn a median of about $40,900 ten years after entry, with typical debt under $12,000.
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| #2 | Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham, WA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | Working adults with employer-connected part-time schedule | |
Bellingham Technical College’s Practical Nursing Certificate is a part-time, evening program designed for working students, featuring small cohorts of just 10 and strong ties to Whatcom County employers. The 18-month, ACEN-accredited program boasts a 100% licensure pass rate and 96% job placement, with the school reporting starting annual wages around $101,900. Graduates leave with solid earning potential and a pathway to the LPN-RN associate degree, while institution-wide median earnings sit at about $49,700 a decade after enrollment.
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| #3 | Yakima Valley College | Yakima, WA | $5,000 – $6,000/yr | Cohort model with hands-on preceptorship | |
Yakima Valley College’s Practical Nurse program is a fast-paced, four-quarter cohort that includes a clinical preceptorship and a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2024. The 78-credit program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing and offers a clear career launch. With a significant Pell-eligible population and institution-wide median earnings of $43,500 a decade later, it’s an accessible option in Central Washington.
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| #4 | Green River College | Auburn, WA | $14,000/yr | ||
Green River College in Auburn provides a flexible Practical Nursing program with full-time, part-time hybrid, and online study options, letting students complete in as few as 9 months or up to 17 months. The program reports a 92% NCLEX-PN pass rate and total costs around $7,000-$8,000. Institution-wide, graduates earn a median of $50,700 ten years after entry, making it a high-return choice for learners who need adaptable scheduling.
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| #5 | Bates Technical College | Tacoma, WA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Bates Technical College in Tacoma offers a three-quarter, full-time Practical Nurse program with a 3.0 GPA admission requirement and NLN CNEA accreditation. The program provides childcare and transportation support, plus transfer pathways to ADN or BSN degrees. Institution-wide median earnings are around $50,100 ten years after enrollment, and the average net price is a low $6,292.
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| #6 | Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood, WA | $10,000/yr (net price) | ||
Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood delivers a campus-based Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate over three quarters, emphasizing simulation technology and clinical experience. Admission is points-based, favoring work experience, veteran status, and bilingual skills. Institution-wide median earnings are $41,800 a decade later, with a manageable average net price and a supportive environment for diverse learners.
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| #7 | Edmonds College | Lynnwood, WA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Edmonds College in Lynnwood runs a part-time, 21-month hybrid Practical Nursing Program tailored for current healthcare workers who need to balance employment and study. With NLN CNEA accreditation and a seamless LPN Direct Transfer Agreement to RN or BSN programs, it's a strategic stepping stone. Institution-wide, graduates earn a median of $48,100 ten years out, and the average net price is about $11,000.
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| #8 | Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | Seattle, WA | $31,000/yr | ||
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle is a private, for-profit campus offering a 12-month on-campus Practical Nursing Certificate with a high institution-wide graduation rate and strong retention. The program prepares students for NCLEX-PN with hands-on patient care training, including vital signs and medication administration. Median graduate debt is low at $9,500, though institution-wide earnings are modest at $38,700 a decade out.
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Below is a side-by-side comparison of annual tuition and net price for Washington LPN programs, based on the most recent institutional data (2023). Net price represents the average cost after grants and scholarships for all students; individual LPN program costs may differ. Where available, we also list estimated additional fees for materials, exams, and supplies (2025-2026).
| School | In-State Tuition (2023) | Out-of-State Tuition (2023) | Net Price (2023) | Additional Program Costs (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grays Harbor College | $5,593 | $12,553 | $4,783 | Not available |
| Bellingham Technical College | $4,431 | $5,809 | $5,997 | Not available |
| Bates Technical College | $6,027 | $12,165 | $6,292 | Not available |
| Clover Park Technical College | $6,634 | $6,634 | $9,864 | Not available |
| Edmonds College | $4,810 | $10,875 | $11,010 | ~$5,350 (2025-2026) |
| Yakima Valley College | $5,312 | $5,873 | $11,843 | Not available |
| Green River College | $4,711 | $5,263 | $13,803 | ~$2,400 (2025-2026) |
| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | N/A | N/A | $31,016 | Not available |
A program’s format determines when, where, and how you complete your LPN training. In Washington, most practical nursing programs are campus-based certificates that run full-time and take 9 to 18 months. Because LPN training requires extensive hands-on clinical practice, fully online programs are practically nonexistent here. Instead, schools offer variations that blend classroom learning with in-person labs and clinical rotations to fit different schedules.
The most straightforward route is the full-time, on-campus certificate. For students who want the fastest LPN programs, options like Clover Park Technical College’s nine-month Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate deliver entirely in person, with cohorts starting each fall and spring. Bates Technical College offers a nine-month Practical Nurse Certificate with full-time, part-time, and hybrid tracks1, but full-time students still attend campus for all lab and clinical components. These accelerated paths work best for students who can devote most of their week to classes, labs, and study.
For working adults or parents, part-time scheduling can be the difference between starting now or putting school on hold. Green River College stands out with two part-time hybrid tracks: a weekday option and a dedicated weekend cohort.2 Both take about 18 months over six quarters. The weekend program combines online coursework with required in-person sessions on Saturdays and Sundays, so you can keep your weekday job. Bates Technical College also lists a part-time track for its Practical Nurse Certificate, though specific evening or weekend availability may depend on the cohort.
Hybrid programs split theory and practice. Edmonds College structures its LPN pathway as a hybrid3, with online or blended classroom theory paired with in-person lab and clinical hours. This model reduces the number of days you must commute to campus, making it appealing for healthcare workers with unpredictable shifts. Green River applies a similar approach in its part-time hybrid pathways. However, even in hybrid plans, all clinical training remains face-to-face because the skills assessment requires direct supervision.
Washington LPN programs mandate 400 to 600 or more clinical hours, depending on the school. Students practice medication administration, wound care, vital signs, and patient communication under the watch of a licensed nurse preceptor. These competencies cannot be accurately assessed through a screen. State board regulations and employer expectations both insist that LPN graduates are proficient in hands-on care, a standard that can only be met by working with real patients, not simulated telehealth scenarios. So while didactic courses can move online, the core of LPN training will always be anchored in a physical clinical site.
Getting into a practical nursing program in Washington means more than hitting a minimum GPA. With limited seats and points-based scoring at many community colleges, your application becomes a calculated effort to stand out. Some schools operate waitlists that can stretch across quarters, while universal clearance steps like background checks and immunizations add non-negotiable layers. Understanding the landscape, from prerequisite coursework to exam expectations, helps you target programs where your profile aligns with their selection criteria.
Most Washington LPN programs expect a high school diploma or GED along with college-level prerequisites. Required coursework typically includes anatomy and physiology, English composition, and college math, though the exact number of classes varies. For example, Bates Technical College lists 7 prerequisite courses for its Practical Nursing AAS. Grade thresholds hover in the 2.5–3.0 range. Bates requires a 3.0 minimum GPA for 2025–2026, while Clover Park Technical College sets the bar at 2.7 and Grays Harbor College at 2.5. Standardized entrance exams are not universal: Grays Harbor mandates the TEAS, but Bates does not require an entrance exam. Grays Harbor also expects applicants to hold a current Washington State nursing assistant certification (NA-C), a distinctive extra layer not found at every school. Verify each program’s exact list early, missing a required course can delay your application by months.
Admission to Washington’s community college LPN programs is rarely first-come, first-served. Many use a competitive, points-driven rubric that ranks applicants on academic performance, healthcare experience, and other attributes. Clover Park Technical College explicitly runs a points-based process, awarding extra points for healthcare work, veteran status, and bilingual ability. Bates Technical College operates a cohort-based model with a waitlist and requires applicants to submit an essay and resume, signaling that soft skills and background matter alongside grades. Edmonds College introduced a holistic scoring admissions system for 2025–2026, further evidence that programs are moving toward multi-factor evaluations. This setup rewards candidates who intentionally build a strong composite, a solid GPA alone no longer guarantees a seat.
Impatience can be costly: several Washington LPN programs maintain waitlists that can delay entry by one to two quarters. Bates Technical College admits students for spring (part-time) and summer (full-time) start dates, and because seats fill on a cohort basis, applicants may be placed on a waitlist even if they meet requirements. Other schools, particularly those with annual admit cycles, may leave qualified candidates waiting until the next year’s cohort opens. If you need a predictable start date, investigate the admission frequency and average wait times before committing. Programs with rolling or twice-yearly intakes, like Bates, offer more flexibility than those admitting only once per year.
Regardless of the program you choose, Washington LPN admission processes include universal clearance steps. Every school requires a criminal background check and often a drug screening before clinical placements begin. Immunizations must be up-to-date, typically including hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, TDap, and a negative TB test or chest x-ray. These requirements are non-negotiable and can take weeks to complete if you are missing records or titers. Start gathering documentation early. Missing a vaccination or an expiring background check can stall your enrollment even after you have been conditionally accepted, so treat this step as a high-priority action item alongside your application paperwork.
The path to LPN licensure in Washington involves completing a state-approved program (12–18 months), registering for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE (scheduling takes 2–6 weeks), passing the exam, and applying to the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. After a background check via Washington State Patrol and a $130–$140 fee, you can start practicing once the license is issued, typically within 2–4 weeks.
Washington’s LPN workforce is projected to grow by 10.52% between 2022 and 2032, according to a 2025 demand report from the Washington Center for Nursing. That growth signals strong demand for newly licensed practical nurses, driven by expanding healthcare needs in long-term care and outpatient settings.
After earning your LPN license, many nurses choose to advance their careers by becoming an RN. Washington state offers several structured bridge programs that let LPNs build on their existing training, often shaving months off the typical RN timeline.
The LPN-to-ADN pathway is the most widely available bridge option in Washington. These programs typically take three to four quarters (12–18 months) of additional coursework after LPN completion. LPNs receive credit for clinical fundamentals and often skip the introductory nursing courses that entry-level students take. The result is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or AAS-T) and eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Many ADN programs maintain articulation agreements with four-year universities in the state, allowing graduates to later pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) without losing credits.
Some universities in Washington offer direct LPN-to-BSN programs, though these are less common and take longer to complete, typically 2 to 3 years. Columbia Basin College provides an LPN to BSN program requiring 7 quarters and using a hybrid delivery model. Saint Martin's University offers a 2-year LPN to BSN pathway with 15 credits of advanced standing, also in a hybrid format. Walla Walla University has an L.P.N. to B.S. Entry option that awards 16 credits for prior learning.
These programs are ideal for LPNs who want to earn a bachelor's degree right away, often providing a faster route than an ADN followed by an RN-to-BSN completion.
Most bridge programs grant significant credit for the LPN's prior education, effectively waiving fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology basics, and introductory clinical rotations. This recognition of prior learning can shorten the RN program by a full quarter or more. Articulation agreements, such as those at Pierce College, create a clear path from LPN to ADN to BSN, minimizing redundant coursework and helping students keep their momentum toward a four-year degree.
In Washington, licensed practical nurses earn a median annual wage of $79,700, with top earners exceeding $86,500. The state employs 6,450 LPNs, compared to 64,690 registered nurses who earn a median of $112,180. Nursing instructors, with 1,340 employed, earn a median of $78,000.
| Occupation | Total Employment | Mean Annual Wage | 25th Percentile | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 6450 | 79970 | 73140 | 79700 | 86550 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 1340 | 85680 | 64370 | 78000 | 105880 |
| Registered Nurses | 64690 | 115740 | 98570 | 112180 | 130420 |
LPN pay varies significantly across Washington state. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area offers the highest median wages, but a higher cost of living can offset those gains. Spokane and other metros offer competitive pay with a lower cost of living.
If you are researching practical nursing pathways in Washington, you probably have questions about program length, cost, and career steps. Below are answers to common queries, drawing on data from Washington LPN programs and state nursing board requirements.
