Compare accredited WV practical nursing programs by cost, pass rates, and program length to find your best fit.
West Virginia’s rural communities and long-term care facilities depend on licensed practical nurses, yet not every LPN program prepares graduates equally for the NCLEX-PN or the realities of the job. The cost of training is another pressure point: in-state net prices at public programs range from about $3,600 to $8,300, while the lone private option runs north of $15,000.
The six ranked schools here span community colleges, a career center, and one hybrid private program, each assessed on net price, student outcomes, and completion rates. In a state where the median LPN salary lags behind neighbors, picking a program that balances affordability with strong licensure preparation is a practical necessity.
This year’s ranking of LPN programs in West Virginia highlights six schools that combine affordability, flexible formats, and strong student outcomes. Whether you need a low-cost public option, a hybrid schedule, or a fast one-year pathway, there’s a program to fit your goals. All programs are approved by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses and prepare you for the NCLEX-PN exam.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | New River Community and Technical College | Beaver, WV | $4,000/yr (net price) | In-state learners needing free tuition options | |
New River Community and Technical College’s Practical Nursing Certificate is an 11-month, campus-based program with multiple locations across southern West Virginia. With a net price of $3,599 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 36%, it’s a highly affordable option that serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body. The program boasts a 94% NCLEX-PN pass rate and 96% job placement, and eligible in-state students may attend tuition-free through the WV Invests grant. Graduates are prepared for acute care, long-term care, and home health settings.
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| #2 | West Virginia Northern Community College | Wheeling, WV | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | Working adults seeking hybrid LPN training | |
West Virginia Northern Community College’s hybrid LPN program in Wheeling combines online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals over 18 months. With a net price of $5,329 and an institutional graduation rate of 33%, it emphasizes evidence-based practice and collaborative care. The program accepts federal and state financial aid and offers nursing-specific scholarships, helping offset costs for in-state students.
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| #3 | BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston, WV | $6,000 – $12,000/yr | Fast-track learners seeking hands-on simulation | |
BridgeValley Community & Technical College’s one-year Practical Nursing CAS in South Charleston is a fast-paced, three-term program that combines classroom learning with a state-of-the-art simulation lab. The net price is $4,565 and the institutional graduation rate is 34%. The program reports an 85% NCLEX-PN pass rate and 95% job placement, with an LPN Advanced Placement pathway to an associate degree.
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| #4 | West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport | Bridgeport, WV | $15,000/yr (net price) | ||
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport offers a 12-month hybrid Practical Nursing program designed for flexibility. With a net price of $15,365 as a private institution, it has a strong 52% graduation rate (institution-wide). The program blends online coursework with on-site labs and clinicals, features direct admission, and includes academic and career support services. It’s a good fit for working students seeking a fast, supportive pathway.
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| #5 | Pierpont Community and Technical College | Fairmont, WV | $6,000 – $14,000/yr | ||
Pierpont Community and Technical College’s one-year hybrid LPN program in Fairmont reports strong graduate outcomes, with a program-reported median salary of $62,340. The net price is $8,325 and the institution-wide graduation rate is 42%. The program is fully accredited by the WV LPN Board and emphasizes care across the lifespan, with clinical placements throughout North-Central West Virginia. Graduates benefit from high demand in a region with above-average LPN wages.
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| #6 | Boone Career and Technical Center | Foster, WV | |||
Boone Career and Technical Center’s 48-week on-campus Practical Nursing program in Foster serves local residents with a 96% NCLEX-PN pass rate. Tuition costs are not publicly listed, and the institution reports a low 10% retention rate (institution-wide). The program requires a TEAS 7 score of 60 and includes a 100-hour NCLEX review. It’s a focused, community-based option for Boone County and surrounding rural students.
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First-time NCLEX-PN pass rates are a reliable indicator of how well a practical nursing program prepares students for licensure. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses collects and publishes this data, giving prospective students a clear view of each school's track record. Below, we break down the latest available numbers for New River Community and Technical College and compare them to the statewide picture.
New River Community and Technical College offers LPN programs at multiple campuses across West Virginia. According to the college's most recent program outcomes report, which covers the 2022 cohort, first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates varied by location:
When all campuses are combined, the aggregate first-time pass rate for New River CTC in 2022 was 93.1%. This number sits comfortably above the national average and indicates strong overall program preparation, though individual campus rates show some variation that applicants may want to consider when choosing a location.
West Virginia as a whole has maintained high NCLEX-PN pass rates. The most recent quarterly report from the Board of Examiners, covering the first quarter of 2026, shows that 76 West Virginia LPN graduates took the exam for the first time. Their combined first-time pass rate was 93.42%. This aligns closely with New River CTC's 2022 aggregate, suggesting that the school's performance is on par with the state's overall standard.
Because state-level data is updated quarterly while individual schools may only publish outcomes annually or biennially, comparing a school's most recent report to the latest state figures helps you gauge whether a program is keeping pace with regional trends. In this case, New River CTC's 2022 results are only three years behind the 2026 state number, and the similarity in pass rates is reassuring.
A program's NCLEX-PN pass rate reflects more than just test prep. It points to the quality of classroom instruction, clinical training, and student support services. Low pass rates can signal curriculum gaps, insufficient lab resources, or weak remediation efforts. Conversely, programs that consistently produce high pass rates are likely to have robust teaching methods and a strong alignment with the NCLEX-PN test plan.
When you compare schools, look beyond the headline number. Ask how many students were tested: a 100% pass rate based on a tiny cohort may not tell you as much as a 93% rate from a larger group. Also check whether the data is current; older numbers may not reflect recent changes in faculty or curriculum. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for LPNs is the authoritative source for NCLEX-PN outcomes in the state, and its quarterly reports offer the most up-to-date snapshot of program effectiveness across all approved LPN schools.
Net price is the average amount students actually pay after grants and scholarships, often far below published tuition. At West Virginia public LPN programs, net prices range from $3,599 to $8,325, while the private WVJC Bridgeport averages $15,365. Pell Grant recipients make up more than 70% of students at every school on this list, with New River and WVJC topping 84%, signaling strong affordability for low-income learners.
Admission to an LPN program in West Virginia is a structured, multi-step process designed to ensure that candidates are academically prepared and personally qualified for the demands of patient care. While specifics vary by school, every applicant must demonstrate a baseline of academic readiness, pass a background check, and meet health and testing benchmarks.
All West Virginia LPN programs require a high school diploma or GED. Beyond that, you'll need to complete designated prerequisite courses before entering the nursing core. At West Virginia Northern Community College, for example, these include Biological Foundations I and II (BIO 114 and 115), English Composition (ENG 101), Medical Terminology (AHS 103), and a college orientation course (ORNT 090). Most programs also expect grades of C or better in these courses.
A competitive academic record matters. West Virginia Northern Community College sets its minimum cumulative GPA at 2.5 for admission to the practical nursing program. While this threshold reflects one institution, many schools across the state maintain similar GPA floors, often between 2.0 and 2.75. Check individual program pages to confirm the exact requirement.
Standardized entrance exams help programs gauge your readiness. West Virginia Northern requires the ATI TEAS exam with a minimum composite score of 60. Across the state, other exams may be accepted: the Psychological Services Bureau (PSB PN), the National League for Nursing (NLN) Pre-Admission Exam, the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) A2, or even the ACT. If your target school offers a choice, pick the one that plays to your strengths.
A clean legal and health history is non-negotiable. Statewide, LPN applicants must pass a criminal background check and a drug screening. These are usually coordinated by the school during the admission phase or right after acceptance. Certain offenses, especially those involving abuse, neglect, or controlled substances, can disqualify you from clinical placements and, consequently, program completion.
Timing is everything. For instance, New River Community and Technical College requires a completed application by November 21 for spring semester entry, but its LPN cohort begins each August. Other schools may run fall-only admission or rolling applications. Missing a cutoff can delay your start by a year, so confirm deadlines directly with each school's nursing office.
Gather these items well before the deadline:
Start the process early. Background checks and test dates can take weeks to schedule, and prerequisite courses might span multiple semesters. Planning ahead ensures you meet every requirement without last-minute scrambling.
Among the six LPN programs profiled in West Virginia, two, West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) Bridgeport and Pierpont Community and Technical College, are explicitly hybrid, with a third, West Virginia Northern Community College, transitioning to a hybrid model for 2025-2026. No school in the state offers a fully online LPN track, and for good reason: state nursing boards require a substantial number of supervised clinical hours that simply can't be replaced by virtual simulations.
When a West Virginia school labels its LPN program as hybrid or online-friendly, the online portion typically covers didactic coursework, lectures, readings, quizzes, and discussion boards, delivered through a learning management system. The hands-on clinical rotations, labs, and skills check-offs still happen in person at healthcare facilities. So, if you're searching for "online LPN programs in WV," you'll find hybrid options, not a 100% remote pathway.
Other programs, like those at New River Community and Technical College, BridgeValley, and Boone Career and Technical Center, are listed as campus-based, but they may incorporate some online components for theory courses. Always check with the school for the latest mix.
For distance learners, the big question is where clinicals happen. Hybrid programs generally either assign students to a set of local clinical affiliates or allow you to propose a site near your home, subject to approval. WVJC coordinates placements in north-central West Virginia, while Pierpont uses sites in the Fairmont area. If you live far from campus, you'll need to confirm that suitable clinical slots exist within a reasonable commute; out-of-state candidates face additional hurdles because the program's board-approved clinical agreements are usually limited to West Virginia facilities.
If you come across a program advertised as "online LPN" from a provider outside West Virginia, remember that you'll still need to complete clinical hours locally. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses does not recognize any fully online LPN program for licensure eligibility. Hybrid models offer the closest thing to online convenience while meeting state requirements. Always verify a program's approval status directly with the board before enrolling.
Most full-time LPN programs in West Virginia run 11 to 12 months, with some extending to 15 months if taken part-time or in an evening format. For instance, the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center and New River Community and Technical College both offer 11-month daytime tracks, while the Academy of Careers and Technology stretches to 12–15 months depending on schedule. West Virginia Junior College’s online/hybrid option likewise fits into a 12-month window. No accelerated tracks shorter than 11 months appear among the ranked programs, so plan on at least a year of concentrated study.
Schedule flexibility varies by campus. The Academy of Careers and Technology stands out by running both day and evening cohorts, which helps students who need to work or manage family obligations during business hours. Most other programs are structured as full-time daytime commitments: Rockefeller and New River require attendance during the day. West Virginia Junior College delivers its practical nursing curriculum through an online/hybrid format, mixing remote coursework with in-person clinical rotations, a setup that may suit self-directed learners. If you need an evening or weekend-only option, ACT is the primary in-state choice.
Total program hours include a substantial clinical component. ACT reports 1350 total clock hours, with clinical placements embedded throughout. While specific hour counts aren’t published for every school, West Virginia’s Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses mandates a minimum number of supervised patient-care hours. Typical clinical sites include acute hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient clinics, Rockefeller and New River confirm rotations in acute and extended care settings. Expect to gain hands-on experience in nursing homes, medical-surgical floors, and community health environments before you graduate.
After earning your LPN license, you can return to school for an RN through a bridge program. Not every LPN school offers a direct bridge, but standalone options exist across the state. Eastern WV Community & Technical College runs a 12-month hybrid LPN-to-RN bridge requiring a TEAS score of 60 or above. Southern WV Community & Technical College provides an on-campus LPN-to-ADN pathway, also 12 months in length. These bridges allow practicing LPNs to advance their careers without repeating foundational content, though they are separate from the introductory LPN programs listed earlier. Check directly with bridge program coordinators for current prerequisites and application windows.
Earning your LPN license in West Virginia follows a clear sequence: finish your training, apply to the state board, clear a background check, register for and pass the NCLEX-PN, then get your license. Here's what to expect at each stage.
Your nursing career depends on passing the NCLEX-PN, and a program's pass rate is the clearest measure of whether it prepares you to succeed. Low scores have real consequences: the West Virginia Board of Examiners may place programs on probation if their graduates consistently fail, putting your time and tuition at risk.
Licensed Practical Nurses in West Virginia earned a median annual wage of $49,850 in the most recent BLS data, which is below the national median of $54,620. Wages in neighboring states such as Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are also higher on average. Program-level earnings data for specific West Virginia LPN graduates is not yet available, so state and national benchmarks provide the best comparison.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Employment | 6,330 |
| Mean Annual Wage | $52,540 |
| 25th Percentile Wage | $45,820 |
| Median Annual Wage | $49,850 |
| 75th Percentile Wage | $59,860 |
Prospective nursing students often have questions about LPN programs in West Virginia. Here are answers to some of the most common inquiries, from program length and costs to licensing and career advancement.
