Becoming a licensed practical nurse in Virginia is easier than you probably think. It's also one of the best ways to quickly break into the exciting field of nursing, as training programs are generally quite affordable and usually take only 12 to 18 months to complete. From there, take and pass the licensing exam and apply for your LPN license. Before you know it, you will have access to thousands of excellent LPN jobs around the state.
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The first and most important step in becoming an LPN is completing a training program. It must be approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing for graduates to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. You'll quickly see that there are dozens of such programs across the state, and you may struggle to zero in on the right one. To make things easier, look below for a list of recommended Virginia LPN training programs.
Top LPN Programs in Virginia
Since you can't get a Virginia LPN license without passing the NCLEX-PN, and you can't sit for the exam without completing an approved training program, the first and most crucial step is enrolling in the right one. This means not only selecting one that's approved by the Board of Nursing but selecting one that also has documented proof of top pass rates for the NCLEX-PN. Avoid programs with pass rates below 90 percent or so.
You will quickly find that there are dozens of programs out there, and choosing the right one can be daunting. Here are some recommendations to get you started:
Bryant & Stratton College - Richmond
8141 Hull Street Rd, Richmond, VA 23235 (804) 745-2444Camp Community College
271 Kenyon Rd, Suffolk, VA 23434 (757) 925-6312Camp Community College
100 N College Dr, Franklin, VA 23851 (757) 569-6700Eastern Shore Community College
29300 Lankford Hwy, Melfa, VA 23410 (757) 789-1789Eastern Virginia Career College
10304 Spotsylvania Ave # 400, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 (540) 373-2200ECPI University
5234 Airport Rd NW #200, Roanoke, VA 24012 (540) 563-8000ECPI University
5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (757) 671-7171ECPI University
1001 Omni Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606 (757) 838-9191ECPI University - Northern Virginia
10021 Balls Ford Rd #100, Manassas, VA 20109 (703) 348-4062Fairfax County Public Schools
8115 Gatehouse Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 (571) 423-3000Fortis College
6300 Center Dr #100, Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 499-5447Fortis College
2000 Westmoreland St Suite A, Richmond, VA 23230 (804) 323-1020Germanna Community College
10000 Germanna Point Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 (540) 891-3000Global Health Institute
30 S Quaker Ln, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 212-7410Lord Fairfax Community College
173 Skirmisher Ln, Middletown, VA 22645 (540) 868-7000Mountain Empire Community College
3441 Mountain Empire Rd, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 (276) 523-2400New River Community College
5251 State Rd 373, Dublin, VA 24084 (540) 674-3600Patrick Henry Community College
645 Patriot Ave, Martinsville, VA 24112 (276) 638-8777Piedmont Virginia Community College
501 College Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 977-3900Prince William County Schools
14715 Bristow Rd, Manassas, VA 20112 (703) 791-7200Reynolds Community College
1851 Dickinson Rd, Goochland, VA 23063 (804) 371-3000Southside Virginia Community College
820 Bruce St, South Boston, VA 24592 (434) 572-5451Southside Virginia Community College
316 N Main St, Chase City, VA 23924 (434) 372-0194Standard Healthcare Services, Inc. - College of Nursing
1073 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 (703) 891-1787Virginia Highlands Community College
100 VHCC Dr, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276) 739-2400Virginia Western Community College
3094 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 (540) 857-8922Wytheville Community College
1000 E Main St, Wytheville, VA 24382 (276) 223-4700
LPN Programs in Neighboring States:
LPN Licensing Requirements in Virginia
Get up to speed about the basic licensing requirements for LPNs in Virginia to more quickly and easily get through the process. It is fairly straightforward, but knowing what to expect beforehand helps a lot.
Some of the most crucial LPN licensing requirements as established by the Virginia Board of Nursing include:
- Complete an LPN program - Completing an LPN training program that is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Your training will likely take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete. Note that you must also complete 400 hours of supervised, direct patient care.
- Apply for LPN licensure - Submitting an application for licensure by exam to the Virginia Board of Nursing, including with it official transcripts from your training program; authorization for a background check; and any applicable fees.
- Pass the NCLEX-PN - Registering for, taking and passing the NCLEX-PN, the licensing examination for LPNs. It is administered on dates throughout the year at test sites across the state.
Virginia belongs to what is known as the Nurse Licensure Compact, or NLC. If you hold a valid multistate LPN license from another NLC state, you may just begin practicing here as an LPN. Otherwise, you may seek to transfer your license via endorsement; check with the Board of Nursing for more information.
Virginia Board of Nursing
You must submit an application for licensure to the Virginia Board of Nursing to obtain an LPN license. Later, when you need to renew or verify your license or otherwise have business to handle pertaining to it, you will contact this agency. Its contact info is as follows:
Virginia Board of Nursing
9960 Mayland Dr #300, Richmond, VA 23233
Phone: (804) 367-4515
Fax: (804) 527-4455
Website: dhp.virginia.gov
LPN Salary & Employment Outlook in Virginia
Before investing any time, effort or money into the pursuit of becoming an LPN, you should probably confirm to the best of your ability that you will not only have access to plenty of jobs but that they will offer well-enough pay and benefits too.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs in Virginia earn an average income of $58,200 per year, which is equal to $27.98 per hour. This is slightly lower than the national average pay for LPNs, which is $59,730, or $28.72 per hour. As you will see, however, LPNs in many metro areas earn higher pay.
As for how easy it will be to find work, you shouldn't have any trouble there, either. According to the BLS, the LPN field in Virginia is projected to grow by 21 percent from 2014 through 2024. This means that around 1,070 new LPN jobs will become available in the state every year during that period. Now and well into the future, then, the job outlook is great for LPNs in Virginia.
LPN Salaries in Virginia by Area
You may have noticed that LPN salaries vary from one U.S. state to another. The same thing is true about LPN salaries within individual states too, as LPNs in some parts of a state may earn more and have access to more work than LPNs in other areas.
Keep this information in mind when seeking employment as an LPN in Virginia:
| Area | Total Employments | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | 3,810 | $27.08 | $56,330 |
| Richmond | 2,810 | $28.22 | $58,690 |
| Roanoke | 1,090 | $26.42 | $54,950 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | 550 | $25.19 | $52,390 |
| Lynchburg | 550 | $25.38 | $52,800 |
| Charlottesville | 500 | $28.18 | $58,610 |
| Harrisonburg | 350 | $26.77 | $55,680 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro | 340 | $25.61 | $53,270 |
| Winchester | 310 | $26.71 | $55,550 |
As an LPN in Virginia, you will enjoy almost competitive pay and great benefits. Better still, you'll always have access to plenty of jobs. Get started by enrolling in an approved training program today!
