2024 - Best LPN Programs in Alabama

Details on Alabama LPN Schools & Classes

To become an LPN in Alabama, you’ll need to enroll in a school that offers the program. Many educational institutions, including community colleges and technical/trade schools offer quality LPN programs. Once you have graduated from an LPN program, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-PN in order to gain licensure as an LPN. LPN programs consist of a range of medical-based classes and labs. For instance, Lawson State Community College offers the following course titles as part of its LPN program:

• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Psychosocial Nursing
• Introduction to Pharmacology

Accreditation

To ensure that you’re choosing a quality LPN program, you’ll want to check for accreditations. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing is a good, national accrediting body to look for, but there are also regional accrediting bodies such as The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. While not an accrediting organization, the Alabama Board of Nursing also endorses certain programs.

Admission Requirements

Alabama LPN schools usually require the following for admission:

• Minimum ACT scores
• Minimum 2.5 GPA cumulative high school GPA (or GED if applicable)
• Gain admission to the college
• Fill out and submit an official application

Tuition and Costs

While LPN program tuition and fees can fluctuate depending on the school, students enrolled in any LPN program in Alabama will need to cover the costs of tuition, additional program fees, course materials, and more. For example, the LPN program at Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery is around $159 per credit hour for tuition and fees, not including textbooks or additional expenses.

For those interested in advancing their nursing career, see our Alabama LPN to RN/BSN programs page.

Alabama LPN Licensing Requirements

Alabama has strict requirements for becoming an LPN in the state—the most important being attending a State Board-approved nursing program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. Along with a completed application for licensure, the applicant must submit:

• Office transcript from state-approved nursing program.
• Proof of US citizenship or lawful presence.
• Receipt of NCLEX exam registration.

Applicants educated abroad can apply for a license in Alabama and must not only have passed the NCLEX-PN, but he or she must also submit his or her official school transcripts for the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to perform a full course-by-course review and evaluate the credentials. The applicant must also have graduated from an approved nursing program that is equivalent to the state of Alabama and have a social security number. Alabama LPN licenses expire December 31^st every even-numbered year, but the licensee can renew from September 1 to November 30^th of the year their license expires—renewing between December 1 and 31^st will incur a late fee. In addition, 24+ contact hours of board-approved continued education must also be completed during the 2-year licensing period.

NCLEX Exam Information

The NCLEX-PN is the exam that must be passed by LPN program graduates in order to be eligible for licensure. This examination contains around 112 questions in categories such as health promotion and maintenance, safety and infection control, and more. Read more about the NCLEX-PN exam here, and don’t forget to take our practice exam to prepare for the test!

LPN Reciprocity and NLC

As of January 1, 2020, the state of Alabama recognizes multistate licenses issued by other party states, for practice in Alabama. Through the Nurse Licensure Compact, a nurse holding a multistate licenses is entitled to practice in any NLC party state. However, nurses must learn and comply at all times with the laws of the state where he or she currently is working.

2024 AL NCLEX-PN Pass Rates and Statistics

• Total Number of State Approved LPN Schools: 16
• 2022 Average Statewide Alabama NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 90.9%

LPN Salary in Alabama

The table below lists career information organized by the BLS for licensed practical nurses in Alabama. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

Table data sourced from 2022 BLS (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292061.htm)