Licensed Practical Nurse
License requirements, cost and salary by state
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs, called LVNs in California and Texas) provide basic nursing care — monitoring patients, administering medications, changing bandages, and assisting with daily activities — under RN or physician supervision. They work in nursing homes, hospitals, home health, and clinics. Becoming an LPN requires completing a 12-month state-approved program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam.
Time to certify
Required exam
Exam cost
Education
Renewal
Annual openings
What it's actually like
A day-to-day reality check, grounded in current practitioner sources — not just the salary math.
Hours / week
Shifts: 8 or 12 hours.
Weekends
Where you work: nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, home healthcare services.
Physical demand
HighThe role requires standing and walking for long periods, lifting and transferring patients, and performing repetitive movements.
Stress level
HighStress stems from heavy workloads, the emotional toll of patient care, and fast-paced environments.
A typical shift
- Review patient charts and receive shift reports to assess patient conditions and plan daily care.
- Administer medications and perform treatments like changing bandages or monitoring catheters for multiple patients.
- Monitor and record vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and pulse, documenting all observations.
- Assist patients with daily living activities, including bathing, dressing, and eating.
- Collect samples like blood or urine for laboratory testing.
- Communicate patient status and any concerns to supervising Registered Nurses and physicians.
- Educate patients and their families on care plans and health management.
check_circle Best fit if
- —You are patient and can remain calm when dealing with individuals who are scared, in pain, or stressed.
- —You are physically capable of being on your feet for long shifts and can lift or move patients.
- —You are highly organized and can manage multiple patient-care tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced setting.
- —You work well within a team, collaborating closely with doctors, RNs, and other healthcare staff.
cancel Skip if
- —You require a predictable 9-to-5, weekday schedule, as many roles involve rotation-based weekends and evenings.
- —You are squeamish about direct contact with bodily fluids and performing personal hygiene tasks for others.
- —You find it difficult to manage high-stress situations or handle the emotional weight of caring for ill and injured people.
- —You are looking for a role with significant autonomy, as LPNs work under the direct supervision of RNs and physicians.
Sources cited (21)
- eshyft.com
- pacific-college.edu
- illinoisworknet.com
- caremastermedical.com
- vervecollege.edu
- cariscollege.edu
- bgsu.edu
- sumnercollege.edu
- sprottshaw.com
- allnursingschools.com
- amg.edu
- indeed.com
- bls.gov
- clevelandclinic.org
- nightingale.edu
- concorde.edu
- prismcareerinstitute.edu
- practicalnursing.org
- hunterbusinessschool.edu
- nursingeducation.org
- quora.com
The Landscape
Beyond salary, state-to-state differences in licensing requirements are substantial. While all states require licensure, continuing education (CE) demands vary wildly, from no CE hours in states like Arizona, Indiana, and Mississippi, to 30 hours every two years in California or Nevada, or even annual requirements in Washington and Kentucky. Some states also mandate highly specific coursework, such as a 4-hour bioterrorism course in Nevada or 2 hours on LGBTQ topics in DC, which can add complexity for out-of-state applicants seeking licensure mobility. A closely-related path worth comparing is the Certified Nursing Assistant certification. If you're thinking about advancing further, see how Licensed Practical Nurse compares to Certified Nursing Assistant in time-to-credential, pay, and scope of practice. For a direct earnings-vs-training-time comparison, see Licensed Practical Nurse vs. Medical Assistant.
Licensed Practical Nurse by State
Licensing cost, reciprocity, and median pay across all 50 states.
| State | Licensing cost | Reciprocity | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $328 | Recognized | $57,030 | -11.4% |
| Alaska | $575 | Endorsement | $80,800 | +25.5% |
| Arizona | $500 | Recognized | $77,070 | +19.7% |
| Arkansas | $300 | Recognized | $56,620 | -12.1% |
| California | $500 | Re-exam | $79,750 | +23.8% |
| Colorado | $288 | Recognized | $73,880 | +14.7% |
| Connecticut | $350 | Recognized | $73,690 | +14.4% |
| Delaware | $381 | Recognized | $68,710 | +6.7% |
| District of Columbia | $437 | Endorsement | $75,740 | +17.6% |
| Florida | $375 | Recognized | $61,770 | -4.1% |
| Georgia | $240 | Recognized | $62,030 | -3.7% |
| Hawaii | $240 | Endorsement | $71,140 | +10.5% |
| Idaho | $302 | Recognized | $63,800 | -0.9% |
| Illinois | $250 | Endorsement | $75,000 | +16.5% |
| Indiana | $250 | Recognized | $65,720 | +2.0% |
| Iowa | $343 | Recognized | $62,630 | -2.7% |
| Kansas | $275 | Recognized | $61,760 | -4.1% |
| Kentucky | $325 | Re-exam | $60,460 | -6.1% |
| Louisiana | $385 | Recognized | $57,470 | -10.8% |
| Maine | $250 | Recognized | $73,200 | +13.7% |
| Maryland | $387 | Recognized | $74,660 | +15.9% |
| Massachusetts | $430 | Endorsement | $80,220 | +24.6% |
| Michigan | $409 | Endorsement | $65,460 | +1.6% |
| Minnesota | $305 | — | $63,750 | -1.0% |
| Mississippi | $260 | Endorsement | $50,220 | -22.0% |
| Missouri | $200 | Recognized | $61,530 | -4.5% |
| Montana | $300 | Recognized | $62,210 | -3.4% |
| Nebraska | $323 | Recognized | $62,660 | -2.7% |
| Nevada | $290 | Endorsement | $76,160 | +18.3% |
| New Hampshire | $316 | Recognized | $77,110 | +19.7% |
| New Jersey | $375 | Recognized | $75,160 | +16.7% |
| New Mexico | $350 | Recognized | $59,330 | -7.9% |
| New York | $343 | Re-exam | $67,180 | +4.3% |
| North Carolina | $275 | Recognized | $63,270 | -1.8% |
| North Dakota | $345 | Recognized | $62,300 | -3.3% |
| Ohio | $275 | Recognized | $61,950 | -3.8% |
| Oklahoma | $285 | Recognized | $58,320 | -9.4% |
| Oregon | $395 | Endorsement | $80,470 | +25.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $295 | Recognized | $63,940 | -0.7% |
| Rhode Island | $245 | Recognized | $80,090 | +24.4% |
| South Carolina | $270 | Recognized | $61,820 | -4.0% |
| South Dakota | $375 | Recognized | $52,750 | -18.1% |
| Tennessee | $375 | Recognized | $58,870 | -8.6% |
| Texas | $275 | Recognized | $62,240 | -3.4% |
| Utah | $375 | Recognized | $63,230 | -1.8% |
| Vermont | $275 | Recognized | $69,930 | +8.6% |
| Virginia | $370 | Recognized | $64,920 | +0.8% |
| Washington | $269 | Recognized | $83,150 | +29.1% |
| West Virginia | $275 | Recognized | $55,360 | -14.0% |
| Wisconsin | $273 | Recognized | $63,760 | -1.0% |
| Wyoming | $335 | Recognized | $63,460 | -1.5% |
Related Certifications
Compare Licensed Practical Nurse head-to-head
All comparisons →Weighing a Licensed Practical Nurse career against another credential? Pay, training time, and licensing side-by-side.