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Program availability

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Diploma Program

Practical Nursing Program
Online & Campus Classes

Format

On-campus

Program Length

12 Mo.

Credits

37-48

Locations

8
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NEXT START January 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Earn a diploma in practical nursing and become possible

AccreditationAccredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Program lengthas few as 12 months
Transfer creditUp to 27 approved credits
FormatOnline general education classes + core on-campus courses1
QuickPathsBuild on a PN diploma to advance your nursing education into a future degree program faster (ASN, BSN, MSN)

Learn More Today!

Classes start: January 6th
Satisfaction rate

Over 90%

Satisfaction rate

Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.

Overview: Practical Nursing Diploma Program

The Practical Nursing diploma is a 37-48 credit program (varies by campus) which prepares you for a career as a practical nurse. The diploma program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in human growth and development, nursing fundamentals, medical terminology, medical surgical nursing, and much more.

Herzing nursing students
  • Career-focused curriculum

    Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

  • Flexible schedule

    We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

  • Virtual services

    Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

  • Lifelong support

    We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

  • Rolling admissions

    No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Locations

On-campus program locations

The Herzing University Practical Nursing program is available at 8 ground campus locations, each offering extensive student resources and support as you pursue your PN diploma.

Online Pathways

Alternative online pathways (RN prep)

While the practical nursing program does offer the opportunity to complete general education courses online, it is not an online program.1 You will need to take nursing classes in-person at one of our campuses in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, or Wisconsin.

Is a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) in your future? We do offer alternative online nursing pathways to students who want to become an RN, and an additional online associate degree option for those whose GPA is too low to qualify for nursing school right now.

1. All courses in Orlando and Tampa are delivered either on-campus or in a hybrid modality.

1

Choose the BSN path

You may be eligible to apply for our online pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Bridge options available for practical nurses, paramedics, military medics, cardiovascular technologists, and respiratory therapists.

2

Prepare for a BSN

Enroll in a pre-nursing AS program and improve your GPA to qualify for the BSN program.

3

Pursue a master’s degree

Non-nursing bachelor’s degree holders have the option to choose an online MSN program.

Classes Start: January 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Natalie Hassan Became Possible

Experienced PN program faculty helped Natalie both professionally and personally, changing her life for the better in many ways.

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Careers

Working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

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As an LPN, you'll provide basic nursing care under the direction of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians in a wide variety of healthcare settings; including hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, hospice and urgent care clinics.

Working as an LPN, your duties may include:

  • Taking patient vital signs and histories
  • Changing bandages, inserting IVs or catheters
  • Maintaining and updating patient records
  • Ensuring patients' comfort —for example, by helping them bathe
  • Listening to patients' concerns and providing reports to RNs and doctors

Licensed Practical Nurse ranked as the #13 Best Health Care Support Jobs in America for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to increase 5% from 2022-2032, faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.*

Now is an excellent time to begin earning the education you need to get a fast start in your nursing career and earn a practical nursing diploma in as little as 1 year.

Faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!

While practical nurses (LPN) and medical assistants often perform similar tasks, there are a few key differences to be aware of, including:

  • Educational requirements
  • Average salary
  • Scope of practice
  • Ongoing career opportunities
  • Future outlook for jobs

Learn more about the difference between practical nursing and medical assisting and how to go from MA to LPN.

Apply now!

You may find some programs offering 6 month or 9 month paths to a PN diploma to become an LPN. Be mindful that accelerated diploma/degree programs aren’t for everyone and such a fast track can be overwhelming. If you’re considering a few months’ difference in time as a tipping point in your decision, remember the quality of your education is most important!

Herzing University’s 1-year PN diploma program gets you an excellent hands-on education in a short amount of time. You’ll learn the foundational concepts and skills in nursing needed to excel in your new career as an LPN.

PN program coursework is meant to be challenging, but not impossible.  As a Herzing student you’ll find support every step of the way, from faculty, staff, instructors and other students enrolled in the program. You’re never alone—and never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

Learn more about how hard nursing school is at Herzing University, and read some testimonials from former students describing their experience.

Potential employers may prefer a candidate with experience as a CNA, but it’s not necessarily a requirement for getting a job as an LPN (same goes for going from CNA to RN).

You aren't required to go from CNA to LPN and there is no prerequisite to be a CNA before enrolling in the Herzing University PN program.

Quite simply, yes! A PN diploma and a job as a LPN is a great way to quickly get involved in the nursing profession and get a better feel for what it means to be a nurse. Earning your diploma helps get you into a career with above average pay, and can springboard you into the next level of nursing education should you choose to continue advancing your education and career.

We can help you come to a better determination. Send us a request for more information and we can answer any questions you have about the PN program, and discuss how beneficial it can be for you to become a LPN.

No, there are no accredited PN programs that are 100% online. LPN programs describing themselves as “online” will offer a hybrid option where you can take some classes online to supplement your primary classroom coursework.

Students enrolled in the Herzing PN program may complete general education courses online—but the bulk of the coursework must be completed on campus.

Ultimately there is no replacement for real hands-on clinical experience, practice in simulation labs and direct in-person support from nursing instructors with real healthcare experience. Learning the skills required to become an LPN requires the live educational experience to become an excellent Licensed Practical Nurse.

While Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) often work together in collaboration in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, their roles and responsibilities are very different. Learn more about the biggest differences between practical nurses (LPN/LVN) and registered nurses (RN).

Because many hospitals are upping their educational requirements for nurses in general, the demand for LPNs in hospitals is falling relative to registered nurses with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

However, any claim they are being “phased out” isn’t accurate. LPNs remain in demand in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care and many other environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job opportunities for LPNs will rise approximately 5% from 2022-2032.*

The landscape is changing, but LPNs remain a vital contributor in the nursing community.

Considering a career as an LPN?

Your first step is to get a hands-on education to learn the fundamentals of nursing in a career-focused program. Herzing University's practical nursing program combines classwork with clinical experiences to help you earn your diploma and prepare you to become an LPN in as few as 12 months. Our program is available at several of our ground campuses:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn an average salary of $60,790 per year ($29.23 per hour).* Discover the average salary for a licensed practical nurse broken down by state.

Although the majority of LPNs work in nursing homes, retirement communities or assisted living facilities, many LPNs work in:

  • Physician's offices
  • Hospitals
  • Colleges
  • Insurance carriers
  • Home care
  • Community food and housing

You can see a full industry profile for Licensed Practical Nurses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Classes Start: January 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Disclosures

Accreditation & Disclosures

  • 1. All courses in Orlando or Tampa are delivered on campus. 

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

View Program Outcomes

2023 Calendar Year

CampusNCLEX® Pass RateiCompletion RateCompletion Rate 150%
Akron85.71%30.51%32.20%
Birmingham100.00%15.97%18.49%
Brookfield82.81%29.46%32.14%
Kenosha84.44%29.31%31.90%
Madison100.00%36.11%38.89%
NashvilleiiN/AN/AN/A
Orlando85.71%23.08%28.21%
Tampa100.00%25.94%28.44%

iNCLEX® pass rates reflect the rates as published by the respective board of nursing.

iiThe Nashville Campus will not graduate their first cohort of PN students until 2024.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

The Student Experience at Herzing

The support I received from the staff at Herzing University during my toughest moments reinforced my determination to succeed, not just for myself, but to set an example of resilience for my children.

Rayisha Moore
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee Campus

What I liked most about my experience at Herzing University were the faculty members. They made it feel like it was family here.

Wanda Colon
Nursing Student | Orlando Campus

I always enjoyed helping people, and that’s the main reason I decided to become a nurse.

Alvin Taylor Jr.
Nursing Student | Birmingham Campus

The faculty here make themselves available during their designated office hours, but if you need extra help, they will meet at times that will work for YOU.

Barbara Mulcahy
Nursing Student | Madison Campus

If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that you can achieve anything you put your mind toward.

Lynn Simon
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee Campus

Herzing pushed me to finish strong. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me!

Ernesha Carter
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee Campus

Classes Start: January 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.