lpn Education Requirements

There’s a groundswell of people in America considering going back to school to get a nursing degree.  For some, they’re bored with their career and they’re looking to move into a field where they can be of assistance to others.  Others are stuck in dead end jobs that don’t pay much and are attracted by the high wages nurses earn.  Still others are fed up with getting laid off from one job after another thought no fault of their own, and they want to find a skill that will always be in demand with no shortage of jobs. If any of these describe you, you might want to consider becoming a licensed practical nurse, as the LPN education requirements make getting started a lot easier than going after an RN degree.

Compare  LPN education requirements with what it takes to become a registered nurse.  To become an RN, in most states you’ll need a four year degree in nursing.  Four years is a long time to wait to enter your chosen career field.  On top of that, the cost of a four year degree these days is astronomical.  So, instead of earning money, you’ll be spending tens of thousands of dollars, probably going into massive debt with student loans, in order to get your RN degree.  Then consider that many RN programs are extremely competitive, and you could spend two years getting your basics out of the way only to be denied entrance to the RN program.

Clearly, if you’re heart is really set on becoming a nurse and helping people, while making good money  for doing so, an LPN education is probably the wiser choice.  You only need to study for a year, and the schools and programs are a lot easier to get into.  And should you desire to go on to become an RN, that’s always an option, and since you’ll already be an LPN you’ll likely have a better chance of being admitted to a program.