Quick facts about our practical nursing program
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Program length | as few as 12 months |
| Transfer credit | Transfer up to 27 approved credits |
| Format | Online general education classes + core on-campus courses1 |
| QuickPaths | Build on a PN diploma to advance your nursing education into a future degree program faster (ASN, BSN, MSN) |
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Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Start a diploma program and train to be an LPN
The Practical Nursing diploma is a 37-credit program 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.

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.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
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鈥檙e ready and prepare to get started soon.
Locations
On-campus program locations
The 小黄书 Practical Nursing program is available at several ground campus locations, each offering extensive student resources and support as you pursue your PN diploma.
On-campus
12-month PN program

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鈥檚 degree
Non-nursing bachelor鈥檚 degree holders have the option to choose an online MSN program.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Diploma in Practical Nursing program is $530 per credit across all campus locations.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That's why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through 小黄书 and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with 小黄书.
Natalie Hassan Became Possible
Experienced PN program faculty helped Natalie both professionally and personally, changing her life for the better in many ways.

Working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)


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 鈥攆or example, by helping them bathe
- Listening to patients' concerns and providing reports to RNs and doctors
Licensed Practical Nurse ranked as the for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.
Job Outlook
According to the , employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to increase 3% from 2023-2033, 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!
PN program coursework is meant to be challenging, but not impossible. As a Herzing student you鈥檒l find support every step of the way, from faculty, staff, instructors and other students enrolled in the program. You鈥檙e never alone鈥攁nd never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
Learn more about how hard nursing school is at 小黄书, and read some testimonials from former students describing their experience.
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.
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鈥檚 or bachelor鈥檚 degree.
However, any claim they are being 鈥減hased out鈥 isn鈥檛 accurate. LPNs remain in demand in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care and many other environments. The predicts job opportunities for LPNs will rise approximately 3% from 2023-2033.*
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. 小黄书'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 , licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn an average salary of $64,150 per year ($30.84 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 .
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).
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.
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鈥檛 for everyone and such a fast track can be overwhelming. If you鈥檙e considering a few months鈥 difference in time as a tipping point in your decision, remember the quality of your education is most important!
小黄书鈥檚 1-year PN diploma program gets you an excellent hands-on education in a short amount of time. You鈥檒l learn the foundational concepts and skills in nursing needed to excel in your new career as an LPN.
No, there are no accredited PN programs that are 100% online. LPN programs describing themselves as 鈥渙nline鈥 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鈥攂ut 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.
Potential employers may prefer a candidate with experience as a CNA, but it鈥檚 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 小黄书 PN program.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with 小黄书.
Disclosures
Accreditation & Disclosures
- 1. All courses in Orlando or Tampa are delivered on campus.
小黄书 is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
| Program | 2024 Completion Ratei | 2024 NCLEX-RN/NCLEX-PN Pass Rateii |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | 40.7% | 87.50% |
| Birmingham Campus: Practical Nursing | 14.2% | 100% |
| Birmingham Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | 35.1% | 95.31% |
| Brookfield Campus: Practical Nursing | 21.5% | 84.31% |
| Clarksville Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | N/A | N/A |
| Clarksville Campus: Practical Nursing | N/A | N/A |
| Kenosha Campus: Practical Nursing | 18.2% | 81.63% |
| Nashville Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | 16.7% | N/A |
| Nashville Campus: Practical Nursing | 25% | 100% |
| Orlando Campus: Practical Nursing | 29.3% | 95.65% |
| Orlando Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | 53.2% | 80.71% |
| Tampa Campus: Practical Nursing | 11.8% | 100% |
| Tampa Campus: Associate of Science in Nursing | 45.3% | 70.97% |
iProgram Completion Rate calculation for students who complete the program of study on-time begins with calculating enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course and ends with completion of course required for conferral of the degree. Data presented is in the aggregate for students who started the program in 2022.
iiNCLEX Pass Rate is based on first time exam takers from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
*Official Data is still under review by NCSBN.
Clarksville enrolled students for the first time in Fall 2025, therefore no completion data or NCLEX pass rate data is available. The first cohort of Associate of Science in Nursing graduates at the Nashville campus will sit for the NCLEX exam in the calendar year of 2025.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
The Student Experience at Herzing
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 CampusI knew for a while that I wanted to be a doctor but didn鈥檛 know how to make that happen. That鈥檚 when I found Herzing鈥檚 one-year LPN program and I knew it would be the perfect step for someone like me.
Gail Radecki
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusThough nursing school is tough and there will be a time that you want to give up, don't! It's all worth it in the end!
Danielle Baldwin
Nursing Student | Kenosha CampusGreat things are on the horizon, and I鈥檒l be returning for my BSN next
Rayisha Moore
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusHerzing pushed me to finish strong. I can鈥檛 wait to see what the future has in store for me!
Ernesha Carter
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusIf I鈥檝e learned anything from this experience, it鈥檚 that you can achieve anything you put your mind toward.
Lynn Simon
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusRecent Blog Posts
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