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Licensed practical nurse staff nurse education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a licensed practical nurse staff nurse. Licensed practical nurses staff nurses usually study nursing, nursing assistants, or health/medical preparatory programs. 36% of licensed practical nurses staff nurses hold a diploma, and 32% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 15,956 real licensed practical nurse staff nurse resumes to see exactly what licensed practical nurse staff nurse education sections show.

The most common colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses are the Excelsior College and the Excelsior College.

There are also many online licensed practical nurse staff nurse courses to help get the education required to be a licensed practical nurse staff nurse.

There are certain licensed practical nurse staff nurse certifications that you should consider. These licensed practical nurse staff nurse certifications include Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

What education do you need to become a licensed practical nurse staff nurse?

What degree do you need to be a licensed practical nurse staff nurse?

The most common degree for licensed practical nurses staff nurses is diploma, with 36% of licensed practical nurses staff nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 32% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Diploma, 36%
  • Associate, 32%
  • Bachelor's, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 16%

What should I major in to become a licensed practical nurse staff nurse?

You should major in nursing to become a licensed practical nurse staff nurse. 78% of licensed practical nurses staff nurses major in nursing. Other common majors for a licensed practical nurse staff nurse include nursing assistants and health/medical preparatory programs.

Most common colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

Licensed practical nurses staff nurses often get their degrees at Excelsior College, Central State University, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses in the US based on their resumes.
Licensed practical nurse staff nurse common collegePercentages
Excelsior College14.52%
Central State University9.14%
University of Phoenix8.60%
Louisiana College6.99%
ECPI University5.91%

Best majors for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

Best colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

The best colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses are Emory University, New York University, and Vanderbilt University.

A licensed practical nurse staff nurse with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for licensed practical nurses staff nurses. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become licensed practical nurses staff nurses.

1. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. Maria College of Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$15,140

Enrollment

876

5. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

In-state tuition

$13,392

Enrollment

646

6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Enrollment

4,155

7. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Enrollment

3,553

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Enrollment

4,169

10. Vermont Technical College

Randolph, VT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,108

Enrollment

1,350

20 best online courses for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

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5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

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9. COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers

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10. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare

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This is a very exciting time to be exploring a career in Health IT Support! In this introductory course, you’ll learn about various roles in IT support that are common in healthcare. IT support staff play critical roles in many different healthcare venues. In addition to helping clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms, you may end up providing support in a skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, virtual care setting, or even a patient’s home! On any given day, you may interact...

11. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

14. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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15. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

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Top 10 most affordable universities for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

The most affordable schools for licensed practical nurses staff nurses are SUNY Farmingdale, dickinson state university, and maine college of health professions.

If the best universities for licensed practical nurses staff nurses are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for licensed practical nurses staff nurses.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

3. Maine College of Health Professions

Lewiston, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$12,245

Cost of attendance

18,826

4. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Cost of attendance

13,564

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas

Barranquitas, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,479

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,284

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

The hardest universities for licensed practical nurses staff nurses to get into are Emory University, New York University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for licensed practical nurses staff nurses are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for licensed practical nurses staff nurses based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

5. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

6. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

56%

SAT average

1,250

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

9. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for licensed practical nurses staff nurses

The easiest schools for licensed practical nurses staff nurses to get into are Barry University, adventhealth university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a licensed practical nurse staff nurse without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for licensed practical nurses staff nurses.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Pennsylvania State University - Shenango

Sharon, PA • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

989

5. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

8. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

9. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

Average licensed practical nurse staff nurse salary by education level

Licensed practical nurses staff nurses with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $56,821 annually. With a Associate degree, licensed practical nurses staff nurses earn a median annual income of $56,304 compared to $54,890 for licensed practical nurses staff nurses with an High School Diploma degree.
Licensed practical nurse staff nurse education levelLicensed practical nurse staff nurse salary
High School Diploma or Less$54,890
Bachelor's Degree$56,821
Some College/ Associate Degree$56,304

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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