As you consider a career in Louisiana for licensed practical nursing, here are some tips.
The biggest cities in LA are New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Metairie.
Students interested in becoming licensed practical nurses or LPN have plenty of options.
There are schools on a budget with lower tuition rates, as well as schools with several campuses for flexibility.
Find out which school would best suit your needs with this information on licensed practical nurse schools in Louisiana.
Page Navigation
- 5 Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Louisiana
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the state requirements in Louisiana to be a licensed practical nurse?
- What is the next career goal for an LPN working in Louisiana?
- What is the difference between an LPN and a registered nurse?
- What is the job of a Louisiana Licensed Practical Nurse?
- What is the time frame for training to be a LPN in LA?
5 Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Louisiana
Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) offers a practical nursing (PN) program at six campus locations in LA.
The program leads to three credentials.
These include:
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Practical Nursing
- Career and Technical Certificate (CTC) for Nursing Assistant
- Technical Diploma (TD) in Practical Nursing
The cost is $2,495 and includes five semesters of full-time coursework.
This practical nursing program takes 28 months on average to complete.
Northshore Technical Community College
At Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC), students can train to be licensed practical nurses at five different campus locations.
These include Greensburg, Hammond, Lacombe, Walker, and Bogalusa.
Students graduate with a technical diploma in practical nursing.
The practical nursing program leads to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Practical Nursing.
This is called an AAS in Technical Studies.
As for the diploma in practical nursing, the program takes 18 months or four semesters.
Coursework includes clinical that involves hands-on skills with patients in an internship setting off campus.
These are required in order to sit for boards, which involves passing a certification exam to be eligible for licensing as a practical nurse.
This is required in order to get hired as a licensed practical nurse–no matter which of these schools you attend.
The total cost per credit hour for tuition to attend NTCC starts at $231.96.
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
E. Fletcher Technical Community College (FTCC) is in Schriever, Louisiana in Terrebonne Parish.
Students interested in getting an LPN degree can do so at the Schriever Campus.
The school offers training in Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) that leads to an Associate of Nursing (ASN) degree.
At FTCC, the program for LPN to ASN is 70 credit hours in length and takes five semesters to complete.
This includes weekends of supervised clinical.
Tuition for FTCC starts at $219.96 an hour and this rate applies equally to online classes.
River Parishes Community College
River Parishes Community College (RPCC) has a main campus in Gonzales, LA.
There are additional campus locations in Reserve, Boutte, and Plaquemine, LA.
Students interested in an LPN career can earn a Nursing Diploma at RPCC.
Tuition starts at $169.96 a credit hour.
The cost for an online course is $138.96 a credit hour.
This program for practical nursing requires 50.8 credit hours and 1,535 contact hours in clinical.
Sowela Technical Community College
Sowela Technical Community College (STCC) is a community college in Lake Charles, LA.
Here students can apply to the nursing program to earn an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree.
This program includes online courses including LPN to RN Transitions.
Additionally, the campus location of Sowela in Lake Charles is the only place the school
Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Louisiana – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Louisiana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | 4311 S MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71302 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | 1710 Sullivan Dr, Bogalusa, LA 70427 |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | 1407 LA-311, Schriever, LA 70395 |
| River Parishes Community College | 925 W Edenborne Pkwy, Gonzales, LA 70737 |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | 3820 Sen J Bennett Johnston Ave, Lake Charles, LA 70615 |
Salary
The salary for a licensed practical nurse in the US is, on average, $50,067.
This is based on Salary.com information as of June 2022.
The salary range for the nation is $45,952 to $56,293 a year.
The salary for a New Orleans licensed practical nurse is $61,472 a year.
Low-earning LPNs make $35,545 annually, while upper-ranking LPNs have a salary of $88,497 on average a year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)s in Louisiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $50,063 |
| Baton Rouge | $47,055 |
| Shreveport | $46,528 |
| Lafayette | $46,496 |
| Lake Charles | $45,859 |
| Kenner | $50,036 |
| Bossier City | $46,528 |
| Monroe | $46,285 |
| Alexandria | $44,838 |
| New Iberia | $46,227 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 840 | $51,280 | $24.65 | $66,300 | $37,810 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 3,040 | $53,670 | $25.8 | $63,000 | $41,920 |
| Hammond, LA | 570 | $50,380 | $24.22 | $59,560 | $39,670 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 540 | $50,180 | $24.13 | $60,410 | $39,000 |
| Lafayette, LA | 2,350 | $46,340 | $22.28 | $57,850 | $31,470 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 1,030 | $49,410 | $23.76 | $59,520 | $41,340 |
| Monroe, LA | 1,070 | $53,320 | $25.64 | $86,110 | $37,510 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 3,310 | $56,730 | $27.27 | $70,440 | $46,010 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 1,900 | $53,030 | $25.49 | $61,810 | $40,910 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the state requirements in Louisiana to be a licensed practical nurse?
In Louisiana, “A person can complete a qualifying certificate program and take the NCLEX-PN examination for practical nursing licensure.
The LPN can, if he or she chooses, later opt for an LPN to RN degree program and examination at the RN level.”
What is the next career goal for an LPN working in Louisiana?
Typically, an LPN would work toward becoming a registered nurse.
However, they may learn more about a specialized area of medicine, such as a surgeon, and proceed with that career goal.
What is the difference between an LPN and a registered nurse?
In Louisiana, the difference between an LPN and a registered nurse (RN) is that an RN is able to administer patient medications and perform emergency responses for patients.
These are skills that are beyond the training of an LA LPN.
What is the job of a Louisiana Licensed Practical Nurse?
A Louisiana licensed practical nurse works with other nurses or medical assistants in treating patients.
Practical nurses who are licensed are capable of working with dentists, optometrists, and licensed physicians.
Additionally, these professionals work with registered nurses, who are their superiors.
What is the time frame for training to be a LPN in LA?
In LA, the process for training to become a certified licensed practical nurse is about one year.
This includes training at a school or online program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam for licensing.
