You may be surprised by how easy it is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Depending on whether you go to school full-time or part-time, you could be working as an LPN in about a year.
Suddenly, you can be in an exciting career where you’re working with patients, monitoring stats, and working alongside doctors.
5 Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Maryland
You will want to look at the different schools that offer Practical Nurse programs.
Compare the schools based on how they offer their classes, what the cost of the program is, and more.
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College offers a credit certificate for Practical Nursing.
You will have the opportunity to learn about administering medicine, recording vitals, and providing bedside care.
There will be clinical experience in hospitals as well as being able to use state-of-the-art equipment in the classroom.
The campus, which is in Arnold, MD, provides in-classroom training.
You will complete the program in approximately 11 months by taking courses in the summer, fall, and spring.
There will be a total of 41 credit hours, which includes a few prerequisites.
The cost of the program is $122 per credit hour, though the Health Manpower Shortage Program can be used to reduce the cost of tuition.
Baltimore City Community College
Baltimore City Community College is located in Baltimore.
The Practical Nursing certificate program consists of 45 credit hours, which is completed in just under a year.
You will have a few prerequisites, which include anatomy and physiology.
Courses you will take for nursing include calculation of medications in nursing, adult health nursing, and nursing in child-bearing and child-rearing families.
BCCC is tuition-free for many who qualify.
Otherwise, the fees are $110 per credit hour, which is one of the lowest tuitions across the state.
Beyond the certificate program, you can also explore the LPN to Associate Degree nursing option for higher education.
College of Southern Maryland
The College of Southern Maryland offers an LPN certificate program across multiple campuses including La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick.
You will learn through web-enhanced study, in-class lectures, simulation, and demonstration.
You will also get to participate in clinical experiences off-campus.
There will be a total of 45 credit hours to complete the certificate so that you are prepared to take the NCLEX-PN exam.
You will finish in three semesters, which comes out to about 11 months.
The tuition is $5166.
You will also have course fees, textbooks, and a criminal background check and drug screening fee that you will have to incur.
Frederick Community College
Frederick Community College offers a variety of nursing programs, including an Associate Degree and an LPN Certificate.
The LPN certificate is the easiest to get as it can be completed in approximately one year if you go full-time.
The certificate program includes a total of 48 credit hours, where you will learn about safe nursing care in a variety of settings.
There are prerequisite courses and there are demands for clinical experiences, so FCC recommends allowing two years to complete the program.
The cost will be approximately $7075, not including books and clinical fees that you will also have to incur.
Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown Community College offers a 16-month nursing program where you will learn about nursing skills, general nursing studies, and clinical and lab practices.
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be ready to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam.
The program consists of 42 credit hours that cover everything from Care of Human Needs to General Psychology.
The cost of tuition is approximately $5166 if you live in the county.
After that, there is approximately $3300 worth of fees, which includes ones specific to nursing.
There may be additional expenses of around $1700 to cover books, physicals, uniforms, and the NCLEX exam fee.
Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Maryland – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Maryland
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Anne Arundel Community College | 101 College Pkwy, Arnold, MD 21012 |
| Baltimore City Community College | 2901 Liberty Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215 |
| College of Southern Maryland | 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 20646 |
| Frederick Community College | 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21701 |
| Hagerstown Community College | 11400 Robinwood Dr, Hagerstown, MD 21742 |
Salary
Salaries for an LPN can vary dramatically depending on city, job responsibilities, experience, and education.
The median salary for LPNs in Baltimore is $52,204.
Those in the 90th percentile are earning as high as $63,190.
You will always want to make comparisons between employers to ensure that you are being given a competitive wage and a strong benefits package.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)s in Maryland
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | $52,024 |
| Frederick | $54,358 |
| Gaithersburg | $56,184 |
| Bowie | $56,217 |
| Rockville | $56,268 |
| Hagerstown | $51,302 |
| Annapolis | $53,625 |
| College Park | $56,336 |
| Salisbury | $53,947 |
| Cumberland | $46,437 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3,880 | $64,840 | $31.17 | $78,780 | $51,710 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 70 | $63,800 | $30.67 | $78,200 | $52,020 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 230 | $57,520 | $27.66 | $70,710 | $46,970 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 590 | $62,290 | $29.95 | $79,060 | $47,880 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 660 | $61,210 | $29.43 | $73,430 | $47,380 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top employers for LPNs in Maryland?
Top healthcare employers in Maryland that hire LPNs include John Hopkins Medicine and LifeBridge Health.
How often do LPN licenses need to be renewed in Maryland?
Licensing has to be renewed every two years in Maryland.
The renewal fee is $136, and you will need to submit another background check.
What is the licensing process in Maryland?
In order to apply for a license in Maryland, you must first complete a state-approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX-PN exam.
You will need to complete an application, declare your state of residence, and complete a criminal background check.
What does it cost to get a license in Maryland?
The Maryland Board of Nursing identifies that the cost for an initial license for LPNs is $100, while a temporary license (if you only plan on working in the state temporarily) is $40.
Where are the greatest opportunities for LPNs?
You will find more opportunities to work as an LPN in the more populated cities of Maryland.
This includes such cities as Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.
