What is vocational nursing?

In vocational nursing, medical professionals are trained to provide basic patient care. In this capacity, licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) will work under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). If you want to make a difference with quality patient care sooner rather than later, Carrington College offers a Practical Nursing and Vocational Nursing certificate program you could complete in as few as 12 months.

What does a vocational nurse do?

Like licensed practical nurses (LPN), a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) provides basic patient care under the direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN). The biggest difference between the two nursing professionals is the name, with one more predominately used over the other in different parts of the country. Either way, for those who want to pursue a nursing career sooner rather than later, the education required to prepare for licensure as an LPN or LVN can often be completed in as little as 12 months. Then they could quickly pursue a career monitoring vitals, changing bandages, listening to patient concerns, maintaining records, and more.

What is a practical nurse?

As with a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a medical professional trained to provide basic nursing care to patients. They work under the direction of RNs and other medical professionals. The difference between LPNs and LVNs is the name. Different parts of the country prefer one title over another. Either way, the education required to pursue a career as an LPN or LVN can often be completed in as few as 12 months, making it a quick and viable route toward a patient-focused career.

How to become a licensed practical nurse?

The first step to becoming a professional nurse in any capacity is education. Once you have gained the skills and feel confident in your nursing ability, you will need to take and pass the National Council Licensure Exam for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN) to earn your designation as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Whether you are looking for a Vocational Nursing or Practical Nursing program, Carrington College can help you quickly pursue entry-level career opportunities with our certificate programs that can be completed in as few as 12 months .

Nursing Programs

Practical Nursing

Carrington College’s Practical Nursing program offers a quick path to becoming a nurse, as well as pursuing practical nursing licensure*.

Program Details

Cost & Financial Aid

Education is a major investment, but it’s an investment in your future. Every student comes to Carrington College with unique financial needs. Carrington College is committed to helping you achieve your education goals. We participate in most financial assistance programs, both federal and state, as well as private financing. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

Academic Cost

For complete information on current tuition costs, please see page 230 of the Academic Catalog.

Compare programs

Once you have decided you want to pursue a rewarding career in the nursing field, choosing the right job path and career education is the next step.

View Compare Programs

Location Availability

Carrington College is proud to offer our Practical Nursing program at 2 locations around the U.S. To learn more about our locations, explore their pages.

Albuquerque

Boise

Accreditation & Approvals

Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814; 415 506 0234 an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at www.accjc.org/.

For comprehensive information on Carrington’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation.

The Practical Nursing program at Carrington College at the campus located in Boise, Idaho is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404-975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at www.acenursing.org/search-programs/.

Effective September 5, 2024: The Practical Nursing program at Carrington College at the campus located in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a candidate for initial accreditation by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The candidacy status expires on September 5, 2026. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404 975 5000.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at www.acenursing.org/search-programs/.

Carrington College holds full approval for its Practical Nursing program and its associate degree professional nursing education program. The Idaho Board of Nursing issued a certificate of approval. Board offices are located at the Division of Occupational & Professional License (DOPL), 11341 West Chinden Blvd., Boise, ID 83714. Their mailing address is DOPL, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0063. The Idaho Board of Nursing’s website is www.ibn.idaho.gov. Questions may be directed to HP-Licensing@dopl.idaho.gov or 208 577 2476.

The New Mexico Board of Nursing certifies that Carrington College is granted full approval with warning to offer Practical Nursing in the State of New Mexico, 6301 Indian School NE, Suite 710, Albuquerque, NM, 87110; mailing address PO Box 3628, Albuquerque, NM 87190, 505 841 8340, https:/bon.nm.gov/.

Course Catalog

Program Specific Disclosures

Licensure Exam Pass Rates

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) requires that the following student achievement outcome data be made publicly available.

Graduates’ success on the licensure and/or certification examination
Students’ completion of the nursing program
Graduates obtaining a job

To view this information for Carrington College’s ACEN – accredited nursing programs, click here

Continuing Education For Graduates

Student Outcomes

REAL WORLD SKILLS

With many classes to guide you, you’re certain to be prepared for your career.

START YOUR PATH

Earn a Practical Nursing certificate in as few as 12 months.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING OPTIONS

Conveniently available at 2 of our campuses.

AFFORDABLE TUITION

Affordable tuition varies by program and location.

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Discover What It’s Like to Train to Become a Nurse at Carrington College

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Carrington has taught me that even though healthcare is science, it is also an art. We help patients out not with just medicine but by caring and support. Sometimes the best medicine is to sit, listen, and be there for the patient.

MERCEDES G.

2021 STUDENT, PRACTICAL NURSING

Career Opportunities

Nursing job duties vary depending on the level of nursing you are practicing and the state in which you are licensed. Typical job duties of an LPN or LVN include:¹

Monitor patients’ health, for example, by checking their blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation levels.
Administer basic patient care, including changing bandages and inserting catheters
Provide for the basic comfort of patients, such as helping them bathe or dress
Discuss the care they are providing with patients and listen to their concerns
Report patients’ status and concerns to registered nurses and doctors
Keep records on patients’ health

What Will I learn?

Medical Surgical Nursing

Mental Health Nursing

Pediatric Nursing

Anatomy and Physiology

Practical Nursing

Find your path in Practical Nursing

Talk to an enrollment services represenative about earning your Practical Nursing certificate in as few as 12 months.

Check Out Our Guide on Becoming a Practical Nurse

Licensed practical nurses provide basic medical care under the direction of a registered nurse. One benefit of a practical nursing position is that it is a quick way to enter the healthcare field. LPN is an entry-level nursing designation. Find out more in our career guide.

Successful Nursing Program Grads

Ask one of our graduates about their Carrington College experience and they’ll likely describe it as life-changing.

Explore The School of Nursing

School of Nursing

Our programs offer more than a real-world path to the future you aspire to, they offer an achievable path.

Student Life

The passion our students bring to their education is real. At Carrington College, we want to keep that passion going far beyond our learning experience.

ALL NURSING PROGRAMS

There are many different nursing programs to choose from, so you can select the career path that best suits your personal and professional goals.

Compare Programs

Once you have decided you want to pursue a rewarding career in the nursing field, choosing the right job path and career education is the next step.

Nursing Resources

Whether you’re just starting out in nursing, or taking your education to the next level, there are plenty of nursing student resources to assist you.

Financial Services

Figuring out how to pay for your education can be intimidating, but we’re here to help! Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

Practical Nursing FAQ

What is vocational nursing?

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a medical professional trained to provide basic nursing care to patients. The education required to pursue a career as an LPN can often be completed in as few as 12 months, making it a quick and viable route toward a patient-focused career. Although there is no such thing as an LPN program within career education per se, Carrington College offers a Practical Nursing certificate program to prepare you to pursue licensure. Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.
What does a vocational nurse do?

Like licensed practical nurses (LPN), a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) provides basic patient care under the direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN). The biggest difference between the two nursing professionals is the name, with one more predominately used over the other in different parts of the country. Either way, for those who want to pursue a nursing career sooner rather than later, the education required to prepare for licensure as an LPN or LVN can often be completed in as little as 12 months. Then they could quickly pursue a career monitoring vitals, changing bandages, listening to patient concerns, maintaining records, and more.
What is a practical nurse?

As with a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a medical professional trained to provide basic nursing care to patients. They work under the direction of RNs and other medical professionals. The difference between LPNs and LVNs is the name. Different parts of the country prefer one title over another. Either way, the education required to pursue a career as an LPN or LVN can often be completed in as few as 12 months, making it a quick and viable route toward a patient-focused career.
How to become a licensed practical nurse?

The first step to becoming a professional nurse in any capacity is education. Once you have gained the skills and feel confident in your nursing ability, you will need to take and pass the National Council Licensure Exam for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN)* to earn your designation as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Whether you are looking for a Vocational Nursing or Practical Nursing program, Carrington College can help you quickly pursue entry-level career opportunities with our certificate programs that can be completed in as few as 12 months .

Sources:

Disclosure:

*Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.