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Healthcare

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Median salary (BLS)

$64,400

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$50k – $83k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

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Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$8,200–$23,000

Time to qualify

2.2 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

    Entry / Junior

    $49,740

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

    Established

    $64,400

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

    Senior

    $73,920

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
  • •Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
  • •Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
  • •Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
  • •Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Healthcare

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.