Best LPN Programs in Albuquerque 2026
Find Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Albuquerque, New Mexico with details on schools, classes, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Albuquerque area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Albuquerque, NM
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM - Private 4-year - brooklinecollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Brookline College-Albuquerque's 48-week Practical Nursing Program offers an accelerated path to becoming an LPN, focusing on patient-centered care, pharmacology, and anatomy through campus-based learning. With year-round enrollment and flexible day or evening classes, students gain hands-on clinical experience in modern simulation labs. The program prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam and includes fixed tuition, financial aid options, and career services support, making it ideal for those seeking a fast-track entry into healthcare without requiring entrance exams.
- 48-week accelerated program
- Campus-based learning
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Fixed tuition cost
- Financial aid available
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Day and evening classes
- Year-round enrollment
- Career services support
- Modern simulation labs
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM - Public 2-Year - cnm.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Central New Mexico Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN exam through a blend of classroom, lab, and clinical instruction. This Limited Entry Program requires English and math proficiency for admission and covers essential courses in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and psychology. Accredited by NLNAC, the 48-credit hour curriculum emphasizes holistic patient care, critical thinking, and hands-on skills for roles in various healthcare settings. Graduates are equipped to work under supervision, with opportunities to advance to higher nursing degrees.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Limited Entry Program.
- Includes clinical instruction.
- Courses in anatomy, physiology.
- Emphasizes holistic patient care.
- Requires English, math proficiency.
- Accredited by NLNAC.
- 48 credit hours.
- Campus-based program.
- Career opportunities in healthcare.
Albuquerque LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses are essential contributors to Albuquerque’s healthcare system, providing direct patient care, medication administration, wound care, and health education under the direction of registered nurses and licensed providers. In the metro area, LPNs help sustain access to care across hospitals, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, assisted living, home health, and outpatient clinics.
Albuquerque’s healthcare landscape includes major systems such as UNM Health, Presbyterian, Lovelace, and the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, alongside numerous long-term care centers and community clinics. While LPN roles are often concentrated in long-term care, rehabilitation, and ambulatory settings, hospitals and specialty clinics in the city also employ LPNs based on unit needs. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of LPNs and LVNs to grow about 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, reflecting steady demand that aligns with the services provided across Albuquerque’s post-acute and outpatient sectors.
LPN programs in Albuquerque typically combine classroom instruction, skills lab, and supervised clinical rotations with local healthcare partners. Full-time tracks commonly span about 12 months, while part-time or evening formats, where offered, can extend to roughly 18 to 24 months depending on the college and course sequencing.
Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN to obtain licensure. In New Mexico, LPN programs are approved and nursing practice is regulated by the New Mexico Board of Nursing, which oversees program approval, testing eligibility, and licensure requirements for practical nurses.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Albuquerque
The healthcare employment landscape in Albuquerque, New Mexico, demonstrates a consistent and growing demand for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The overall healthcare practitioner and technical occupational group in New Mexico is projected to increase by 13.9% from 2020 to 2030, a rate faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, as highlighted by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, is driven by an aging population and an increased focus on preventive care, collectively boosting the need for healthcare services. The New Mexico Board of Nursing’s 2023 report indicates that 2,752 LPNs (or LVNs) are licensed statewide (as of FY23), constituting about 12% of the state’s nursing workforce and playing a critical role, particularly in rural and underserved areas. There has also been a post-2020 trend shifting healthcare employment away from private practices towards larger health systems and corporate entities.
LPNs in Albuquerque find employment across a diverse range of healthcare settings, providing essential patient care in various capacities:
- Hospitals:Major hospital systems actively recruit LPNs for roles in both inpatient and outpatient settings. For instance, University of New Mexico Hospital lists LPN positions in departments such as the PACU, Emergency Room, Women’s Care, Crisis Triage Center, and Medication Assisted Treatment. Lovelace Medical Group also employs LPNs for medical-surgical roles, and Presbyterian Healthcare Services, with its extensive network of hospitals and clinics, frequently hires clinical nursing staff.
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities:There is a consistent demand for LPNs in long-term care and skilled nursing environments. For example, Genesis Healthcare operates facilities such as Albuquerque Heights, where LPNs may serve as Staff Development Coordinators.
- Home Health Agencies:LPNs are vital for community-based patient care. Klarus Home Health actively seeks full-time, part-time, and PRN LPNs/LVNs, and Children’s Home Healthcare also employs LPNs for pediatric home healthcare services.
- Senior Living Facilities:Facilities catering to seniors, such as MorningStar Senior Living, hire LPNs for Wellness Nurse positions, often for PRN (as-needed) shifts to support resident health.
- Private Practices and Clinics:LPNs are employed in various clinic settings, including primary care, specialty clinics like medical oncology, and other outpatient services.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Opportunities exist for LPNs in inpatient rehabilitation settings, assisting patients in their recovery journeys.
- Other Healthcare Settings:LPNs are also recruited by organizations such as Molina Healthcare for Field Care Manager roles focused on Long Term Services & Supports, and by CSL Plasma for general nursing duties. The New Mexico Department of Health also employs nurses for public health services across the state.
Major healthcare employers known for hiring LPNs in Albuquerque include:
- University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH)
- Presbyterian Healthcare Services
- Lovelace Health System (including Lovelace Medical Group)
- Klarus Home Health
- MorningStar Senior Living
- Genesis Healthcare (e.g., Albuquerque Heights)
- Molina Healthcare
- CSL Plasma
List of LPN Programs in Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM
Brookline College-Albuquerque
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Program
Campus Based - Website
- 48-week accelerated program
- Campus-based learning
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Fixed tuition cost
- Financial aid available
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Day and evening classes
- Year-round enrollment
Central New Mexico Community College
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Limited Entry Program.
- Includes clinical instruction.
- Courses in anatomy, physiology.
- Emphasizes holistic patient care.
- Requires English, math proficiency.
- Accredited by NLNAC.
- 48 credit hours.