Best LPN Programs in Winston-Salem 2026
Find Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with details on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Winston-Salem area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Winston Salem, NC
Rockingham Community College
Wentworth, NC - Public 2-Year - rockinghamcc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma
Campus Based - Visit Website
Rockingham Community College's Practical Nursing Diploma program trains students for LPN careers through comprehensive campus-based education. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary teamwork, and safe patient care while covering essential subjects like human anatomy, chemistry, and psychology. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA, Nurse Aide I certification, CPR certification, TEAS exam score of at least 55%, and completion of prerequisites including an essay and information session. Additional requirements include background checks, drug screens, immunizations, and costs for uniforms and medical exams. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-PN exam and benefit from growing employment opportunities in long-term care and home health settings.
- Campus-based program
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Requires 2.5 GPA for admission
- CPR certification needed
- TEAS exam score of 55%
- Courses in anatomy and chemistry
- Includes psychology training
- Additional costs for uniforms
- Medical exams required
- Growing employment opportunities
Davidson-Davie Community College
Thomasville, NC - Public 2-Year - davidsondavie.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nurse Education
Campus Based - Visit Website
Davidson-Davie Community College's Practical Nurse Education program delivers intensive one-year training at its Davie Campus, requiring 47 credit hours completed in-person. This campus-based program emphasizes holistic patient care while developing safety protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. Graduates consistently achieve 100% NCLEX-PN pass rates, with recent data showing perfect examination success. The curriculum prepares students for diverse healthcare environments including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Program completers typically secure positions offering competitive starting salaries between $43,670 and $48,140 annually. Admission occurs each fall semester, providing a structured pathway to LPN licensure without requiring entrance examinations for this practical nursing certificate program.
- 47 Credit Hours
- One-Year Program
- 100% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
- Starting Salary $43-48k
- In-Person Campus Format
- Fall Semester Start
- Davie Campus Location
- Holistic Nursing Approach
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC - Public 2-Year - rccc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College's Practical Nursing diploma program provides comprehensive training for aspiring Licensed Practical Nurses. ACEN-accredited curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practices and holistic patient care approaches. Students develop critical skills for diverse healthcare settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and clinics. The program specifically prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensing examination. With North Carolina LPNs earning competitive average salaries around $47,080, this campus-based program focuses on interdisciplinary teamwork and individualized nursing care without requiring entrance exams for admission.
- Diploma in Practical Nursing
- ACEN Accredited Program
- NCLEX-PN Exam Preparation
- Holistic Patient Care Focus
- Multiple Healthcare Employment Settings
Surry Community College
Dobson, NC - Public 2-Year - surry.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing (PN)
Campus Based - Visit Website
Surry Community College's Practical Nursing Diploma is a three-semester, 46-credit hour program that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN exam and LPN licensure. The curriculum covers essential nursing skills for diverse healthcare environments like hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and clinics, with training under registered nurse supervision. In-state tuition is $3,224, making it an affordable option. Admission requires the ATI TEAS Test, ensuring candidates are well-prepared for the rigorous coursework. Graduates gain access to various employment opportunities in the medical field, supported by comprehensive exam preparation.
- 46 total credit hours
- On-campus diploma program
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- In-state tuition $3,224
- Multiple healthcare employment settings
- Comprehensive nursing curriculum
- ATI TEAS Test required
- Three-semester program structure
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC - Public 2-Year - gtcc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Guilford Technical Community College's Practical Nursing diploma program equips students for LPN licensure through an intensive three-semester curriculum. Approved by the NC Board of Nursing, this selective program admits only 30 students per cohort and incorporates mandatory clinical rotations across diverse healthcare environments. With an affordable total cost of approximately $5,000 covering tuition, fees, and supplies, graduates are well-prepared for the NCLEX-PN exam. The program emphasizes hands-on patient care skills, enabling employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and physicians' offices without requiring entrance exams like the ACT or SAT.
- Approved by NC Board of Nursing
- 3-semester diploma program
- Selective 30-student enrollment
- Clinical experiences included
- Estimated $5,000 total program cost
- Multiple healthcare work settings
- Mandatory clinical rotations
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- In-state tuition $76/hour
Winston-Salem LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in Winston-Salem’s care continuum by providing direct, hands-on nursing under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. In hospitals, long-term care centers, home health, and outpatient clinics, LPNs support medication administration, wound care, health education, and coordination of care that keeps patients safe and services flowing efficiently.
The local healthcare landscape includes major hospital systems such as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, a broad network of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Forsyth County, and expanding home health and primary care clinics. These settings create steady opportunities for entry-level nurses. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow about 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, with demand strongest in long-term care and home health, trends that are reflected across North Carolina’s aging population.
Winston-Salem LPN programs are typically offered through community colleges and approved by the state. Most programs blend classroom instruction, simulation, and supervised clinical rotations at local hospitals, nursing homes, and community health sites to ensure graduates are practice-ready on day one.
- Full-time pathways: commonly completed in approximately 12 months of consecutive study.
- Part-time or evening options: when available, often extend to 18 to 24 months to accommodate working students.
Programs are designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. In North Carolina, practical nursing education programs are approved, and LPN licensure is overseen, by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, which sets standards for curriculum, clinical experiences, and practice.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Winston-Salem
The healthcare sector in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, presents a robust landscape for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), with a significant demand for their skills. As of May 2023, the Winston-Salem metropolitan area was home to approximately 1,350 LPNs and LVNs, contributing to the region’s 26,750 healthcare practitioner and technical jobs. LPNs can expect competitive compensation, with hourly wages typically ranging from $22.04 to $33.32, with the mean hourly wage for LPNs and LVNs being $27.99, depending on factors such as facility type, shift, and professional experience, noting that the average hourly wage for all healthcare practitioners and technical occupations in Winston-Salem was $48.84. Full-time, part-time, and per diem (PRN) opportunities are widely available, with some positions offering attractive incentives like sign-on bonuses up to $10,000 and relocation assistance.
LPNs in Winston-Salem are essential healthcare providers, working under the supervision of Registered Nurses or physicians across a diverse range of settings. Common facilities and agencies actively seeking LPNs include:
- Hospitals:Major hospital systems are significant employers. Novant Health, including Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and Novant Health Medical Park Hospital, frequently hires LPNs for various departments such such as general medical-surgical, orthopedics, hematology, and urology clinics. LPN duties may include patient rooming, point-of-care testing, injections, and assisting physicians with procedures. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, part of Advocate Health, also represents a major employer for LPNs in the area.
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities:These facilities consistently offer both full-time and part-time roles. Employers include Willow Valley Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Winston Salem Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation, Mill Creek Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cedar Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Trinity Glen. LPNs provide direct resident care, administer medications and treatments, and maintain detailed documentation.
- Senior Living Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities:Communities such as Homestead Hills, Salemtowne (including Salemtowne Babcock Health Care Center/Moravian Home Inc.), and Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community regularly seek LPNs to support resident well-being.
- Home Health Agencies:There is a strong demand for LPNs in home health, offering one-on-one patient care and flexible schedules, often for per diem assignments. Agencies actively recruiting in Winston-Salem include BAYADA Home Health Care, Adoration Home Health, Amedisys, MGA Homecare, and Aveanna Healthcare.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities focused on patient recovery and rehabilitation, such as Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Winston-Salem (a joint venture with Novant Health) and skilled nursing facilities like Willow Valley Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, employ LPNs for both inpatient and outpatient care.
- Private Practices and Clinics:LPNs are also valuable assets in physician offices and specialty clinics, including those within the Novant Health network like Novant Health Urology Clinic – Kimel Park and various oncology clinics.
- Behavioral Health Services:Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services, a private psychiatric hospital, hires LPNs to provide inpatient services for adolescents through senior adults, encompassing psychiatric evaluation, medication stabilization, and group therapy.
School Settings: Opportunities for school-based LPNs and LVNs are available through
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