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.
2027 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 offers a direct 48-credit pathway to LPN licensure. The three-semester curriculum integrates anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and nursing practice through classroom, lab, and clinical experiences. Students focus on delivering safe, patient-centered care, effective healthcare communication, and evidence-based practice. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN and pursue careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and home health. Admission requires prerequisite courses, a 2.5 GPA, CPR certification, NC CNA certification, a mandatory nursing information session, and a TEAS exam score of at least 55%. The program is approved by the NC Board of Nursing, ensuring quality education for aspiring practical nurses.
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 48 total credit hours
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Employment in hospitals and clinics
- Program approved by NC Board of Nursing
- TEAS exam with 55% minimum score
- CPR certification required
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 equips students for LPN licensure through a 46-credit curriculum blending anatomy, pharmacology, psychology, and nursing theory. Clinical rotations emphasize critical thinking, teamwork, and patient safety across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-PN and pursue careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and home health. Admission requires the ATI TEAS entrance exam, with a September 1 deadline for spring entry. The program costs approximately $3,224 in total tuition, and financial aid is available. High school students may enroll via the Career and College Promise pathway. Faculty support and sequential course progression ensure a structured route to nursing practice.
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- $3,224 total program tuition
- 46 total credit hours
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Employment in hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices
- Spring admission deadline September 1
- High school students eligible through CCP program
- Sequential nursing course progression required
Davidson-Davie Community College
Thomasville, NC - Public 2-Year - davidsondavie.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nurse Education
Campus Based - Visit Website
The Practical Nurse Education diploma at Davidson-Davie Community College provides a one-year, 47-credit pathway to LPN licensure. This campus-based program, offered at the Davie Campus with a fall start, focuses on safety, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Students learn to provide individualized, holistic care across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN and boast a 100% pass rate. Career paths include hospitals, rehab centers, long-term care, home health, clinics, and physician offices. Total tuition is just $3,572, with financial aid and outside scholarships available. Starting salaries range from $43,670 to $48,140 annually. Admission is competitive; apply early.
- $3,572 total program tuition
- 1-Year program
- 47 total credit hours
- Starts fall
- 100% licensure pass rate
- $43,670-48,140/year ($21.00-23.14/hour)
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Scholarships available
- Competitive entry program
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC - Public 2-Year - rccc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers a Practical Nursing diploma that equips graduates for entry-level LPN positions. This ACEN-accredited program emphasizes holistic, evidence-based care, covering informatics, safety, and quality improvement. Students gain hands-on clinical experience under supportive instructors like Dr. Emily Fink, and alumni praise the program's life-changing skills. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam and can pursue roles in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and home health. With a projected 5% job growth in North Carolina and an average LPN salary of $47,080, the program provides a solid foundation for a rewarding healthcare career.
- Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing, Inc (ACEN) accredited
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- NCLEX-PN licensure exam preparation
- Careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care
- Average salary $47,080 in NC
- Led by Dr. Emily Fink
- Alumni praise supportive instructors
- Projected 5% job growth in NC
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 prepares students for LPN licensure in a three-semester format. The campus-based curriculum blends classroom instruction with clinical experience at area hospitals and long-term care facilities, where students learn to plan, implement, and evaluate patient care under supervision. Each fall cohort is capped at 30, ensuring personalized instruction. Graduates are ready for the NCLEX-PN and careers in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. In-state tuition is $76 per credit hour, with total costs around $8,000 including fees and supplies. The program is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and financial aid is available.
- $76 per credit
- 3-Semester program
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts fall
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Cap of 30 students per year
- Clinical experiences in area hospitals
- Faculty of experienced nursing instructors
- Mandatory orientation before classes
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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