Best LPN Programs in Norfolk 2026
Find Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Norfolk, Virginia with information on schools, curriculum, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Norfolk area.
2027 Best LPN Programs in Norfolk, VA
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA - Private 4-year - ecpi.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
ECPI University’s Practical Nursing diploma is a 15-month, on-campus program designed to launch your career as an LPN. Admission requires the TEAS entrance exam. The curriculum focuses on foundational nursing skills, critical thinking, and communication, with hands-on labs and real clinical placements where you’ll work alongside doctors and RNs. NCLEX-PN preparation is integrated throughout, boosting your confidence for licensure. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. This military-friendly program offers a straightforward enrollment process with no extra prerequisites, making it an efficient pathway for motivated students seeking entry-level patient care roles.
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 15-Month program
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Foundational nursing skills for LPN
- Work alongside doctors and RNs
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Hands-on labs and clinical training
Fortis College-Norfolk
Norfolk, VA - Private 2-year - fortis.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Fortis College-Norfolk offers a hybrid Practical Nursing program tailored for aspiring LPNs, blending online coursework with in-person lab practice and clinical rotations in local hospitals and healthcare agencies. Students learn to care for patients across the lifespan, building entry-level nursing competencies. Working CNAs with recent clinical experience may qualify for transfer credits, accelerating their path to licensure. The curriculum specifically prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam. Financial aid is available, and the college is recognized as military-friendly. Dedicated career services staff support job placement after graduation, helping students transition smoothly into the nursing workforce.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Theory, lab, and clinical experiences
- CNA transfer credit available
- Career Services assistance
- Financial aid offices on campus
Tidewater Community College
Norfolk, VA - Public 2-Year - tcc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Education Certificate Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Tidewater Community College offers a Practical Nursing Education Certificate at its Virginia Beach Campus through the Beazley School of Nursing. This three-semester, 45-credit program begins each spring and combines classroom theory with clinical rotations in diverse healthcare settings. Students learn patient care, medication administration, and health assessment, preparing to sit for the NCLEX-PN. The curriculum emphasizes compassionate, evidence-based practice, and graduates find employment in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care. Approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, the program requires ATI TEAS scores, official transcripts, and a mandatory advising session. Applications must be hand-delivered by September 30. Note that the program holds no national accreditation but offers a streamlined path to LPN licensure.
- Virginia Board of Nursing accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 3-Semester program
- Complete in only three semesters of study
- 45 total credit hours
- Starts spring
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Offered at Virginia Beach Campus
- Mandatory advising session required
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA - Private 4-year - bryantstratton.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma
Campus Based - Visit Website
Bryant & Stratton College–Virginia Beach offers a campus-based Practical Nursing Diploma that can be completed in 12 months and 41 credits. The ACEN-accredited curriculum blends classroom theory with hands-on clinical rotations, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical-surgical nursing, plus specialized topics like intravenous therapy and maternal/child nursing. Students gain leadership skills and are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. The program holds Virginia Board of Nursing approval and is designed for entry into hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings. A $0 application fee, military-friendly environment, and the option to transfer credits into an associate RN program add flexibility for aspiring LPNs.
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- 12-Month program
- 41 total credit hours
- $0 application fee
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Transfer credits to RN program
- On-campus program in Virginia Beach
- Career in hospitals and clinics
- Internship opportunities available
Norfolk LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) play a vital role in Norfolk’s healthcare system by delivering direct, hands-on care across hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, clinics, and physician practices. In team-based settings, LPNs support medication administration, wound care, patient education, and coordination of care, helping to meet daily clinical needs and improve access for diverse patient populations.
Norfolk is a healthcare hub within the Hampton Roads region, anchored by major facilities such as Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, alongside numerous skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, primary care and specialty clinics, and home health providers. This broad mix of care settings creates varied opportunities for entry-level practical nurses in acute, outpatient, and long-term care. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of LPNs to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, reflecting steady demand that aligns with Norfolk’s concentration of hospitals and aging population served by local long-term care and home health services.
Practical nursing programs available to Norfolk residents are designed to be time-efficient: full-time options commonly take about 12 months to complete, while part-time or evening/weekend pathways may extend to roughly 18 to 24 months. Programs blend classroom instruction with supervised clinical rotations in local healthcare settings so that graduates are prepared for entry-level practice.
Virginia requires graduation from a state-approved practical nursing program and passing the NCLEX-PN for licensure. The Virginia Board of Nursing approves LPN programs, sets education and practice standards, and oversees licensure by examination and endorsement. Many Norfolk-area programs integrate NCLEX-PN test preparation into coursework and clinical experiences. Virginia also participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing eligible LPNs to hold a multistate license and practice across compact states, which can expand employment flexibility for local graduates.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia, presents a vibrant healthcare environment with a consistent demand for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs in Norfolk provide essential basic nursing care under the supervision of Registered Nurses or licensed independent practitioners across a variety of settings. The employment landscape for LPNs in the city offers numerous opportunities with an average hourly pay for LPNs in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan area of approximately $29.70, with wages typically ranging between $22.65 and $36.08. Many positions also provide flexible scheduling options, including full-time, part-time, and per diem shifts.
LPNs in Norfolk can find diverse employment opportunities within various healthcare facilities, including:
- Hospitals:Major hospitals in the area regularly hire LPNs for different departments. Prominent employers include Sentara Healthcare, which operates Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Sentara Leigh Hospital. LPNs can also find roles at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital, often working in areas such as emergency departments or inpatient case management.
- Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation Centers:These facilities are significant employers for LPNs, offering positions in skilled nursing and long-term care. Examples include Signature HealthCARE of Norfolk, Norfolk Health & Rehabilitation Center, Autumn Care of Norfolk, and Thornton Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
- Private Practices and Medical Groups:LPNs are sought after in physician offices and specialized clinics. Sentara Medical Group frequently hires LPNs for its dedicated care centers and vascular specialist offices, along with numerous other private practices and clinics specializing in areas like pain management and OB/GYN.
- Senior Living Facilities:Assisted living and memory care units within senior living communities frequently hire LPNs for resident care. Facilities such as Harbor’s Edge and Acclaim at East Beach AL & MC often have LPN openings.
- Home Health Agencies:The home health sector is a growing area for LPN employment in Norfolk. Agencies like Aveanna Healthcare, Maxim Healthcare Services, Amedisys, and Care Advantage, Inc. hire LPNs for in-home patient care, often offering flexibility and opportunities for specialized care such as trach/vent care.
- Behavioral Health Facilities:LPNs play a crucial role in behavioral health settings. Kempsville Center for Behavioral Health, an 82-bed hospital, hires LPNs for acute, residential, and partial hospitalization treatment for children and teens. Avenues Recovery Center also seeks LPNs for various levels of care.
- Other Healthcare Settings:LPNs may also find opportunities in urgent care centers, such as Velocity Urgent Care, hospice care with providers like Legacy Hospice, and even within correctional facilities under the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Beyond these specific facility types, major healthcare systems and organizations in the Norfolk area consistently recruit LPNs. Bon Secours, for instance, provides LPN positions in various settings, including physician offices. These diverse opportunities highlight Norfolk as a promising city for LPNs seeking stable and varied career paths.
List of LPN Programs in Norfolk, VA
Norfolk, VA
Fortis College-Norfolk
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Theory, lab, and clinical experiences
- CNA transfer credit available
- Career Services assistance
- Financial aid offices on campus
Tidewater Community College
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Education Certificate Program
Campus Based - Website
- Virginia Board of Nursing accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 3-Semester program
- Complete in only three semesters of study
- 45 total credit hours
- Starts spring
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
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