Best Wyoming LPN to RN/BSN Programs 2026
Wyoming’s bridge programs allow LPNs to advance into registered nursing roles. Students study advanced subjects and complete clinical rotations. Graduates are prepared for licensure and expanded responsibilities in patient care.
2026 Best LPN to RN Programs in Wyoming
Central Wyoming College
Riverton, WY - Public 4-Year - cwc.edu
Associate - LPN to RN Completion
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Central Wyoming College's LPN to RN Completion program is a hybrid option for licensed practical nurses seeking to advance their careers. It offers advanced placement, allowing students to earn up to 16 nursing credits for prior experience, and includes a transition course and PN Comprehensive Predictor requirement. The curriculum focuses on building clinical skills and preparing for the NCLEX exam, with no concentration specified. This flexible pathway does not require an ACT or SAT, as it is an associate degree level program.
- Advanced placement for LPNs
- Hybrid program format
- Up to 16 nursing credits awarded
- NCLEX preparation
- Flexible pathway to RN
- Clinical skills development
- Requires active LPN license
Wyoming LPN to RN Program Overview
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
Wyoming LPNs moving into an RN role typically apply to LPN to ADN or LPN to BSN bridge options offered by public colleges and the state university. While each campus sets its own criteria, applicants can expect the following common requirements in Wyoming:
- Current, unencumbered LPN license and proof of good standing. Wyoming participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate LPN license may also be acceptable.
- Completion of prerequisite college coursework with minimum grade and GPA standards. Common prerequisites include Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Microbiology, English composition, General psychology, Human growth and development or lifespan psychology, Communication or speech, and college math or statistics. Some programs also require Chemistry and Nutrition.
- Recent practice and competencies. Many programs prefer recent LPN work experience and may validate skills through checkoffs or exams for advanced placement credit.
- Standardized entrance testing as required by the college, immunizations and health screening, American Heart Association BLS CPR, background check and drug screening for clinical clearance.
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended and proof of residency for in-state tuition consideration.
Wyoming nursing programs must be approved at the state level. Prospective students should verify program approval status with the Wyoming State Board of Nursing before enrolling.
Program Curriculum and Accreditation
LPN to RN bridge curricula in Wyoming build on your practical nursing experience and focus on RN-level decision making, complex patient care, and leadership. You will learn to synthesize assessments, manage multiple patients, and coordinate interprofessional care while preparing for the NCLEX-RN.
- Core nursing coursework: health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, complex medical-surgical nursing, maternal newborn, pediatrics, mental health, community and population health, and nursing leadership.
- Clinical learning: supervised patient care in acute care hospitals, critical access facilities, long-term care, clinics, and community settings across Wyoming. Simulation lab hours are often included.
- Bridge and transition content: role transition from LPN to RN, RN scope of practice, delegation and prioritization, quality and safety, informatics, and evidence-based practice.
Accreditation matters for Wyoming students. State approval by the Board is required for eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN and for Wyoming RN licensure. Programmatic accreditation by agencies such as ACEN or CCNE and institutional accreditation by a recognized regional accreditor support financial aid eligibility, credit transfer, and admission to graduate programs. Employers in Wyoming commonly prefer graduates of accredited, board-approved programs.
LPN to RN Schools and Classes
In Wyoming, public community colleges offer associate degree nursing programs with advanced placement or transition options for LPNs, and the state’s public university offers baccalaureate pathways that can accept licensed LPNs who meet admissions criteria. These institutions serve students statewide, including rural communities, with some campuses providing hybrid delivery to reduce time on campus while maintaining required in-person labs and clinicals.
Expect a sequence that starts with a transition course and skills validation, then progresses into RN-level content:
- Advanced adult medical-surgical nursing with care of patients experiencing multisystem problems
- Maternal newborn and pediatric nursing with family-centered care concepts
- Mental health nursing with therapeutic communication and crisis intervention
- Community and population health, epidemiology basics, and public health roles
- Leadership, teamwork, delegation, and quality improvement
- Electives or focused experiences in areas such as geriatrics, rural health, perioperative care, or informatics when offered
Career Outlook
Registered nurses in Wyoming work in hospitals, critical access facilities, ambulatory clinics, long-term care, home health, public health, schools, and telehealth. Rural and frontier counties often experience sustained demand, creating opportunities for new graduates and for nurses willing to commute or relocate. Shift options vary by setting, with 12-hour shifts common in hospitals and daytime schedules more typical in clinics and public health.
Compared with LPNs, RNs in Wyoming have a broader scope that includes comprehensive assessment, independent nursing diagnosis, development of care plans, IV therapy and complex medication administration, and leadership responsibilities. RNs have wider access to specialty roles and advancement into charge, case management, and community health positions. Federal data consistently show higher earnings for RNs than LPNs and continued national demand for RNs, trends that align with Wyoming’s workforce needs, especially in rural healthcare.
LPN to RN Program Length
- Full-time LPN to ADN: approximately 12 to 18 months of nursing coursework after prerequisites, depending on advanced placement credits and clinical scheduling.
- Part-time LPN to ADN: approximately 18 to 30 months after prerequisites, suitable for working LPNs needing lighter course loads.
- Evening and weekend options: select campuses may offer hybrid or alternative schedules, often extending the timeline by one or more semesters compared with traditional daytime formats.
- LPN to BSN: typically 2 to 3 academic years after prerequisites, varying by transfer credits and whether summers are used.
Actual timelines depend on prerequisite completion, placement, and course availability in your region.
2026 Fastest LPN to RN Programs in Wyoming
| School Name | Highlights | Retention & Grad Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Central Wyoming College |
|
|
Tuition and Costs
Wyoming public colleges and the state university offer comparatively affordable in-state tuition. Typical ranges for Wyoming residents are:
- LPN to ADN bridge at a public community college: roughly 6,000 to 12,000 in tuition for nursing coursework after prerequisites, with total costs varying by credit load and clinical fees.
- LPN to BSN at the public university: roughly 12,000 to 25,000 in in-state tuition across remaining terms, depending on transfer credits and program length.
Additional costs commonly include textbooks and online resources, uniforms and clinical shoes, supplies and simulation fees, immunizations and titers, background check and drug screening, CPR certification, liability insurance, transportation to clinical sites, and NCLEX-RN and state licensure application fees.
Housing and living expenses vary by city. On-campus room and board estimates at public institutions in Wyoming often range from about 7,500 to 12,500 per academic year. Off-campus rent in college communities commonly ranges from about 700 to 1,200 per month for a shared apartment or one-bedroom, plus utilities and transportation.
2026 Affordable LPN to RN Programs in Wyoming
| School Name | Highlights | Annual Estimated Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Central Wyoming College |
|
|
Can I Take LPN to RN Classes Online?
Wyoming nursing programs incorporate required in-person components. While some campuses deliver didactic courses online or in a hybrid format to serve students across a large rural state, all prelicensure RN pathways include hands-on labs and supervised clinical hours in approved Wyoming healthcare facilities. Fully online LPN to RN programs without in-person clinicals are not available because clinical practice must be directly supervised.
Some students complete lecture content online and attend scheduled skills lab sessions on campus, with clinical rotations arranged near their community when possible. Out-of-state online programs that place students for clinicals in Wyoming must be authorized and meet Wyoming approval requirements. Always confirm that any program you consider is approved by the Wyoming Board and that planned clinical placements are acceptable to the clinical sites and the Board.
LPN to RN Licensure Requirements in Wyoming
NCLEX-RN Exam Information
Graduates of LPN to ADN or LPN to BSN programs must pass the NCLEX-RN to become a Registered Nurse in Wyoming. Register for the exam through the official NCLEX site, then apply to the state for RN licensure by examination. After the Wyoming Board of Nursing reviews your application and education, you will receive an Authorization to Test. Schedule and take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center. For exam registration, test policies, and candidate resources, visit the official NCLEX information.
Wyoming’s licensing process includes state-specific steps such as submitting an application, official transcripts showing RN degree conferral, and a fingerprint-based criminal background check. The Wyoming Board of Nursing outlines eligibility, application instructions, fingerprinting, and timing for new graduates, including how and when an Authorization to Test is issued.
RN Reciprocity and Nurse Licensure Compact
Wyoming licenses RNs by endorsement if they hold an active RN license in another U.S. jurisdiction. Endorsement applicants typically submit an application, verification of RN licensure through Nursys when available, official education documentation if requested, and complete a state and federal background check. Wyoming does not maintain separate one-to-one reciprocity agreements with individual states outside standard endorsement processes.
Wyoming is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. If Wyoming is your primary state of residence and you meet compact requirements, you may be issued a multistate license that authorizes practice in all compact member states. If your primary residence is another compact state, you can practice in Wyoming with that multistate license without obtaining additional Wyoming licensure. Learn more about compact privileges and eligibility at the official Nurse Licensure Compact site.
Licensure Requirements
The Wyoming Board of Nursing regulates RN licensure, renewal, and practice standards statewide. For initial licensure by examination after an LPN to ADN or LPN to BSN program, applicants generally must:
- Graduate from a board-approved or nationally accredited RN program and have the degree conferred
- Submit an application for RN licensure by examination and pay required fees
- Complete a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check
- Request official transcripts be sent directly from the nursing program
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RN
Internationally educated applicants may need a credentials evaluation and proof of English proficiency, as directed by the Board. The Wyoming Board of Nursing provides current forms, fees, and instructions for both examination and endorsement applicants.
License Renewal
Wyoming RN licenses are renewed on a recurring cycle. RNs must meet the Board’s continued competency requirements during the renewal period, which can be satisfied through options such as recent RN practice hours, approved continuing education, current national certification, or completion of a Board-approved refresher course. Keep documentation of how you met competency in case of audit.
- Renewal cycle: Licenses renew on a two-year basis, with specific open and close dates set by the Board
- Competency: Demonstrate continued competency through one or more Board-accepted pathways, such as practice hours, continuing education, certification, or refresher coursework
- Deadlines: Complete requirements before your license expiration to avoid a lapse in authorization to practice
- Records: Maintain proof of continuing competency for the current renewal period as directed by the Board
Always refer to the Wyoming Board of Nursing for the latest renewal dates, fees, accepted competency options, and any additional obligations such as background checks, name or address changes, or reactivation procedures.
Average LPN State Salary in Wyoming
$61,080
2024 LPN Pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
LPN to ADN Bridge Program
Program Length:
Approximately 12 to 18 months. Laramie County Community College, for example, offers a two-semester advanced placement option for LPNs.
Credential Awarded:
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing.
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes, upon graduation.
Program Focus:
This pathway provides the foundational skills and knowledge for entry-level registered nursing practice. The curriculum focuses on core clinical competencies to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN.
Average In-State Tuition in Wyoming:
Estimated to be between $7,000 and $10,000 for the entire program, not including prerequisites or other fees. This is based on typical per-credit costs at Wyoming community colleges.
Best For:
The LPN who desires a faster and more affordable route to becoming an RN, with the option to pursue a BSN at a later time.
School Types:
Community colleges are the primary providers of LPN to ADN bridge programs in Wyoming.
LPN to BSN Bridge Program
Program Length:
Generally 2 to 3 years. This includes the time to complete an LPN to ADN program followed by an RN to BSN completion program.
Credential Awarded:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes, after completing the initial ADN portion of the education.
Program Focus:
A BSN program provides a broader education in nursing theory, research, leadership, and public health. This prepares graduates for a wider scope of practice and leadership roles.
Average In-State Tuition in Wyoming:
The total cost is a combination of the ADN program tuition and the BSN completion program tuition. The University of Wyoming offers an affordable RN to BSN program for in-state residents.
Best For:
The LPN with long-term career goals that may include leadership, advanced practice nursing (such as a nurse practitioner), or roles in public health and nursing education.
School Types:
This pathway typically involves a combination of a community college for the ADN and a university for the BSN, often through online programs.
Choose LPN→ADN If:
- Quicker Entry into the RN Role: This is the fastest route to becoming a registered nurse and increasing earning potential.
- Lower Initial Cost: Community college tuition is generally more affordable than university tuition, making this a more budget-friendly initial step.
- Flexible Foundation for Further Education: Graduates can work as an RN while pursuing a BSN degree online at their own pace.
- Immediate Career Advancement: An ADN qualifies graduates for a wider range of nursing jobs with increased responsibilities compared to an LPN.
Choose LPN→BSN If:
- Expanded Career Opportunities: A BSN is often a minimum requirement for leadership, management, and specialized nursing roles.
- Higher Long-Term Earning Potential: While an ADN provides a salary increase, a BSN can lead to greater long-term earning potential, especially in advanced roles.
- Gateway to Advanced Practice: A BSN is the necessary prerequisite for master's and doctoral nursing programs, which are required for roles like nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse anesthetist.
- Enhanced Skill Set: The broader curriculum of a BSN program equips nurses with valuable skills in critical thinking, leadership, and evidence-based practice, which can lead to improved patient outcomes.
List of LPN to RN Programs in Wyoming
Riverton, WY
Central Wyoming College
- Associate - LPN to RN Completion
Online & Campus Based - Website
- Advanced placement for LPNs
- Hybrid program format
- Up to 16 nursing credits awarded
- NCLEX preparation
- Flexible pathway to RN
- Clinical skills development
- Requires active LPN license
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