Bartlett has zero practical nursing schools within its own borders, a fact that surprises residents who assume a suburb of 41,000 people supports its own LPN track instead of drawing from accredited LPN programs in Chicago. It does not. ZIP 60103 sits inside a roughly 30-minute drive ring that reaches Elgin, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Glen Ellyn and Palatine, and that ring is where every realistic option lives.
The tradeoff is commute versus cost: a program eight minutes farther might run $6,000 cheaper or hold seats open two months sooner. Working through Illinois admission steps, IDFPR licensure, funding through WIOA or Pell, and what suburban LPNs actually earn only matters once the geography is settled first.
Where Bartlett LPNs Actually Work, Suburban Employers and Illinois Scope of Practice
A licensed practical nurse job description in the Bartlett area usually includes working a floor, a hall, a clinic, or a car. Bartlett sits at the seam of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, so a 40-minute drive puts you in Elgin, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, South Elgin, Glen Ellyn and the Winfield corridor. That geography matters more than the Bartlett village line does, because almost none of the hiring happens inside the village itself.
The Employer Landscape Within Commuting Distance
Job listings in this radius consistently surface a mix of hospital, post-acute and community employers, including Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin, skilled nursing and rehab operators such as Aperion Care Elgin and Avantara Elgin, senior living and memory care settings like Encore Village of Schaumburg, White Oaks at Spring Street in South Elgin and ProMedica Glen Ellyn, and home-based care through Northwest Home Health & Rehab in Elgin. Treat that as a sample of who has posted recently, not a complete or current hiring list. Openings turn over fast, and census, shift differentials and pay vary widely between buildings.
Be clear-eyed about the pattern: in the Chicago suburbs, practical nurse hiring skews heavily toward long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, physician offices and home health. Acute-care inpatient floors in this market lean on RNs. LPN roles do exist inside hospital systems, but they cluster in clinics, procedural support and post-acute affiliates rather than med-surg units.
What Illinois Lets You Do
Under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act, practical nursing is defined as basic nursing practice performed under the guidance of an RN or APRN, or at the direction of a physician, dentist, podiatric physician or other authorized prescriber. Delegated tasks hinge on predictability of outcomes: the delegating nurse must judge the patient stable, expected to improve, or declining along a known course. An RN who considers a delegation unsafe can refuse without facing discipline.
IV therapy is where the limits get specific. A properly trained LPN may infuse fluids and give premeasured, prepacked antibiotics through a peripheral line, continuously or intermittently. Not permitted: IV push medications, IV chemotherapy, initiating blood or blood components, or adding medication to an infusion already running.
The Practical Takeaway
Decide your target setting before you choose among LPN programs in Illinois. If long-term care is the goal, prioritize clinical placements in skilled nursing and a schedule that matches 12-hour rotations. If you want clinic or home health work, weekday clinical hours and strong assessment training serve you better.
Are There Online or Hybrid LPN Programs for Bartlett Residents?
Fully online LPN programs, hybrid LPN programs, and traditional campus LPN programs are not interchangeable for Illinois licensure. The difference is not just scheduling; it is whether the program keeps you eligible to take the NCLEX-PN. For Bartlett residents, no Illinois-approved practical nursing program can be completed entirely online. Hybrid programs do exist, but the clinical portion remains hands-on.
What Illinois Approval Actually Requires
Illinois Board of Nursing approval controls LPN licensure eligibility. Candidates must graduate from an approved practical nursing program before IDFPR will authorize NCLEX-PN testing. Illinois allows some didactic, or theory, coursework to be delivered online or in a hybrid format. What it does not allow is a fully online path to LPN licensure. Clinical hours and skills labs must be completed in person. The state does not publish a single fixed percentage for online theory, so the practical split varies by program. The safest way to check current standing is the approved program list maintained by IDFPR.
What Hybrid Looks Like in the Bartlett Area
Several Chicago-area programs advertise blended or hybrid formats that can work for a Bartlett commute. Midwestern Career College in Chicago describes its LPN program as hybrid and Illinois Board of Nursing approved. Verve College markets an online hybrid practical nursing program, and FSTE Academy advertises theory instruction by Zoom with required on-site labs and in-person clinical rotations. These models generally mean fewer days on campus for lectures, but scheduled lab days and clinical shifts are still mandatory. Advertising a hybrid format is not the same as being currently approved, so confirm each school's status before enrolling.
Red Flag: Out-of-State Online LPN Marketing
Be cautious with out-of-state online LPN schools that promise a fully online LPN. A program approved in another state does not automatically qualify you for Illinois NCLEX-PN eligibility. If the program is not approved by the Illinois Board of Nursing, you could complete coursework and still be blocked from testing. This is especially common with online marketers that use national accreditation language without Illinois state approval.
Vetting Checklist
- Approval: Ask the school to confirm current Illinois Board of Nursing approval and check the IDFPR approved program list.
- Campus days: Ask how many days per term require on-campus attendance for labs, simulations, or exams.
- Clinical placements: Ask who arranges clinical sites and whether they are within commuting distance of Bartlett.
- Written plan: Request the program schedule in writing before paying a deposit, including the online versus in-person split.
LPN Schools Within Commuting Distance of Bartlett: Length, Schedule and Next Start
Bartlett sits in a rare pocket of the Chicago suburbs where several practical nursing options are reachable without moving, but almost none of them are actually in Bartlett. The table below is ordered by approximate one-way drive time from ZIP 60103, using typical traffic estimates based on campus location (schools themselves do not publish drive times). Two campuses sit inside a 35-minute commute, a cluster of Chicago options run roughly an hour each way, and a couple of downstate programs are included because their published schedules are unusually accommodating for people who work.
| Program / Campus | Approx. Drive from Bartlett (60103) | Program Length | Schedule Format | Starts per Year / Waitlist Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verve College, Practical Nurse (PN) Program, Oak Brook campus | About 25 to 35 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | 1,080 total program hours; described as 12 to 14 months, with another line on the same source citing 14 to 15 months | Day, evening and weekend schedules available | School states classes start year round. No cohort size or waitlist policy published; applicants are told to call the campus |
| Harper College, Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate, Palatine | About 30 to 35 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | 38 credit hours; time to completion is not stated in months or weeks on the program page | Not specified on the program page (day, evening, weekend or hybrid patterns are not detailed there) | Two entry terms per year: Fall (August start) and Spring (January start). No waitlist described; applicants are directed to the admissions page for application dates |
| Verve College, Practical Nurse (PN) Program, Chicago campus (216 W. Jackson Blvd.) | About 50 to 65 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | 1,080 total program hours; 12 to 14 months (also cited as 14 to 15 months) | Day, evening and weekend schedules available | Classes start year round per the school. Cohort size and waitlist status not published |
| ATS Institute of Technology, Practical Nursing Program, Chicago | About 55 to 70 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | Not published on the program page | Not published; the page does not specify day, evening, weekend or hybrid patterns | Page states enrollment for the next semester is open and explicitly that there is no waiting list. Exact start dates, number of annual starts and cohort size are not listed |
| City Colleges of Chicago, Malcolm X College LPN pathway, Chicago | About 55 to 70 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | Not published in the available program overview | Not published in the available program overview | Applications for the Spring 2027 term open August 31, 2026 and close November 9, 2026. Cohort details are handled directly by the nursing office; cohort size and waitlist status are not published |
| Midwest Career College, Licensed Practical Nursing Program, Chicago Loop | About 60 to 70 minutes each way (estimated from campus location) | 48 instructional weeks across 3 terms, roughly 11 months | Hybrid: classroom instruction, skills lab, simulation and supervised clinical rotations | One 2026 start listed: August 31, 2026 at the Chicago main campus. The Winter 2027 class is explicitly waitlisted; applicants not offered Winter 2027 seats may be eligible for Spring 2027 |
| Riverside College of Health Sciences, Practical Nursing Program, Kankakee | About 75 to 95 minutes each way (estimated from campus location; outside a normal commute but notable for its evening track) | Day Division: about 12 months (40 weeks). Evening/Weekend Division: about 15 months (58 weeks) | Day Division: full-time days, with occasional evening or weekend hours. Evening/Weekend Division: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. plus every other Saturday and Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Upcoming starts: January 11, 2027 (Day and Evening/Weekend), July 6, 2027 (Evening/Weekend), August 23, 2027 (Day). Deadlines: August 20, 2026 for the January start; March 11, 2027 for the July start; March 11, 2027 early accept and May 20, 2027 regular accept for August. No formal waitlist described, but early and regular accept dates signal selective admission |
| Illinois Valley Community College, Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate, Oglesby | About 90 to 110 minutes each way (estimated from campus location; well outside a Bartlett commute, included for regional context) | 12 months, three semesters, August start to graduation at the end of the following July | Full-time and on campus; day, evening or weekend breakdown is not described on the program page | Single annual August start. Separate college announcements indicate applications are accepted through late February for that August cohort; cohort size and waitlist policy are not stated on the program page |
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Admission Requirements for Illinois LPN Programs
Requirements vary school by school, so build your checklist around the specific program you're targeting. Harper College in Palatine is the clearest documented practical nursing admission pathway within commuting range of Bartlett, and its 2025–2026 requirements give a realistic picture of what suburban Chicago programs ask for.
- High school completion and minimum GPAExpect to submit an official high school transcript showing a graduation date, or passing high school equivalency results. Harper sets a 2.0 minimum GPA for current or previously enrolled students; applications below that threshold are not processed.
- Entrance exam scoresHarper requires an entrance exam for its practical nursing track. For Fall 2026 the published benchmark is a 60th percentile total, with a 40th percentile floor on the individual English, science and math sections. Confirm the current cut scores with the program directly, since published figures have shifted between admission cycles.
- English and math placementYou'll need to place into ENG 101, accepted routes include an ACT English score of 19 with Reading of 20, an SAT EBRW of 480, a high school GPA of 3.0, a GED Reasoning Through Language Arts score of 165, or a qualifying Harper placement result. Math placement can be met with an ALEKS score of 46 or a 3.0 high school GPA with four years of math at C or better.
- Prerequisite courseworkHarper's first nursing course requires BIO 260, ENG 101 and PSY 101 completed with a C or better, plus BIO 261 taken before or alongside it. Elgin Community College's nursing prerequisites (BIO 110, 245, 246, 265, PSY 100, PSY 218, ENG 101, ENG 102 at C or better) apply to its RN program, ECC does not currently run a standalone practical nursing track.
- CNA certification and Health Care Worker Registry clearanceHarper requires an active CNA listing on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry at the time you apply, with the state exam passed within the past two years or verified employment as a CNA. This is a hard requirement, not a preference, factor CNA training time into your application timeline.
- Health and clinical compliance itemsPrograms layer on immunizations, CPR certification, a drug screen and a criminal background check before clinical placement. The exact panel and timing differ by school and by clinical partner, so request the compliance packet in writing rather than assuming.
- Selective vs. open admission, and when to applyPoints-based and score-gated programs like Harper's evaluate a full applicant pool by deadline, so submit everything, transcripts, exam scores, CNA verification, well before the cutoff rather than at it. Where a program admits on a first-qualified basis, applying the moment you're eligible matters more than polishing your file.
- What can disqualify youA failed background check or certain criminal convictions can bar you from the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry and from clinical sites, which effectively ends the pathway regardless of your academic record. Check your eligibility with the program and the state before paying application or testing fees.
- Residency and other eligibility limitsSome district programs restrict admission geographically, ECC requires legal residency in District 509, and working in the district does not satisfy it. College of DuPage's practical nursing certificate is available only to students already admitted to its associate degree nursing program, not as a standalone entry point.
Illinois LPN Licensing: NCLEX-PN, IDFPR Application and Pass-Rate Context
What you learn in what you learn in LPN school is only half the job. Illinois licensure follows a set sequence, and skipping ahead usually just means paperwork bounces back to you.
The Licensing Sequence
- Graduate: Complete an Illinois-approved practical nursing program.
- Register for NCLEX-PN: Sign up through Pearson VUE and pay the exam fee, currently $200 per attempt. That rate is scheduled to rise to $350 on February 1, 2027, so factor timing into your budget if you're finishing near that date.
- Apply to IDFPR: File online with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, along with a $50 application fee.
- Fingerprint background check: Required for all applicants, with a fee that typically runs $50 to $60 depending on the vendor used.
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT): No extra fee here, but you can't schedule your exam without it, so keep your application and background check moving in parallel where possible.
- Test, then get licensed: Once you pass, IDFPR issues your license.
All told, most candidates spend somewhere around $300 to $310 getting through the full process, though exact totals shift slightly based on which background check fee applies to you. Processing timelines aren't rigidly published, so build in a buffer, especially if you're hoping to start a job on a specific date.
Temporary Permits and Renewal
Some applicants, particularly those pursuing endorsement or restoration, may use a temporary permit ($25) alongside the standard application, bringing that combination to $75. Once licensed, Illinois LPNs renew on a cycle requiring $40 per year (commonly billed as an $80 two-year renewal) and 20 hours of continuing education per cycle.
Reading Pass-Rate Numbers Honestly
Illinois publishes statewide first-time NCLEX-PN pass-rate data for approved programs, updated regularly. Treat program-level percentages with some caution, though: a cohort of 15 or 20 test-takers can swing 10 to 15 percentage points on just one or two failed attempts. A single bad testing day for a couple of students shouldn't be read as a verdict on program quality. Look at multi-year trends where available rather than one snapshot year.
Crossing State Lines
If you're already licensed elsewhere, or plan to work near the Wisconsin or Indiana border, Illinois offers licensure by endorsement. You'll still submit verification of your existing license and complete the background check, but you skip re-testing if your original licensure met equivalent standards.
Illinois Practical Nurse Licensing at a Glance
Paying for Your LPN Program: WIOA, Pell and Employer Sponsorship
Fully free LPN training is rare in the Bartlett area, but for eligible residents, workforce-funded tuition can come close to it, and the mistake most applicants make is enrolling before they check.
WIOA Funding Through Your Local Workforce Board
Bartlett sits near the boundary of several workforce investment areas, and which one covers you determines what gets paid. Kane County residents (Kane, Kendall, DeKalb) work through workNet Batavia; DuPage County residents have their own approved list, which currently includes providers like Ambria College of Nursing, CAAN Academy of Nursing, Chamberlain University, Illinois College of Nursing, Genesis Healthcare Institute and Harper College. Northwest Cook County residents use a separate American Job Center list. In every case, the school and the specific program must appear on that board's eligible training provider list, renewed annually, not just be a licensed nursing school somewhere in Illinois. Statewide, roughly 48 LPN/LVN programs currently hold that approval, so confirm the exact program code before you assume funding.
Pell, State Grants and Clock-Hour Gaps
Certificate programs at Title IV-participating schools can qualify for Pell Grants, but some clock-hour LPN programs fall outside standard federal aid formulas, so ask financial aid staff directly rather than assuming eligibility. Illinois residents may also qualify for the Nursing Education Scholarship Program, which covers practical nursing certificates alongside associate and bachelor's nursing tracks, including LPN to RN in Illinois, with awards that have reached roughly $18,574 per year in recent cycles and an April through May application window. It carries a service or repayment condition, so read the terms before committing. Smaller scholarships, including need- or GPA-based awards, add up but rarely cover a full program alone.
Employer Sponsorship and CNA-to-LPN Pipelines
Suburban health systems and nursing homes increasingly fund LPN training in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment. Reimbursement amounts vary by employer, typically in the low thousands per year, and some CNA to LPN Programs, like Oakton Community College's CNA to LPN Bridge to Success partnership, build a direct pipeline from aide work into licensure.
Before you enroll anywhere, call your local workforce board. WIOA approval has to happen before your first class, not after.
LPN Pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Metro
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse wages through its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, with the most recent reference period being May 2025. Nationally, the median LPN earned $64,400 a year, with the bottom 10 percent of earners near $49,740 and the top 10 percent above $83,440 across roughly 648,410 jobs. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro that includes Bartlett supported about 10,880 LPN jobs in that same survey, though the published wage percentiles for the Illinois statewide and metro-level figures were not available in a verified form at the time of writing, so treat any specific local dollar figure you see quoted elsewhere with caution until you check the current Illinois release directly.
| Area | Median Annual Wage | 10th Percentile (Entry) | 90th Percentile (Experienced) | Total Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (all industries) | $64,400 | $49,740 | $83,440 | 648,410 |
| Illinois (statewide) | Not verified in current release | Not verified in current release | Not verified in current release | Not verified in current release |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro | Not verified in current release | Not verified in current release | Not verified in current release | 10,880 |
What a Bartlett-Area LPN Can Expect to Earn
Here is the number Bartlett-area candidates should anchor to when weighing tuition against take-home pay.
Top-Ranked Practical Nursing Programs Serving the Bartlett Area
Below are the top practical nursing programs serving Bartlett students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. Each entry notes cohort size, cost and delivery format so you can weigh the commute before you apply.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt loads
- Institutional graduation rates
- Accreditation and program fit
- Net price after financial aid
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
Kishwaukee College
Kishwaukee College is a public community college in Malta whose practical nursing certificate is embedded in the registered nursing program rather than offered as a free-standing track. Students complete 46 to 47 credits of nursing coursework covering adult health, community care and mental health, with supervised clinicals in area hospitals. Cohorts are capped at about 20 students each summer, and the certificate can serve as either an endpoint or the first year of the RN degree.
- 46-47 credit hours, including NUR 206 Practical Nursing Essentials
- Open to students already enrolled in the RN associate degree
- Admits up to 20 students each summer
- 2.5 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses required
- Supervised clinical experience in area hospitals
- Can be an endpoint or the first year toward the RN
- Curriculum covers adult health, community care and mental health
- Prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure in Illinois
Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Oakton College
Oakton College in Des Plaines is a public community college serving Chicago's northwest suburbs, with an LPN certificate reserved for students already enrolled in its associate degree nursing program. The 39-credit curriculum covers maternal-child nursing, chronic illness, pharmacology and microbiology, taught in a skills lab and the college's Simulation Hospital before students move into local clinical facilities. Coursework spans fall, spring and summer terms, and graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN.
- 39 total credit hours
- Open only to associate degree nursing students
- Covers maternal-child nursing, chronic illness and pharmacology
- Includes Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Nursing Concepts
- One-year pathway across fall, spring and summer terms
- Emphasis on safety, cultural competence and professional ethics
- Skills lab and Simulation Hospital practice before clinicals
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam
Practical Nursing (LPN) Certificate — On-Campus
William Rainey Harper College
William Rainey Harper College in Palatine offers an ACEN-accredited practical nursing certificate that the college describes as the top-ranked LPN certificate in Illinois, with twice-yearly starts and a simulated hospital lab for skills practice. The 38-credit program requires CNA certification for admission and reports a 100 percent licensure pass rate with 71 percent job placement. The certificate stacks directly into the Nursing AAS degree, giving graduates a built-in route to RN licensure.
- ACEN accredited, 38 total credit hours
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- CNA certification required for admission
- Reports 100 percent licensure pass rate and 71 percent job placement
- State-of-the-art simulated hospital lab for hands-on practice
- Certificate stacks into the Nursing AAS degree
- Prerequisite courses required; limited-enrollment program
- Clinical placements in long-term care, schools and hospitals
Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate — On-Campus
Moraine Valley Community College
Moraine Valley Community College is a large public community college in Palos Hills with a practical nursing certificate built to align with Illinois licensure requirements. The curriculum leads directly to the licensure process, and the college is an NC-SARA participant, which matters for online and out-of-state students. Advisors help applicants work through the exam, background check and fingerprinting steps, and the campus-based format offers a straightforward local path into practical nursing.
- Certificate aligns with Illinois licensure requirements
- NC-SARA participant for online and out-of-state students
- Advisors available by email and phone
- Licensure steps include state exams, background checks and fingerprinting
- Campus-based format with a local path to practical nursing
Licensed Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College offers a practical nurse certificate integrated into its traditional RN curriculum rather than run as a separate track, so students earn a Certificate of Achievement after two semesters and can continue into the RN program. Training combines classroom work, simulation labs and clinical rotations in community health care settings. The program reported a 100 percent first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate in 2025, and selective admission requires a physical exam, immunizations, a criminal background check and a drug screen.
- Two-semester program leading to a Certificate of Achievement
- 2025 NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate of 100 percent
- Integrated with the traditional RN curriculum
- Simulation labs plus clinical rotations at community health facilities
- Students may continue into the final two semesters of the RN program
- Selective admission; physical exam, immunizations and background check
- Careers in nursing homes, hospitals, physicians offices and private homes
Practical Nurse (P.N.), Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
College of DuPage
College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn is one of the larger community colleges in Illinois, and its practical nursing certificate is open to students admitted to the associate degree nursing program. The roughly 35-credit curriculum blends classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction, covering microbiology, physical assessment, pharmacology and health and illness concepts, with an advanced nursing simulation laboratory for skills practice. Clinical rotations run across the western suburbs in hospital, long-term care and community settings, and graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN.
- 35 total credit hours
- Open to students admitted to the associate degree nursing program
- Classroom, lab and clinical instruction
- Coursework in microbiology, physical assessment and pharmacology
- Also covers health and illness concepts, family health and psychology
- Advanced nursing simulation laboratory for skills practice
- Clinical rotations across the western suburbs
Practical Nursing (PN), Certificate — On-Campus
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College offers an advanced certificate in practical nursing that combines nursing theory with clinical practice across the lifespan. The 49-credit program runs full-time or part-time, requires the TEAS exam and a 2.5 GPA, and places students in diverse urban clinical settings. Credits transfer toward associate or bachelor's nursing degrees, and the curriculum is backed by dedicated NCLEX review resources.
- 49 total credit hours
- Entrance exam required: TEAS, minimum cumulative score 60 percent
- 2.5 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses
- Full-time and part-time options
- Covers nursing foundations and care across the lifespan
- Clinical experience in diverse urban health care settings
- Credits transfer toward associate or bachelor's nursing degrees
- Criminal background check and drug screening required
Practical Nursing, Advanced Certificate — On-Campus
Ambria College of Nursing
Ambria College of Nursing in Hoffman Estates is a private nursing school positioned to serve Chicago's northwest suburbs, making it one of the closest campus options for Bartlett residents. Its LPN program can be finished in as little as 12 months with day and evening classes plus full-time or part-time schedules, and it is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The school also runs an LPN-to-RN bridge, so graduates can continue toward registered nursing without changing institutions.
- 12-month program with day and evening class schedules
- Spring and summer start terms
- Full-time and part-time options
- Approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
- Free information session webinars and campus tours
- LPN-to-RN bridge builds on the license later
- Prepares graduates to enter the workforce quickly
LPN Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Verve College
Verve College is a private, career-focused school with a main campus in Oak Brook and a second site in Chicago, serving suburban commuters across the metro. Its practical nurse program runs 12 to 14 months in a blended format, pairing online theory with on-campus labs and weekly clinical externships, and offers day, evening and weekend schedules with rolling start dates. Tuition includes one NCLEX-PN exam attempt.
- Complete in 12 to 14 months
- Blended learning with PN labs at both the Chicago and Oak Brook campuses
- Weekly clinical externships in hospitals and care facilities
- Day, evening and weekend schedules with rolling start dates
- $24,995 total program tuition; NCLEX-PN exam fee included
- TEAS entrance exam required along with prerequisite courses
- ATI Exit Exam required to graduate
- $75 application fee
Practical Nurse (PN) Program, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid
Americare Technical School
Americare Technical School in Park Ridge is a small private vocational school whose practical nursing program blends classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. The curriculum covers fundamentals, medical-surgical, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics and pharmacology, supported by courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and nutrition. Morning, evening and weekend schedules make it workable for working students, and financial aid is available for those who qualify.
- Covers Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics and Obstetrics
- Also includes Geriatrics and Pharmacology
- Morning, evening or weekend class schedules
- High school diploma or GED required for admission
- TEAS score, CPR certification and clean background check required
- Fingerprint background check and drug screening required
- Transfer students evaluated individually
- Financial aid available for those who qualify
Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid
From LPN to RN: Bridge Pathways Near Bartlett
An LPN license is not a ceiling in the Chicago suburbs anymore; it is a documented entry point into two separate RN ladders. One runs through community college LPN to ADN programs that award advanced placement toward an associate degree. The other runs through four-year schools offering LPN-to-BSN tracks, though specific 2026 bridge details for other Chicago-area BSN programs were not published clearly enough to summarize here, so verify current terms directly with any four-year school you're considering.
The Documented Path: Harper College
The clearest LPN to RN bridge reachable from Bartlett is Harper College's Bridge to Advanced Nursing in Palatine, which moves licensed LPNs into an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing over three semesters. It is not open to any LPN, however: eligibility is limited to graduates of Harper's own Practical Nursing certificate, so an outside LPN typically needs to complete that program first before applying to the bridge. Once in, students carry required coursework including BIO 230 and a sequence of nursing courses, and must hold a C or better in every course each semester under a lockstep progression, meaning one semester must be finished before the next begins. A 2.0 GPA is the minimum floor to even apply.
Working While You Bridge
The practical sequencing question that comes up constantly: can you work full-time as an LPN while completing prerequisites and the bridge itself? Many students do, and this is where employer tuition reimbursement earns its keep, particularly at hospitals and long-term care employers that want to retain staff through the RN pipeline. Because the bridge is full-time and lockstep once it starts, most working LPNs plan around it rather than through it, front-loading prerequisites during employment and reducing hours only during the bridge semesters.
Why Make the Jump
The RN scope and pay difference is the number that makes the practical nurse to registered nurse move worth planning around: RNs in the Chicago area typically out-earn LPNs by a meaningful margin and take on broader assessment, IV therapy, and care-coordination authority that LPN scope in Illinois does not include.
Bartlett LPN Program Questions, Answered
These are the questions Bartlett-area students ask most often when they start comparing practical nursing options. Answers reflect what Illinois-approved programs published for 2026, and program details change, so confirm specifics with each school before you apply.
Which LPN programs are closest to Bartlett, IL?
For most Bartlett residents, Harper College in Palatine is the nearest public option, offering a 38-credit Practical Nursing Certificate. Americare Technical School in Park Ridge is another approved program within commuting range, and Verve College operates campuses in Oak Brook and Chicago. Midwestern Career College, among Chicago LPN programs, is farther but still workable for some commuters. Verify current approval status with the state before enrolling.
How long does it take to become an LPN in Illinois?
Most full-time Illinois practical nursing programs run 12 to 18 months of classroom work plus supervised clinicals. Midwestern Career College lists 48 weeks, Verve College 12 to 14 months. Budget roughly 13 to 20 months from your first class to an active license, since scheduling the NCLEX-PN and waiting on state processing typically adds several weeks. Part-time tracks take longer.
Can you get LPN training for free in Illinois?
There is no statewide program that makes LPN training free for everyone. That said, WIOA workforce funding, Pell grants and employer sponsorship can cover most or all of tuition for students who qualify. Richland Community College, for example, lists its practical nursing program as WIOA training eligible. Eligibility is individual, so start with your local workforce office and the school's financial aid staff.
Do Illinois LPN programs require a CNA certificate first?
Not universally. Illinois does not impose a blanket CNA requirement for entry into practical nursing, but individual programs set their own prerequisites. Verve College requires an Illinois State Certified Nurse Assistant credential before you start, and Richland Community College requires an active CNA or concurrent CNA enrollment. Others do not. Check each school's admission page directly, since requirements vary school by school.
Can an Illinois LPN work in Wisconsin or Indiana without retesting?
Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact member, so an Illinois LPN license does not automatically authorize practice in Wisconsin or Indiana. You would apply for licensure by endorsement in whichever state you want to work. Endorsement rules, fees and processing times are set by each state board, so contact that board directly to confirm what your Illinois license will and will not cover.
