Best LPN Programs in Birmingham 2026
Discover Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Birmingham, Alabama with details on local schools, curriculum, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career options in the Birmingham area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Birmingham, AL
Bevill State Community College
Jasper, AL - Public 2-Year - bscc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Bevill State Community College's Practical Nursing program delivers a concept-based curriculum that builds from basic to complex healthcare principles, fostering active learning and systematic skill development. This competitive campus-based program awards a practical nursing certificate and requires a 2.5 GPA, ACT score of at least 18, and completion of prerequisite courses. Admission also mandates health function assessments and vaccination documentation, ensuring students are prepared for critical roles in diverse medical settings without a specific concentration focus.
- Concept-based nursing curriculum
- Practical nursing certificate option
- 2.5 GPA admission requirement
- Minimum 18 ACT score
- Comprehensive prerequisite courses
- Competitive program admission
- Campus-based learning
- Health function assessments required
- Vaccination documentation mandatory
- Diverse student admission approach
Wallace State-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL - Public 2-Year - wallacestate.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville's Practical Nursing program provides a fast-track certificate pathway, enabling students to become Licensed Practical Nurses in just three semesters. It features state-of-the-art training facilities and a competitive, point-based admission process that evaluates academic performance and healthcare experience. Unique offerings include evening program options and joint enrollment opportunities, supporting flexible learning. As a nationally accredited program, it emphasizes comprehensive nursing education without requiring entrance exams, making it accessible for career-focused individuals seeking efficient entry into healthcare.
- State-of-the-art nursing facilities
- Competitive point-based admission
- Evening program option
- Multiple nursing pathways
- Nationally accredited program
- Certificate in three semesters
- Joint enrollment opportunities
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, AL - Public 2-Year - lawsonstate.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Campus Based - Visit Website
Lawson State Community College's LPN program provides an accelerated 3-semester certificate pathway requiring 49 credit hours. Located at the Bessemer campus, this HBCU program features competitive admissions with multiple yearly cycles and requires a minimum ACT score of 18 plus prerequisite courses. Students benefit from a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and strong job placement, with graduates earning a median salary of $48,000 in diverse healthcare settings. The program also offers a clear pathway for career advancement to RN roles, emphasizing rigorous curriculum and comprehensive patient care training.
- 3-semester certificate program
- 49 credit hours total
- Bessemer campus location
- Competitive admissions process
- Multiple admission cycles yearly
- 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate
- Strong job placement rates
- Pathway to RN advancement
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
Birmingham, AL - Private 2-year - fortis.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Fortis Institute-Birmingham provides a campus-based Practical Nursing program tailored for aspiring LPNs, blending rigorous classroom instruction with extensive hands-on clinical training to ensure readiness for the NCLEX-PN exam. The curriculum emphasizes critical areas such as patient care, pharmacology, and emergency response, offering a fast-track pathway into nursing. Financial aid is accessible for qualified students, supporting career advancement without a specific concentration focus.
- Campus-based learning
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Covers patient care, pharmacology
- Financial aid options available
Birmingham LPN Program Overview
Birmingham is a major healthcare hub in Alabama, anchored by academic medical centers and regional hospital systems that rely on Licensed Practical Nurses for direct patient care. LPNs in the city support teams in medical-surgical units, outpatient clinics, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, physicians’ offices, and home health, contributing to care coordination, medication administration, and patient education under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
The local healthcare landscape includes large employers such as UAB Hospital and its affiliated clinics, Children’s of Alabama, Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham, Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, and the Birmingham VA Medical Center, alongside numerous skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, community clinics, and home health agencies. This breadth of settings sustains steady demand for practical nurses across shifts and specialties.
Most Birmingham-area practical nursing programs are certificate or diploma pathways designed to be completed in approximately 12 months of full-time study. Many schools also offer extended or evening-weekend tracks that range from about 18 to 24 months part-time, combining classroom instruction, skills labs, and supervised clinical rotations in adult health, gerontology, maternal-child, pharmacology, and mental health.
LPN programs in Birmingham prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-PN and meet state licensure requirements. The Alabama Board of Nursing approves practical nursing programs, defines LPN scope of practice, and oversees licensure. Candidates must complete an approved program and pass the NCLEX-PN to be eligible for licensure through the Alabama Board of Nursing.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow over the coming decade, with thousands of openings annually nationwide due to demand in long-term care, home health, and outpatient settings. While local hiring varies by employer and practice setting, Birmingham’s concentration of hospitals and post-acute care providers aligns with these trends and supports ongoing opportunities for new LPNs.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Birmingham
The employment outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in Birmingham is strong, supported by the healthcare needs of a growing and aging population. LPNs are crucial members of the healthcare team, and their skills are in demand across a wide variety of clinical settings throughout the metropolitan area.
LPNs in Birmingham can find fulfilling career opportunities in numerous types of healthcare facilities, including:
- Hospitals, providing direct patient care in a dynamic environment.
- Nursing homes and long term care facilities, focusing on geriatric and residential patient care.
- Rehabilitation centers, assisting patients recovering from injury, surgery, or illness.
- Home health agencies, delivering personalized care to patients in their own homes.
- Physician’s offices and private clinics, supporting daily operations and patient management.
- Senior living communities, addressing the wellness needs of residents in assisted living facilities.
- Hospice care agencies, offering compassionate end of life support to patients and their families.
Birmingham is home to several major healthcare systems that are significant employers of LPNs. The area’s largest academic medical center, UAB Medicine, frequently has openings for LPNs in a multitude of specialized departments. National providers with a major presence in the city also offer numerous positions. These include Encompass Health for rehabilitation services, Amedisys for home health and hospice care, and Brookdale Senior Living for opportunities in elder care.
Beyond these large networks, LPNs are sought by many local and specialized facilities. The region has a high concentration of skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, such as Northway Health and Rehabilitation, Aspire Physical Recovery Center, and South Health And Rehabilitation. Numerous home care agencies and specialized clinics also provide a diverse range of employment options for LPNs in the Birmingham area.
List of LPN Programs in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- Campus-based learning
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Covers patient care, pharmacology
- Financial aid options available
Lawson State Community College
- Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Campus Based - Website
- 3-semester certificate program
- 49 credit hours total
- Bessemer campus location
- Competitive admissions process
- Multiple admission cycles yearly
- 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate
- Strong job placement rates
- Pathway to RN advancement
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