Where can you train as an LPN if you live in Scottsdale? Scottsdale Community College hosts a Fast Track Practical Nursing pathway, and the broader Phoenix metro, home to the Best LPN Programs in Phoenix 2026, places several other options within a 30 to 40 minute commute. That geographic reality matters less than it might seem: Arizona's healthcare expansion across HonorHealth, Banner Health, and Mayo Clinic Arizona has created steady LPN demand in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies throughout the Valley.
Nearby program locations and schedules, tuition comparisons, NCLEX-PN pass rates, Arizona licensure steps, and local salary benchmarks follow. Jump straight to the program list →
Why Scottsdale Is a Strong Place to Start an LPN Career
Some new LPNs target hospital floors first; others build their early career in skilled nursing, outpatient clinics, and home health, where Scottsdale-area hiring is steady. Both paths are realistic, but the second often gets less attention.
Healthcare Employers in the Scottsdale Corridor
Scottsdale sits inside a dense healthcare market. HonorHealth is headquartered in Scottsdale, and Mayo Clinic Arizona has a major campus in north Scottsdale/Phoenix. Banner Health, Abrazo Health, and Dignity Health operate across the metro, giving new LPNs multiple entry points in hospitals, clinics, and specialty settings. LPN roles are common in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, home health, and physician offices, so you can choose the pace and patient population that fits your goals. Skilled nursing and home health employers often list openings right in Scottsdale, including private duty and long-term care roles, so you can interview close to home without crossing the Valley.
Compact License and Regional Reach
Arizona is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an Arizona LPN license allows practice through LPN/LVN Reciprocity in more than 40 other compact states and territories. That mobility can matter whether you plan to move or take travel assignments. It also strengthens the local market: Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Peoria all have healthcare infrastructure within commuting distance of Scottsdale, and many of the same employers and care settings hire LPNs across those cities. For students comparing the Best LPN Programs in Arizona 2026, that means the license you earn here is not tied to one ZIP code.
Nearby LPN Programs and Schedule Options Within Driving Distance of Scottsdale
For a Scottsdale resident, an LPN program is a training site you're willing to commute to, and none of the region's main options require more than about a 40-minute drive. Mesa, central Phoenix, and the East Valley host the bulk of practical nursing training in the metro, which means daily commutes are manageable even during a demanding clinical rotation.
EVIT in Mesa
The East Valley Institute of Technology runs a Practical Nursing program out of Mesa (LPN programs Mesa AZ) that shows up constantly in local searches, largely because it's a full-time, 12-month track built around 1,080 hours of instruction and clinical practice. Classes run daytime, Monday through Friday, with no evening or weekend cohort currently offered. Tuition runs roughly $14,000 plus a $2,950 supply fee. The program holds candidate status with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, which is a step short of full accreditation, so it's worth confirming current standing before enrolling.
GateWay Community College and Mesa Community College
GateWay Community College in Phoenix is part of the Maricopa Community College District and is frequently mentioned alongside other LPN programs Phoenix AZ, though current tuition and schedule specifics should be confirmed directly with the college. Mesa Community College offers a Fast Track Practical Nursing certificate through its Red Mountain location, an accelerated daytime format requiring 22 to 27.5 credits over about 12 months. It's state board approved, with heavy lab and clinical days built into the first semester. The program has paused admissions but is expected to reopen for applications in August 2026, and a Maricopa district LPN scholarship has been available to help offset costs in past terms.
Brookline College, Phoenix
Brookline College's Phoenix campus offers a private, accelerated alternative: a 48-week Practical Nursing diploma covering 48 credits and 1,110 instructional hours, delivered in a blended format. Total program cost runs about $43,687, notably higher than the community college options but with a shorter overall timeline and rolling enrollment rather than a single fixed start date.
Format Takeaways
- Fastest timelines: EVIT and Mesa CC's Fast Track option both target roughly 12 months full-time; Brookline compresses to 48 weeks.
- Evening or weekend options: None of the programs reviewed here currently confirm dedicated evening or weekend cohorts; all lean full-time daytime.
- Blended coursework: Brookline is the one option noting a blended delivery model for didactic content, though clinicals remain in-person as required statewide.
Tuition and Net Price at Scottsdale-Area LPN Schools
Cost is one of the biggest factors in choosing an LPN program, and the range across the Scottsdale area is dramatic. The two Maricopa Community College options carry identical posted tuition for in-district residents, but their effective net prices differ slightly once financial aid is factored in. Brookline College, a private institution, costs roughly two and a half times more after aid. All figures below reflect 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Education.
| School | City | Sector | Published In-State Tuition | Published Out-of-State Tuition | Average Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public (Maricopa County) | $2,358 | $8,958 | $11,650 |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public (Maricopa County) | $2,358 | $8,958 | $12,132 |
| Brookline College, Phoenix | Phoenix | Private, For-Profit | Not published separately | Not published separately | $30,072 |
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What LPNs Earn in the Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale Metro
LPN salaries in the greater Scottsdale area compare favorably to both state and national figures, making the metro a financially rewarding place to practice. The table below draws on federal wage data for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Phoenix metro. Note that graduate earnings reported elsewhere on this page (such as in the ranking section) measure post-completion income from individual programs, which is a different metric than the occupation-wide wage estimates shown here.
| Wage Percentile | Hourly Wage | Approximate Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.73 | $47,270 |
| 25th percentile | $23.74 | $49,380 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $29.98 | $62,360 |
| 75th percentile | $30.01 | $62,420 |
| 90th percentile | $35.42 | $73,680 |
Steps to Earn Your LPN License in Arizona
Arizona issues LPN licenses through the Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBON). The process moves from education through examination to licensure, and graduates must apply within two years of completing their program or complete a Board-approved refresher course before sitting for the exam.
Admission Prerequisites and What to Prepare
Requirements differ across Scottsdale-area LPN programs, so verify each school's checklist well before application deadlines. Below are the most common prerequisites you should expect to address.
- High school diploma or GEDEvery program requires proof of high school completion or an equivalent credential. Brookline College explicitly lists this as a baseline requirement, and the same standard applies at GateWay Community College and EVIT.
- Prerequisite courseworkGateWay Community College requires Anatomy and Physiology I and II (BIO 201 and BIO 202) with a minimum grade of C in each, plus a cumulative 2.5 GPA across prerequisite courses. Brookline College and EVIT do not publicly list the same named prerequisites, so contact those schools directly for their current course requirements. Whether prerequisites can be completed online is not confirmed at any of the three programs, check with each admissions office.
- Entrance examMany Arizona LPN programs use the TEAS exam as part of the admissions process, though specific score minimums for EVIT, GateWay, and Brookline are not published in their current materials. Expect to sit for an entrance assessment of some kind, and aim for the highest score possible since competitive programs use it to rank applicants.
- Background checkBoth GateWay and Brookline require a criminal background check. GateWay's nursing handbook specifies that students must maintain a passing disposition on the background check to remain enrolled. Plan to complete this step early, as processing can take several weeks.
- Immunization records and health screeningsGateWay requires documentation for Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and seasonal influenza vaccinations, along with a two-step TB screening or QuantiFERON Gold blood test and a complete physical examination. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended but not required. Other programs have their own clinical health requirements, so request a full immunization checklist at the time you apply.
- CPR/BLS certificationCurrent CPR or Basic Life Support certification from an approved provider is a standard expectation for clinical placement. GateWay lists CPR 100 among its program requirements. Certifications typically must remain valid throughout the program, so time your renewal accordingly.
- Admissions interviewBrookline College requires an interview with the Program Director before clinical training begins. Not every school includes this step, but being prepared to discuss your motivation and career goals is always worthwhile.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates for Phoenix-Area LPN Schools
Arizona consistently outperforms the national average on the NCLEX-PN, which gives Scottsdale-area students a meaningful edge before they even sit for the exam. In 2025, Arizona's first-time pass rate reached 94.91% across 452 test-takers2, well above the national rate of 86.6% reported by the NCSBN.1 Early 2026 quarterly data shows the national figure holding steady in the mid-80s, around 86% in both the first and second quarters.2
How to Read the Numbers
A pass rate above 90% generally signals strong curriculum alignment with the NCLEX-PN test plan and effective exam preparation. Programs that fall below the national average of roughly 83% to 87% deserve closer scrutiny. Small cohort sizes can also skew results: a program graduating fewer than 20 students may show dramatic swings year to year from just one or two additional failures.
School-Level Data for Scottsdale-Area Programs
The Arizona Board of Nursing publishes annual NCLEX pass rates by school3, but program-level results for specific Phoenix LPN programs such as EVIT, GateWay Community College, Brookline College, and Mesa Community College , one of the Mesa LPN programs , are not yet reflected in the data available for this reporting cycle. Readers should check the AZBON website directly for the most current school-by-school breakdown. Arizona's strong statewide performance is encouraging, but confirming your target program's individual pass rate remains one of the most important steps before enrolling.
Scottsdale-Area LPN Programs Ranked
Below is a ranked list of the LPN programs serving Scottsdale-area students. All three sit inside the Phoenix metro and within normal commuting distance of Scottsdale, and each is a campus-based practical nursing program that prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN. Each card notes net price, the school's overall graduation rate, and median graduate debt so cost and outcomes can be compared side by side.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt loads
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Net price after grant aid
- Program-level accreditation status
- Curricular fit for LPN training
- 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
Brookline College-Phoenix
Brookline College-Phoenix is a private career college in the Phoenix metro whose Practical Nursing program runs about 48 weeks with rolling start dates, so students can begin without waiting for a traditional fall intake. The average net price for federal aid recipients is roughly $30,100, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 53 percent. Median graduate debt sits near $9,500. Instruction is campus-based, with skills labs, simulation, and supervised clinical rotations built into the diploma sequence.
- 48-week accelerated practical nursing diploma on the Phoenix campus
- Rolling admissions with year-round start dates
- NCLEX-PN preparation built into the curriculum
- Hands-on training in patient monitoring and medication administration
- Clinical work alongside physicians and registered nurses
- 48 total credit hours
- $0 application fee with financial aid and payment plans available
- VR-enhanced simulation learning plus supervised hospital rotations
Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Glendale Community College
Glendale Community College is a public two-year college in the West Valley, and its Fast Track Practical Nursing certificate is a three-term, campus-based program requiring roughly 22 to 27.5 credits in a full-time sequence. The average net price is about $11,650, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 16 percent, a figure typical of community colleges that enroll large numbers of transfer and part-time students. Median graduate debt is about $7,000, and the Maricopa district advertises free tuition for qualifying first-time, full-time students.
- Three-term Fast Track Practical Nursing certificate
- 22 to 27.5 total credits in a full-time sequence
- Entrance exam required in addition to general college admission
- Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card and district background check required
- Clinical rotations in hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare agencies
- Minimum grade of C required in all courses
- Approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing
- Enrollment limited to students located in Arizona
Fast Track Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is a public two-year college on the east side of the metro, and its Fast Track Practical Nursing certificate is taught at the Red Mountain campus in Mesa. The average net price is about $12,100 and the school's overall graduation rate is about 16 percent, which reflects a student population that includes many transfer and part-time learners. Median graduate debt is about $7,500. The college lists the program as paused with applications set to reopen in August 2026, so confirm current status before applying.
- Fast Track Practical Nursing certificate taught at the Red Mountain campus
- Entrance exam required; HESI is the listed exam
- Theory and skills for acute, extended, and intermediate care
- First-semester classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays
- Full-day labs and simulation on campus
- Clinical placements begin after week five
- Listed as paused with applications reopening August 2026
- Virtual information sessions offered twice a month
Fast Track Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Frequently Asked Questions About Scottsdale LPN Programs
Below are answers to the questions prospective LPN students in the Scottsdale area ask most often. Where possible, figures are drawn from the same program data and licensing statistics referenced throughout this article.
How long does it take to finish an LPN program near Scottsdale?
Most state-approved LPN programs in the Phoenix metro complete in roughly 9 to 12 months of full-time study. Scottsdale Community College's Fast Track Practical Nursing pathway, for example, is designed to finish in about 8 to 12 months. Part-time schedules can stretch that timeline closer to two years, so confirm the format before you enroll.
Are there accelerated LPN programs in the Phoenix metro area?
Yes. At least one area training program compresses the curriculum into 9 months and roughly 1,000 clinical hours across 38 weeks. Some schools advertise completion in as few as 6 to 10 months of coursework. These condensed tracks demand a heavier weekly course load, so be realistic about your schedule and check the Fastest LPN/LVN Programs before committing to an accelerated option.
Can I complete LPN prerequisites online in Arizona?
Some prerequisite courses, particularly general education and introductory science classes, are offered online or in a hybrid format through Maricopa and other Arizona community colleges. However, lab components and clinical hours must be completed in person. Each school sets its own delivery rules, so check directly with the program. Pima Community College, for instance, requires specific reading, writing, and math courses plus a nursing entrance exam before admission.
What is the NCLEX-PN pass rate for LPN schools near Scottsdale?
The Maricopa Nursing Practical Nursing Stepout at the Scottsdale campus reported a 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate in its most recent reporting period. Statewide, Arizona programs averaged about 93.76% in 2024, well above the national average of 88.38%. Individual program rates can vary, so always request the latest published figures and review NCLEX-PN Practice Test Questions before choosing a school.
