Best LPN Programs in Denver 2026
Explore Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Denver, Colorado with details on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing steps and career opportunities for practical nurses in the Denver area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Denver, CO
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO - Public 4-Year - frontrange.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Front Range Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate program at the Larimer Campus equips students to become licensed practical nurses in just three semesters through intensive hands-on training. Emphasizing clinical experience in modern labs, the program achieves high NCLEX-PN pass and on-time completion rates, fostering career readiness. Admission is competitive, targeting dedicated individuals seeking efficient entry into nursing without requiring entrance exams.
- Three-semester program.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- High pass rate.
- Hands-on clinical experience.
- Competitive admission process.
Arapahoe Community College
Littleton, CO - Public 4-Year - arapahoe.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Arapahoe Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate program spans 47 credit hours, emphasizing medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and maternal-child nursing to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exam. Admission requires acceptance into the AAS-Nursing program and completion of prerequisites with a 3.0 GPA. The program focuses on hands-on learning and clinical skills, offering an alternative pathway into nursing. Graduates gain a strong foundation in patient care, equipping them for the demands of the nursing profession. This campus-based program does not require an entrance exam, as it is a certificate-level offering.
- 47 credit hours total.
- Focus on medical-surgical nursing.
- Includes pharmacology and maternal-child nursing.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Requires 3.0 GPA for prerequisites.
- Hands-on learning approach.
- Alternative nursing pathway option.
- Strong foundation in patient care.
- Clinical skills development.
- Admission into AAS-Nursing program required.
Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora, CO - Private 4-year - concorde.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Concorde Career College-Aurora's Practical Nursing Diploma Program is an accelerated 10-month pathway to LPN licensure, focusing on comprehensive patient care skills. Students complete 405 clinical hours and 120 lab hours, gaining hands-on experience in medication administration, IV skills, and diverse healthcare settings. The curriculum covers medical-surgical nursing, mental health care, pharmacology, and ethical principles, all while preparing for the NCLEX-PN. ACEN accreditation and Colorado State Board of Nursing approval ensure educational quality, with financial aid options enhancing accessibility for aspiring nurses.
- 10-month program duration
- 35.5 credit hours
- 120 lab hours
- 405 clinical hours
- Campus-based learning
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- IV skills certification
- Approved by Colorado State Board of Nursing
- ACEN accredited
- Financial aid available
Community College of Denver
Denver, CO - Public 4-Year - ccd.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Community College of Denver's Practical Nursing program builds essential patient care skills with a strong emphasis on health, healing, and wellness. Students are thoroughly prepared for the NCLEX-PN exam through a curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge with extensive hands-on practice in diverse healthcare environments. The program requires CPR certification, a clear background check, and completion of prerequisite courses for admission. Approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and pursuing national accreditation, it opens doors to various roles in settings like long-term care and outpatient clinics, ensuring graduates are ready for rewarding careers in nursing.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Blends theory with professional practice.
- Approved by Colorado State Board.
- Seeking national accreditation.
- Requires CPR certification for admission.
- Clean background check needed.
- Prerequisite courses required.
- Hands-on experience in healthcare settings.
- Focus on health, healing, wellness.
- Diverse employment opportunities post-graduation.
Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver, CO - Private 2-year - pmi.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Pima Medical Institute-Denver offers a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate Program that prepares students for LPN licensure through the NCLEX-PN exam. This on-campus program combines classroom instruction in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology with extensive hands-on clinical experience focused on direct patient care skills like monitoring vital signs and medication administration. Financial aid is available for eligible students, and the curriculum emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application, taught by experienced instructors. Graduates are well-equipped for immediate entry into healthcare roles, with career services and alumni network support enhancing professional development opportunities.
- 12-month program duration.
- On-campus delivery method.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Hands-on clinical experience.
- Covers anatomy and physiology.
- Includes pharmacology training.
- Focuses on patient care skills.
- Financial aid available.
- Eligible for licensure in CO.
- Blends theory and practice.
Pickens Technical College
Aurora, CO - Public 2-Year - pickenstech.org
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Pickens Technical College in Aurora provides a comprehensive one-year Practical Nursing program focused on developing essential clinical skills through campus-based instruction. Students engage in extensive hands-on training within simulated medical environments and real-world clinical settings, mastering patient care, medication administration, and health assessment techniques. The ACEN-accredited curriculum prepares graduates for immediate entry-level employment with competitive starting salaries around $47,000. Program credits are transferable within the Colorado Community College System, and admission requires completion of prerequisite courses, ensuring a solid foundation for aspiring practical nurses in the Denver area.
- One-year program duration
- Campus-based learning
- Hands-on clinical experience
- Simulated medical environment training
- Entry-level salary $47,000
- ACEN accredited
- Credits transferable in Colorado
- Covers patient care basics
- Medication administration training
- Health assessment skills
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora, CO - Private 2-year - pmi.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora's 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate Program provides intensive, on-campus training for aspiring LPNs. Students develop essential skills in direct patient care, such as monitoring vital signs and administering medications, through hands-on experience. The curriculum thoroughly covers anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing theory, preparing graduates to excel on the NCLEX-PN exam and pursue state licensure. With financial aid options available, this program offers a focused path to entering various healthcare settings, emphasizing real-world application without requiring entrance exams.
- 12-month program length.
- On-campus delivery method.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Hands-on patient care training.
- Comprehensive anatomy and pharmacology.
- Financial aid available.
- Eligible for state licensure.
- Focus on real-world experience.
- Covers nursing theory.
- Direct patient care skills.
Denver LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in Denver’s healthcare system by providing direct patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. In the city’s hospitals, long-term care and rehabilitation centers, primary care and specialty clinics, and home health agencies, LPNs support medication administration, wound care, monitoring of vital signs, and patient education, helping expand access to essential bedside and community-based services across the Denver metro.
Denver’s healthcare landscape is broad and diverse, with demand for practical nursing skills in acute care, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, outpatient clinics, correctional health, school health, and home health. National labor data indicate steady employer demand for LPNs, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting about 5 percent employment growth for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses from 2022 to 2032, driven largely by needs in long-term and outpatient settings.
Most Denver-area practical nursing certificates can be completed in about 12 months of full-time study. Part-time or evening and weekend options, when offered, typically take 18 to 24 months. Programs combine classroom instruction, skills lab practice, and supervised clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities to build competence in foundational nursing care for diverse adult and geriatric populations.
Graduates of Colorado Board-approved practical nursing programs are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-PN, the national licensure exam for practical nurses. Licensure, education program approval, and scope of practice oversight are administered by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Successful candidates who pass the NCLEX-PN and meet state eligibility requirements may apply for LPN licensure in Colorado.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Denver
The healthcare employment landscape in Denver, Colorado, presents a robust outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The demand for LPNs in Colorado is projected to grow by an impressive 21.5% from 2020 to 2030, significantly surpassing the national average projection. This growth is largely fueled by an aging population requiring expanded healthcare services across various settings.
LPNs in Denver generally earn competitive salaries. While specific figures can vary, the average annual salary for LPNs in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area was $66,660 as of May 2023, with an average hourly rate of $32.05. Some data indicates an average annual salary as high as $70,491, with hourly rates in Colorado averaging $31.41. For those seeking flexibility, per diem shifts for LPNs in Denver can average $43.47 per hour.
LPNs in Denver find diverse employment opportunities across numerous facility types:
- Nursing and Residential Care Facilities:These facilities are major employers, offering roles in long-term care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. Examples include Aspen Siesta, Willow Tree Care Center, La Villa Grande Care Center, and Saint Paul Health Center.
- Hospitals:LPNs work in hospitals assisting Registered Nurses with tasks such as collecting samples, inserting catheters, taking vital signs, administering medication, and providing wound care. Leading healthcare systems often hiring include Kaiser Permanente and CommonSpirit Health, which operates numerous hospitals and clinics across the region.
- Home Health Agencies:Providing skilled nursing care in patients’ residences, these agencies offer roles that may include private duty nursing, sometimes specializing in pediatric home health. Aveanna Healthcare is a prominent provider in this sector.
- Senior Living Facilities & Assisted Living/Memory Care:These communities actively seek LPNs for roles like Wellness Nurses or direct patient care. Notable employers include Sunrise Senior Living and Balfour Senior Care (Balfour Central Park).
- Rehabilitation Centers:LPNs are vital in helping patients recover from illness, injury, or surgery at facilities like The Rehabilitation Center at Sandalwood and Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
- Physicians’ Offices and Private Practices:LPNs gain valuable clinical experience in these settings, performing duties from patient greetings to sample collection.
- Specialty Clinics:Opportunities exist in specialized medical offices, such as endocrinology clinics, often found within larger healthcare networks.
- Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH):Facilities like PAM Health Specialty Hospital of Denver frequently hire LPNs, particularly for night shifts.
- Detox and Residential Treatment Facilities:Centers focused on recovery, such as Avenues Recovery Center, employ LPNs for their detox and residential treatment programs.
- School-based Settings:LPNs can also work in schools, providing healthcare services to students.
Beyond these large systems, smaller facilities and networks play a crucial role in Denver’s healthcare landscape. Agencies like Ace Home Health Care, Alliant Home Health, and KidsCare Home Health provide specialized home nursing services. Behavioral health organizations such as WellPower hire psychiatric nurses, while the Denver Recovery Group LLC employs LPNs across its Front Range clinics. For flexible work options, platforms like Nursa connect LPNs with per diem shifts in various Denver facilities, including rehabilitation and senior living centers.
List of LPN Programs in Denver, CO
Denver, CO
Community College of Denver
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Blends theory with professional practice.
- Approved by Colorado State Board.
- Seeking national accreditation.
- Requires CPR certification for admission.
- Clean background check needed.
- Prerequisite courses required.
- Hands-on experience in healthcare settings.
Pima Medical Institute-Denver
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate Program
Campus Based - Website
- 12-month program duration.
- On-campus delivery method.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Hands-on clinical experience.
- Covers anatomy and physiology.
- Includes pharmacology training.
- Focuses on patient care skills.
- Financial aid available.