Miami-Dade and Broward counties employ more than 8,000 licensed practical nurses, with skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospital systems continuously posting openings. The region's large elderly population and concentration of Spanish- and Creole-speaking households make bilingual LPNs especially valuable in long-term care and outpatient settings.
Prospective students face real trade-offs when comparing local options. Public technical colleges charge roughly a third of what some private career schools cost, yet seat availability and enrollment cycles vary widely. NCLEX-PN pass rates range from the high 60s to near-perfect depending on the program, and schedule formats span daytime-only tracks to evening and weekend cohorts.
Salaries, tuition, admission hurdles, and licensure outcomes for each school within 40 miles of central Miami are compared below. Jump straight to the program list →
Why Miami Is a Strong Market for New LPNs
South Florida's healthcare infrastructure creates consistent demand for licensed practical nurses across hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies. The combination of major health systems, an aging population, and multilingual communities makes Miami one of the more favorable employment markets in the state for graduates of Best LPN Programs in Florida 2026.
Major Clinical Employers in Miami-Dade and Broward
Baptist Health South Florida is the region's largest not-for-profit healthcare organization, operating 12 hospitals and more than 200 outpatient, urgent care, and physician practice sites across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. With roughly 29,000 employees and 4,500 affiliated physicians, Baptist Health regularly posts LPN positions in settings ranging from inpatient units to specialty clinics. Jackson Health System and University of Miami Health System are similarly prominent employers, with LPN openings appearing throughout the year in both hospital and outpatient roles.
Cleveland Clinic Weston in Broward County maintains active LPN hiring for clinic positions, while Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach lists LPN roles tied to outpatient offices in Hialeah West and Hialeah East. Memorial Healthcare System serves the Hollywood and Broward corridor, and HCA Florida Kendall draws from the southern Miami-Dade labor pool.
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities employ substantial numbers of LPNs as well. Palmetto Subacute, North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation, Springtree, Tamarac, and Larkin family facilities all appear in current postings. Home health agencies such as Home Health Care of South Florida, BrightStar, Premier, and Aveanna, along with hospice providers such as VITAS, are consistently hiring LPNs in Hospice Care across both counties. Florida PACE Centers, affiliated with Miami Jewish Health, operates the largest PACE program in the state through four adult day health centers in Miami-Dade and Broward.
Scope of Practice and Demographic Drivers
Florida permits LPNs to administer medications and, with additional certification, including Specialty Certification for LPNs, perform IV therapy under RN or physician supervision. This scope supports employment in long-term care, home health, outpatient surgery centers, and community clinics. Miami's retiree population and high immigration-driven growth sustain demand, and bilingual LPNs fluent in Spanish or Creole fill a documented niche.
Neighboring Markets
Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Homestead, Pembroke Pines, and West Palm Beach all fall within commuting distance, broadening the job pool for Miami-area graduates.
LPN Salary and Job Growth in the Miami Metro Area
Miami-area LPNs earn a median annual wage of roughly $62,610, based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That figure outpaces the national median for the occupation and reflects the premium South Florida employers pay to staff long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics in a high-cost market. Still, RN wages in the same metro run about $91,380 at the median, nearly 46 percent higher, which is one reason many working LPNs eventually pursue a bridge program. Statewide, LPN positions are projected to grow 12.7 percent between 2022 and 2032, with roughly 3,520 annual openings across Florida. The Florida Center for Nursing projects that demand will continue rising at about 2.3 percent per year while supply contracts at roughly 0.9 percent per year, pushing workforce adequacy from 85 percent in 2022 toward an estimated 55 percent by 2037. For new graduates entering the Miami market, that supply gap translates into strong hiring leverage and room to negotiate wages, especially in skilled nursing and home health settings.
| Occupation | Miami Metro Median Salary | Miami Metro 25th Percentile | Miami Metro 75th Percentile | Miami Metro Mean Salary | Miami Metro Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $62,610 | $59,620 | $66,090 | $63,610 | 8,900 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $91,380 | $80,510 | $104,320 | $94,990 | 61,670 |
How Much Do Miami LPN Programs Cost?
LPN program costs in Miami vary dramatically depending on whether you attend a public technical college or a private career school. Public programs at institutions like Sheridan Technical College and Robert Morgan Educational Center typically fall in the $5,800 to $6,700 range for Florida residents, covering tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Private programs such as FVI School of Nursing can run close to $30,000 when all line items are included. Beyond tuition, budget for the NCLEX-PN exam fee (roughly $200), the Florida Board of Nursing licensure application, uniforms, and any ATI or HESI testing fees your program requires. Students enrolled in Title IV eligible programs may qualify for Pell Grants, and many Miami-area applicants also tap WIOA funding through CareerSource South Florida to offset out-of-pocket costs.
Program Length and Schedule Formats
Full-time daytime study versus evening, weekend, or hybrid tracks: the format you choose shapes whether an LPN program fits around a current job or childcare schedule, but Miami-Dade and Broward schools do not publish a uniform answer. Program length across Florida is standardized at 1,350 clock hours1, with at least 675 of those hours completed as supervised clinical training2, per state curriculum frameworks. How those hours are arranged into a weekly calendar, though, is decided school by school and can shift from one cohort to the next.
Search Before You Assume
Rather than relying on a schedule chart that may be outdated by the time you enroll, search each school's website directly for terms like "LPN evening," "LPN weekend," "LPN part-time," and "LPN hybrid." Then call the admissions office and ask specifically about 2026-2027 cohort start dates and formats. Offerings change by term and campus, so a program that ran daytime-only last year may add an evening track, or vice versa.
Verify the Regulatory Baseline
Before comparing any two programs, confirm the current clock-hour minimum directly with the Florida Board of Nursing at floridanursing.gov, or review Florida Statutes Chapter 464 and Board rules. Program approvals and hour requirements can be revised, so treat any third-party summary, including this one, as a starting point rather than a final answer.
Checklist for Comparing Formats
- Search school sites for evening, weekend, part-time, and hybrid keywords
- Call admissions for the current 2026-2027 cohort schedule
- Confirm clock-hour and clinical requirements at floridanursing.gov
- Compare when clinical rotations happen relative to classroom hours
- Ask about cohort start dates, waitlists, and financial aid deadlines
For broader context, check BLS.gov for occupational data, the Florida Department of Education's Commission for Independent Education for private school licensure, and groups like NAPNES or the Florida Nurses Association for program guidance.
Admission Requirements and How Competitive Miami Programs Are
Miami-area LPN programs share a core set of prerequisites, but each school adds its own layers. Because several programs have limited seats and variable enrollment cycles, understanding exactly what you need, and when to apply, puts you ahead of the crowd.
- High School Diploma or GEDEvery program in the Miami metro requires a high school diploma or GED. If you earned your diploma outside the United States or before 2007, expect to provide a NACES-approved credential evaluation and translation. Miami Dade College also requires a minimum TABE score of 11 in all areas for applicants with foreign high school credentials, unless you can demonstrate exemption through completed college-level English coursework.
- Entrance Exam (TEAS or Equivalent)The ATI TEAS is the standard gatekeeper. Miami Dade College sets a clear composite cutoff above 58 percent, and the exam must be taken at an MDC testing center. Robert Morgan Educational Center and FVI School of Nursing also require the TEAS, though neither publishes a hard minimum composite score, FVI lists a separate SLE minimum of 15 for its practical nursing track. Sheridan Technical College's published materials do not specify a required entrance exam, so confirm directly with their admissions office. Study early: many applicants retake the TEAS at least once before hitting their target.
- Background Check, Drug Screening, and Health ClearanceA Level Two background check (run through AHCA in Florida) is standard across programs. You will also need current immunizations, including Tdap within the past ten years, tuberculosis screening, a drug screen, and CPR certification (typically BLS for Healthcare Providers). MDC routes compliance documents through its COMPLIO system; FVI requires health clearance and vaccination records before clinical placement and may require COVID-19 or flu vaccination depending on clinical-site policies.
- Miami Dade College Application CycleMDC's LPN option is housed at the Medical Campus, and the program has periodically paused admissions, most recently noting it would not be offered the following semester. When active, applicants must be at least 18, submit transcripts, complete an advisor meeting and milestone review, and clear the School of Nursing's full compliance package. Specific LPN application deadlines are not published on the same schedule as general college registration, so prospective students should contact the Medical Campus nursing department directly for the next available cohort date.
- Rolling Admissions vs. WaitlistsFVI School of Nursing operates on rolling admissions with multiple start dates per year; applications are due at least 30 days before a term begins, giving it one of the more flexible timelines in the area. Robert Morgan and Sheridan Technical College use workforce-education registration windows that can fill quickly, seats are limited and assigned on a first-qualified, first-enrolled basis rather than through a formal waitlist. When MDC's program is active, its structured admissions cycle tends to be the most competitive, with cohort sizes capped by clinical-site availability.
- International-Student EligibilityMiami's diverse population makes this a frequent question. FVI School of Nursing is SEVP-certified and issues Form I-20 documents, making it the clearest option for F-1 visa holders pursuing practical nursing. International applicants must submit I-20 materials at least 30 days before the term and provide proof of English proficiency, though specific TOEFL or IELTS score thresholds are not listed in current catalogs, contact FVI admissions for current requirements. MDC admits international students at the college level, but whether visa-eligible enrollment extends to its LPN certificate specifically is not confirmed in published program materials. Robert Morgan and Sheridan Technical College do not publicly address international-student admissions for their practical nursing tracks, so direct inquiry is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions About Miami LPN Programs
Miami's LPN landscape includes public technical colleges, hospital-based schools, and private institutions, each with its own admissions policies, pricing, and clinical partnerships. The answers below reflect 2025 and 2026 program data and should be confirmed directly with each school before you apply.
How much does an LPN program cost in Miami, including all fees?
Total costs vary widely by school type and residency status. At the public end, Miami Lakes Technical College lists a total in-state cost of roughly $5,225 (tuition, fees, books, and supplies) for 2025 to 2026. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital's program totals about $7,520, including roughly $1,800 in books and supplies. Private programs can push well above $15,000. Financial aid and Pell Grants can reduce out-of-pocket costs significantly at eligible schools.
Can international students enroll in Miami LPN programs?
Eligibility is program-specific. Some schools only admit U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who qualify for federal financial aid, while others may accept international applicants with valid immigration status and proof of English proficiency. Because most public technical colleges structure their tuition around in-state and out-of-state residency rather than visa sponsorship, international applicants should contact each school's admissions office directly to confirm enrollment policies and any additional documentation requirements.
Are there online or hybrid LPN programs available in Miami?
Practical nursing programs in the Miami area are predominantly on-campus. Atlantic Technical College, for example, delivers its 12-month certificate entirely in the classroom, and Miami Lakes Technical College's 1,350-hour curriculum requires in-person lab and clinical hours. Some schools may offer select theory courses in a virtual format, but the hands-on clinical and lab components must be completed on site. No Miami-area program is currently documented as fully online.
What entrance exam do Miami-area LPN programs require, TEAS or HESI?
The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is the most commonly documented entrance exam across Miami-area LPN programs. It appears in published cost sheets and admissions checklists for several local schools. HESI is used in other Florida nursing contexts but has not been specifically attested for Miami LPN admissions in current program materials. Always verify the required exam with your target school, because policies can change between application cycles, and review How to Prepare for Your LPN/LVN Program Entrance Exam for study guidance.
How do I find out if a Miami LPN program is accredited by ACEN or approved by the Florida Board of Nursing?
Start with the Florida Board of Nursing, which maintains a list of state-approved practical nursing programs. For national accreditation, check the ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) public directory and our guide to Accredited LPN and RN Programs. Atlantic Technical College, for instance, holds ACEN accreditation for its Practical Nursing certificate. The Miami metro area has seven accredited programs as of 2026. Each school's catalog should also state its accreditation status, but confirming through the official directories ensures the information is current.
What clinical rotation sites do Miami LPN students typically use?
Miami LPN students complete clinical hours at a mix of hospitals and extended-care facilities across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Hospital-based programs like HCA Florida Mercy Hospital's school often place students within their own health system, giving direct access to acute-care settings. Technical college programs typically partner with nearby skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and community hospitals. Clinical site assignments may rotate throughout the program so students gain exposure to different patient populations and care settings.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates for Miami-Area Programs
The NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate is the single most telling indicator of how well a program prepares you for licensure. Florida's statewide first-time pass rate for practical nursing candidates has historically hovered in the low-to-mid 80% range, giving you a useful benchmark when comparing local options. Based on the most recent data reported to the Florida Board of Nursing and the NCSBN, Miami-area programs show a wide spread: some exceed the state average comfortably, while others fall short. Programs that consistently dip below 60% risk being placed on probation by the Florida Board of Nursing, so pass rates deserve close attention during your research. Note that William H. Turner Technical College appeared in 2024 reporting but did not have a published candidate count or pass rate for that period; prospective students should confirm current figures directly with the school.
| School Name | Reporting Period | Candidates | First-Time Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Morgan Educational Center | 2024 (Annual) | 22 | 90.91% |
| Robert Morgan Educational Center | 2024 (Multi-Quarter Subset) | 8 | 87.50% |
| Miami Dade College, Benjamin Leon School of Nursing (PN) | 2024 (Annual) | 6 | 66.67% |
| Miami Dade College, Benjamin Leon School of Nursing (PN) | 2024 Q1 | 1 | 100.00% |
| Miami Dade College, Licensed Practical Nursing (Institutional Report) | AY 2023 to 2024 | Not reported | 80.00% |
| Unnamed PN Program, Miami (Aggregate Jurisdiction Listing) | 2024 | 4 | 100.00% |
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Miami-Area LPN Programs Ranked by Outcomes and Value
Below are the top LPN programs serving Miami students, ranked by completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. Each profile covers what the school charges, how its graduates fare on the licensing exam where that information is published, and the details that shape daily life in a South Florida practical nursing program.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- NCLEX-PN licensure pass rates
- Accreditation and state approval
- Cost and schedule fit
- 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
FVI School of Nursing and Technology
FVI School of Nursing and Technology offers an 18-month practical nursing diploma in Miami, combining simulation lab training with clinical rotations at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is about 89%, median debt among graduates is roughly $9,400, and the reported net price is about $35,514. Rolling admissions, integrated NCLEX-PN preparation, and job placement support suit students who want a structured, hands-on route into practical nursing.
- 18-month program, 57 total credit hours
- Rolling admissions with cohorts starting through the year
- Integrated NCLEX-PN preparation
- Hands-on simulation lab training
- Clinical rotations at hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term care sites
- Job placement assistance plus dedicated success coaches
- Financial aid and scholarships available
- Approved by the Florida Board of Nursing
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College awards a one-year licensed practical nursing career technical certificate at its Medical Campus, with prerequisite coursework, TEAS and TABE testing, and a nursing orientation boot camp before clinicals begin. The college reports an institution-wide graduation rate near 46%, a net price of about $5,463, and median graduate debt around $9,250. Applicants should note that the Florida Board of Nursing placed the LPN program on probational status in early 2026 for NCLEX-PN pass rates below the national average, and the Medical Campus has said the program will not be offered next semester.
- One-year career technical certificate at the Medical Campus
- Prerequisite coursework plus TEAS and TABE pre-admission testing
- Reports 80% licensure pass rate and 89% job placement
- Prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN
- Coursework includes fundamentals of nursing, adult health and pharmacology
- Financial aid and scholarships available
- Approved by the Florida Board of Nursing
Licensed Practical Nursing Career Technical Certificate — On-Campus
Florida National University
Florida National University teaches a 45-credit practical nursing certificate at its Hialeah and South Miami campuses, blending fundamentals, pharmacology, medical-surgical, pediatric, and maternity nursing with clinical rotations in local facilities. Students must pass the TEAS and clear background checks and drug testing before entering clinical sites. The university's institution-wide graduation rate is about 31%, with a reported net price near $23,043 and median graduate debt around $27,554.
- 45 total credit hours across 10 courses
- Delivered at Hialeah and South Miami campuses
- Coursework spans pharmacology, pediatric nursing and maternity care
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN
- Clinical rotations in Miami-area healthcare settings
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Background checks and drug testing before clinical placement
- Certificate awarded on completion
Practical Nursing Certificate Program — On-Campus
Florida Academy of Nursing
Florida Academy of Nursing runs a 1,485-hour practical nursing diploma in Miramar, positioned between Miami-Dade and Broward and built around day and evening cohorts that take 71 to 79 weeks to complete. The program is ACCSC accredited and prepares graduates to apply for Florida LPN licensure. Its reported net price is about $10,054, among the lower figures for a private option serving the Miami metro, and the college does not publish an institution-wide graduation rate.
- 1,485 total program hours
- Day track runs 71 weeks
- Evening track runs 79 weeks
- ACCSC accredited
- Campus-based instruction in Miramar
- Prepares graduates to apply for Florida LPN licensure
- Day and evening cohorts for working adults
Practical Nursing Diploma Program — On-Campus
Sheridan Technical College
Sheridan Technical College in Hollywood offers a 12-month practical nursing program with five start dates each year and daytime classes that suit a full-time schedule. The program reports a 92% licensure pass rate along with 50% job placement, includes Basic Life Support training, and places students in acute and long-term care settings with a pathway toward RN or BSN study. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is about 69% and the reported net price is near $6,677, making it a strong value within commuting distance of Miami.
- 12-month program with five start dates per year
- Reports 92% licensure pass rate and 50% job placement
- Basic Life Support training included
- Clinical experience in acute care and long-term care
- Covers medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and geriatric nursing
- Pathway to continue toward RN or BSN study
- Approved by the Florida Board of Nursing
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College sits in the Miami urban core and delivers roughly 1,350 hours of practical nursing instruction, with clinical experience making up at least half of the program. It is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing and reported a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate in 2025. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is about 66% and the reported net price is near $6,243, one of the lowest costs for a program inside Miami city limits.
- Roughly 1,350 instructional hours
- Clinical experience is at least half the program
- 675 supervised clinical hours
- TEAS entrance exam and $20 application fee
- Approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing
- Part of Miami-Dade's Career in a Year initiative
- Prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN and entry-level LPN roles
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
William T McFatter Technical College
William T. McFatter Technical College in Davie runs a 12-month, ACEN-accredited practical nursing program with five start dates a year and a full-time day schedule. Students train in an on-campus high-fidelity simulation center, and the program reports a 97% licensure pass rate with 77% job placement. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is roughly 66% and the reported net price is about $11,901.
- 12-month program with five start dates a year
- Reports 97% licensure pass rate and 77% job placement
- Total program tuition of $3,780
- Estimated total cost of $6,525 for Florida residents
- Full-time day schedule, Monday through Thursday
- On-campus high-fidelity simulation center
- ACEN accredited
- TEAS entrance exam required
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid
Concorde Career Institute-Miramar
Concorde Career Institute's Miramar campus places students in nursing coursework from day one, with hands-on labs and clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The practical nursing diploma takes about 12 to 13 months and covers preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and restorative care, with a stated pathway toward RN study. The reported net price is about $27,673, median graduate debt is roughly $9,900, and the institution-wide graduation rate is near 67%.
- Completed in about 12 to 13 months
- Direct admission into nursing coursework from day one
- Hands-on labs and clinical rotations with local providers
- Prepares students for the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-VN
- LPN to RN pathway with university articulation agreements
- Financial aid and scholarships available for those who qualify
Practical/Vocational Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Atlantic Technical College
Atlantic Technical College in Coconut Creek offers a 12-month practical nursing certificate with five start dates a year, daytime instruction, and a reported 99% licensure pass rate alongside 97% job placement. Classroom and clinical work covers maternal, pediatric, geriatric, and community nursing, and eligible graduates can use a money-back guarantee or transfer college credit afterward. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is about 65% and the reported net price is near $10,414.
- 12-month program with five start dates a year
- Reports 99% licensure pass rate and 97% job placement
- Total program tuition of $3,780 for Florida residents
- TEAS or HESI entrance exam required
- Money-back guarantee for eligible students
- College credit transfer opportunity after graduation
- FDLE Level II background check required
- ACEN accredited
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College offers a 15-month practical nursing program with open enrollment, rolling admissions, and day or evening schedules, an unusually flexible setup for working adults in the northwest Miami metro. Students complete 675 clinical hours in area hospitals and healthcare facilities, and the program articulates into the RN pathway at Miami Dade College. The reported net price is about $2,839, the lowest in this ranking, while the college's institution-wide graduation rate is reported below 5%, a figure that is not specific to the practical nursing program.
- 15-month program with rolling admissions
- Open enrollment lets students start throughout the year
- Day and evening class schedules
- 675 clinical hours
- Total program tuition of $6,366
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Articulation to the RN program at Miami Dade College
- HOSA student organization available
