Becoming an LPN in Tampa

Last Updated/Verified: Mar 22, 2024

Prospective students currently have the option of several colleges in Tampa that offer practical nursing programs. Such students should understand that through the 2020s and beyond, there will be high demand for all nurses as the population ages and longevity increases. This makes nursing a wonderfully solid career choice.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is responsible for reporting employment data and industry trends in the country. In May 2021, their most recent report recorded 6,920 practical nurses working in the Tampa Metro Area. This was approximately about 20% of the total number of nurses there. Tampa is the major city of the Metro Area which also comprises St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

A full-time LPN program completes in about 12 and 15 months, while part-time programs typically take around 2 years to complete.

The organization that approves training programs is the Florida Board of Nursing. They also issue LPN and other nursing licenses.

The following subjects are often covered in LPN programs:

Interpersonal Skills
Information Technology Skills
Nursing for Surgery
Nursing Pharmacology
Physiology & Anatomy
Nutrition Health
Mental Health Nursing
Nursing for Addiction Recovery
Pediatrics
Gynecology & Obstetrics
Gerontology

Schools That Offer LPN Programs in Tampa, FL

Erwin Vocational Technical Center

Website: http://www.erwin.edu/CourseDetail.aspx?UniqueId=7fe9db5d-c304-4386-a116-ea30eb523243
Address: 2010 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: (813) 769-5180

Mixing training in classrooms, labs, and direct clinical environments helps students become practical nurses with as many skills as possible. The curriculum covers all the standard LPN coursework, but also covers life span care, personal and community health, and nursing leadership. Students will also learn healthcare employability skills to secure the career paths of their choosing.

Admission Requirements:

High school diploma or GED (supply documentation) - qualifications from outside the U.S. must be translated against U.S. qualifications
Pass the TABE
Pass the TEAS-V (pass score is 60%)
Submit to all required background checks
Applicants understand they will be subject to random drug screenings
Send immunization records to the school
Meet with a Guidance Counselor or Program Advisor
Complete the ASIF (Adult Student Information Form)
Proof of Residency including such as voter registration and vehicle registration
Driver’s license or other government photo ID

Jersey College

Website: https://www.jerseycollege.edu/nursing-programs/lpn-program/
Address: 3625 Queen Palm Drive, Tampa, FL 33619
Phone: (813) 995-7891

Students will learn critical thinking and problem-solving in healthcare settings through a combination of classroom study and seminars, labs, and clinical practice. Full-time students will study over the course of one year and become eligible for the NCLEX at the end.

Admission Requirements:

High school diploma or GED
Attend for an admissions interview and entrance exam in which the school will measure your reading and math proficiency
Mandatory background check
Submit to a physical exam reporting that you are in general good physical health
Provide proof of all immunizations and TB clearance
Mandatory orientation session upon acceptance

Medical Prep Institute

Website: https://www.medicalprepinstitute.org/nurse-training-practical-nursing
Address: 5701 E Hillsborough Ave Suite # 2409, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: 813-932-1710

Students may complete the LPN program either on-campus or in a hybrid format. With over 1,600 hours of study, you’ll mix classroom lectures with lab and hands-on practice at local medical facilities. For the latter, students attend clinical rotations during the day while some may occasionally be in the evenings. Full-time, the program takes one year, or 46 weeks, to complete.

Admission Requirements:

High school diploma or GED
Mandatory entrance exam for all applicants
Criminal background screening
Physical examination by a licensed primary care provider no more than 12 months prior to program admission date
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) course from American Heart Association. Must remain current throughout
Mandatory drug screening
Evidence of current health insurance annually
Proof of immunizations for Hepatitis B, MMR, Tdap, Influenza and Varicella; also take a TB test