Best LPN Programs in Chicago 2026

Ambria College of Nursing's Practical Nursing Program in Hoffman Estates prepares students for LPN licensure through an intensive 12-month curriculum. The program offers flexible scheduling with day and evening classes in both full-time and part-time formats, accommodating diverse student needs. Clinical rotations are available during various shifts, providing comprehensive hands-on experience. With consistently high NCLEX-PN pass rates, graduates are well-prepared for the licensing exam. Admission requires attendance at an information session, and tuition costs vary based on transfer credits and proficiency exam results. Program completers typically earn annual salaries ranging from $44,000 to $46,000 upon entering the workforce.

• 12-month program duration
• Flexible day and evening classes
• Full-time and part-time options
• High NCLEX-PN pass rates
• Clinical rotations available
• Tuition varies by credits
• Info Session required for admission
• Average salary $44K-$46K

Rend Lake College's Practical Nursing program offers an accelerated pathway to a nursing career, completed in just over a year. It uses a concept-based curriculum that builds critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, preparing graduates for diverse healthcare environments with a focus on safe, competent patient care across all age groups. The program includes robust clinical training for hands-on experience and boasts a 100% job placement rate. Prerequisites include CNA certification, a criminal background check, and maintaining a grade of 'C' or better. It is ACEN accredited and provides multiple nursing pathway options.

• 64 total credit hours
• Campus-based program
• ACEN accredited nursing program
• 100% job placement rate
• Concept-based instruction method
• Clinical skills training included
• Prerequisites include CNA certification
• Criminal background check required
• Grade of 'C' or better mandatory
• Multiple nursing pathway options

William Rainey Harper College's Practical Nursing Certificate is Illinois' top-ranked LPN program, delivering a fast-track 38-credit curriculum that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN in just one year. Through hands-on clinical rotations and state-of-the-art simulation labs, graduates gain skills for diverse healthcare environments like hospitals and long-term care facilities. The program emphasizes affordability and flexible scheduling, making it ideal for career changers, with graduates entering a field where median salaries reach $48,820. No entrance exams are required for this certificate-level program, focusing purely on practical nursing competencies.

• 38 credit hours
• One-year program completion
• NCLEX-PN exam preparation
• State-of-the-art nursing lab
• Hands-on clinical experiences
• Multiple start dates available
• Career-focused curriculum
• Stackable to degree

Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL, provides a campus-based Practical Nursing (LPN) Certificate as part of its Associate Degree in Nursing program. This 39-semester credit curriculum includes essential courses in anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, and nursing concepts, focusing on patient care, communication, and professional ethics. Admission requires enrollment in the ADN program, and the program prepares students for a nursing career without requiring entrance exams. Contact a health career specialist for further details.

• 39 credit hours
• Campus-based program
• Part of ADN program
• Focuses on patient care
• Includes pharmacology courses
• Covers anatomy and microbiology
• Emphasizes professional ethics
• Requires ADN enrollment

The Practical Nursing, Advanced Certificate program at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College provides comprehensive training across four semesters, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN exam to become LPNs. This selective program requires a minimum 2.5 GPA, prerequisite courses, and ATI TEAS exam scores for admission. Curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, human biology, and life span care, with 49 credit hours including composition and math. Credits are transferable to associate or bachelor's degrees, and the program mandates a background check and recent biology coursework.

• Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
• Credits transferable to higher degrees.
• Selective admission process.
• Four-semester program length.
• Covers nursing fundamentals.
• Includes human biology courses.
• Focus on life span care.
• Minimum GPA requirement 2.5.
• ATI TEAS exam required.
• Prerequisite courses needed.

Moraine Valley Community College's campus-based Licensed Practical Nursing certificate program in Palos Hills equips students for the NCLEX-PN exam through hands-on clinical training and modern technology. Admission mandates a TEAS test, background check, and health clearances. Emphasizing affordability, the program boasts high graduate employment rates, preparing learners for Illinois licensure without a specific concentration focus.

• Campus-based program.
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
• High employment rates.
• Requires TEAS test.
• Background check needed.
• Health requirements mandatory.
• Cutting-edge technology used.
• Clinical experiences included.
• Affordable tuition options.
• Licensure in Illinois.

Harold Washington College's Advanced Certificate in Practical Nursing provides comprehensive training for aspiring LPNs through a 49-credit curriculum focused on nursing fundamentals, biology, and lifespan care. This campus-based program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN exam and subsequent licensure, with credits being transferable to higher nursing degrees. Admission is selective, requiring a minimum 2.5 GPA, prerequisite course completion, and passing the ATI TEAS entrance exam. The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, making it an ideal foundation for those entering the nursing profession.

• Prepares for NCLEX-PN licensure.
• 49 credit hours total.
• Selective admission process.
• Includes biology and nursing courses.
• Credits transferable to higher degrees.
• Minimum GPA of 2.5 required.
• ATI TEAS exam required.
• Campus-based program.
• Focus on nursing theory and practice.
• Pathway to LPN licensure.

Wilbur Wright College's Practical Nursing Advanced Certificate delivers focused LPN preparation through 49 credits of healthcare education. Students develop essential clinical skills and nursing theory knowledge, culminating in readiness for the NCLEX-PN exam. The program requires a 2.5 GPA and ATI TEAS scores for admission, along with four prerequisite science courses. Coursework is completed at Malcolm X College, providing a structured pathway to roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care. Credits are transferable to advanced nursing degrees, supporting career progression in the healthcare field.

• 49-credit Advanced Certificate
• Prepare for NCLEX-PN exam
• Minimum 2.5 GPA required
• 4 prerequisite courses needed
• Completed at Malcolm X College
• Healthcare career pathway
• Credits transferable to nursing degrees

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College's Practical Nursing, Advanced Certificate program provides comprehensive training in nursing theory and hands-on practice, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam to become LPNs. Admission is selective, requiring prerequisite courses with a 'C' or higher, a high school diploma or GED, and a minimum ATI TEAS exam score. The program offers a fast-track to a nursing career and includes a pathway for further nursing education, with credit transfer options available. This campus-based program focuses on equipping students with essential skills for immediate entry into the healthcare field.

• Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
• Pathway to further nursing education.
• Selective admission process.
• Prerequisite courses required.
• High school diploma or GED needed.
• Minimum ATI TEAS exam score.
• Campus-based program.
• Focus on nursing theory and practice.
• Opportunity to become an LPN.
• Credit transfer options available.