Best LPN Programs in Louisville 2026
Find Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Louisville, Kentucky with details on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and career opportunities for practical nurses in the Louisville area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Louisville, KY
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
Louisville, KY - Private 4-year - galencollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical/Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville's Practical/Vocational Nursing program delivers an accelerated 12-month on-campus pathway for aspiring LPNs. This comprehensive training includes immersive clinical coursework and practice-based learning, equipping students with essential skills for the NCLEX-PN exam. With four annual start dates and flexible full-time or part-time schedules, it offers accessible entry into healthcare. The program focuses on foundational nursing competencies, making it ideal for those beginning their nursing careers without prior experience.
- 12-month full-time program
- On-campus learning format
- 4 start times per year
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- 21-month part-time option available
- Offered at 8 campus locations
- Engaging clinical coursework
Sullivan University
Louisville, KY - Private 4-year - sullivan.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma
Campus Based - Visit Website
Sullivan University's 15-month Practical Nursing Diploma equips students with essential clinical skills through hands-on labs and simulations, preparing them for diverse healthcare settings. With small class sizes and personalized instruction, learners benefit from focused guidance from experienced faculty. The program includes NCLEX-PN exam preparation, uniforms, e-books, and 24/7 tutoring, ensuring graduates are ready for licensure and careers in hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities.
- 15-month nursing diploma
- On-campus + clinical training
- Small class sizes
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Louisville campus location
- Experienced nursing faculty
- Real-world simulation experiences
- E-books included in tuition
- 24/7 tutoring available
- Uniforms provided
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown, KY - Public 2-Year - elizabethtown.kctcs.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Nursing - Practical Nurse - Diploma
Campus Based - Visit Website
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's Nursing - Practical Nurse - Diploma program delivers comprehensive training through campus-based instruction and clinical practicums. Students develop essential skills in pharmacology, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing, supported by hands-on healthcare experience. Admission mandates a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of 'C' or better in all courses, with no entrance exam required. The curriculum includes digital literacy and aligns with KCTCS graduation standards, preparing graduates for diverse healthcare roles with a strong foundation in patient care.
- Campus-based program.
- Requires 'C' or better in courses.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 needed.
- Includes clinical practicums.
- Covers pharmacology and mental health.
- Focus on medical-surgical nursing.
- Meets KCTCS graduation requirements.
- Digital literacy included.
- Hands-on healthcare experience.
- Prepares for nursing careers.
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville, KY - Public 2-Year - jefferson.kctcs.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Jefferson Community and Technical College's 12-month Practical Nursing diploma program combines online lectures with in-person labs for flexible hybrid learning. Students gain hands-on clinical experience in diverse healthcare settings while preparing for the NCLEX-PN exam. The program is approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and maintains high NCLEX pass rates. Kentucky residents may qualify for free tuition, making this accelerated pathway accessible. With a total cost of $2,870.66 split into two payments, it offers an affordable route to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse through comprehensive skill development.
- 12-month diploma program
- Hybrid learning format
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Approved by Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Two payments of $1,435.33 total
- High NCLEX pass rates
- Clinical training in healthcare facilities
Louisville LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in Louisville’s care teams by delivering bedside nursing, monitoring patients, administering medications, and coordinating with RNs and physicians. In the metro area, LPNs work across hospitals and health systems, the Robley Rex VA Medical Center, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices, and community health programs. These settings rely on LPNs for hands-on care, patient education, and support that helps reduce hospital readmissions and improves continuity of care.
The local healthcare landscape includes major acute care networks, large long-term care providers, and an active home health sector, which together create steady opportunities for practical nurses. National data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates ongoing openings for LPNs each year, with strong utilization in long-term care and home health, patterns that align with Louisville’s mix of post-acute and community-based services.
Louisville LPN programs typically offer multiple scheduling options. A full-time pathway is often designed to be completed in about 12 months, while part-time or evening and weekend formats commonly extend to roughly 18 to 24 months. Curricula generally combine classroom instruction in fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child health, and mental health with skills lab practice and supervised clinical rotations in local hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics to prepare graduates for entry-level practice.
Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN to become licensed in Kentucky. The Kentucky Board of Nursing approves practical nursing programs, sets licensure requirements, and provides information on program approval status and NCLEX performance. Kentucky participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows eligible LPNs to hold a multistate license that supports practice mobility while maintaining patient safety standards. Louisville programs are structured to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN through integrated test preparation, competencies aligned with state standards, and clinical experiences that reinforce critical thinking and safe practice.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Louisville
The healthcare landscape in Louisville, Kentucky, offers a robust and growing job market for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPN positions are projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations nationally, and Louisville reflects this trend. Additionally, there is a notably active demand for LPNs in Utilization Review roles within Louisville and its surrounding areas.
LPNs in Louisville can find diverse employment opportunities across various healthcare settings, contributing significantly to patient care within the community.
- Hospitals:Major hospital systems frequently seek LPNs to support their medical teams. Prominent employers include UofL Health, which encompasses facilities like UofL Hospital, Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, and Frazier Rehabilitation Hospital. Additionally, Central State Hospital also provides employment opportunities.
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities:These facilities are cornerstone employers for LPNs, offering consistent opportunities. Examples include Chestnut Ridge Health & Rehabilitation, Parkway Health & Rehab, and Signature HealthCARE. LPNs often play a critical role in providing direct patient care in these environments.
- Private Practices and Community Health Centers:LPNs are vital in smaller clinical settings. Places like Park DuValle Community Health Centers, American Kidney Center of Louisville LLC, and Norton Heart Specialist – Gray Street frequently hire LPNs to assist with patient examinations, procedures, and administrative tasks.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Specializing in patient recovery and therapy, rehabilitation centers like UofL Health Frazier Rehabilitation Hospital-Brownsboro, Cherokee Park Rehabilitation, and Parkway Health & Rehab rely on LPNs for patient monitoring and support during their recovery journey.
- Senior Living and Assisted Living Facilities:As the senior population grows, so does the demand for LPNs in assisted living and retirement communities. Facilities such as Wesley Manor Retirement Community, Five Star Senior Living (The Forum at Brookside), Morning Pointe Senior Living, Vitality Living, and Magnolia Springs East are key employers in this sector.
- Home Health Agencies:For LPNs seeking more individualized patient interaction, home health and hospice agencies offer flexible roles. Amedisys and Protouch Staffing are significant providers in Louisville. Some agencies, including BrightSpring Health Services, also offer innovative remote tele-triage LPN positions.
- Other Settings:LPNs can also find work in correctional facilities, plasma donation centers like BioLife Plasma Services, and through various staffing agencies such as Wise Medical Staffing and Incipio Workforce Solutions LLC, which connect LPNs with temporary and permanent roles across the city.
Beyond these categories, Louisville’s healthcare sector benefits from a mix of large networks and smaller, specialized facilities. Major employers like UofL Health, Seven Counties Services (which operates Central State Hospital), Signature HealthCARE, Amedisys, Five Star Senior Living, BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare, and BioLife Plasma Services consistently offer opportunities. Additionally, smaller but crucial facilities such as Chestnut Ridge Health & Rehabilitation, Wesley Manor Retirement Community, Park DuValle Community Health Centers, American Kidney Center of Louisville LLC, Magnolia Springs East, Morning Pointe Senior Living, Vitality Living, Cherokee Park Rehabilitation, and Parkway Health & Rehab significantly contribute to LPN employment in Louisville.
List of LPN Programs in Louisville, KY
Louisville, KY
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical/Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- 12-month full-time program
- On-campus learning format
- 4 start times per year
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- 21-month part-time option available
- Offered at 8 campus locations
- Engaging clinical coursework
Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- 12-month diploma program
- Hybrid learning format
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Approved by Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Two payments of $1,435.33 total
- High NCLEX pass rates
- Clinical training in healthcare facilities
Sullivan University
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma
Campus Based - Website
- 15-month nursing diploma
- On-campus + clinical training
- Small class sizes
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Louisville campus location
- Experienced nursing faculty
- Real-world simulation experiences
- E-books included in tuition
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