Zip code 20878 has no Maryland Board of Nursing-approved practical nursing program inside city limits, full stop. Every Gaithersburg resident pursuing an LPN license commutes, whether that means Rockville, Takoma Park, a Frederick campus, or a Baltimore-area campus listed among the Best LPN Programs in Baltimore within roughly 40 miles.
That commute reality forces five real comparisons: tuition and fees, whether the program actually holds current state approval, how many months it runs, whether classes meet in person or hybrid, and how graduates perform on the licensure exam. Marketing claims about six-week or fully online LPN tracks don't hold up against Maryland's licensing rules; most approved certificates run close to 12 months full-time, with clinical hours that can't be compressed or completed remotely.
Where Gaithersburg LPNs Actually Work, and What They're Allowed to Do
Gaithersburg alone has 13+ skilled nursing facilities,1 while Montgomery County lists 33 nursing homes,2 and that ratio explains the local LPN job market better than any hospital tour. Most practical nurses in this area find their first jobs in long term care nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, or home health rather than acute-care floors.
Where LPN Demand Concentrates
Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, and Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring are the major acute-care systems.3 These hospitals hire primarily RNs on medical-surgical and critical care units, but LPNs may appear in affiliated skilled nursing or senior care units. Skilled nursing and rehab employers include Wilson Health Care Center (285 residents), ManorCare Health Services in Silver Spring (148 residents), Astoria Health & Rehab Center (50 residents), and Collingswood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Rockville. These settings rely on LPNs for lpn duties such as medication administration, wound care, and shift supervision.
Home health agencies such as SmithLife Homecare (400+ healthcare professionals),4 BrightStar Care of Montgomery County (which advertises PRN and per diem LPN roles), Trinity Health At Home in Silver Spring, and Yeli Home Health Solutions also generate LPN openings. Montgomery County Public Schools has posted LPN roles around $40 to $50 per hour, and the State of Maryland lists court-involved Licensed Practical Nurse I and II jobs with salary ranges from about $63,000 to $106,000, with applications open through December 31, 2026.5
Maryland's LPN Scope of Practice
Under Maryland law, an LPN practices as part of a nursing team and must work in a team relationship with at least one licensed non-LPN health professional, usually an RN or physician.6 LPNs may administer treatments and medications only when prescribed by an authorized prescriber.6 They can teach and supervise others if the task matches their education and demonstrated competencies.6 The LPN nursing process is supervised and limited; LPNs carry out a plan of care but do not perform the independent assessment or nursing diagnosis that belongs to an RN.6 Standards under COMAR 10.27.10 also require confidentiality, advocacy, ethical conduct, and nondiscriminatory care.7 In plain terms, you will give medications, perform treatments, monitor patients, and supervise CNAs, but you will not independently create or change the care plan.
The New-Grad Hiring Reality
For a new LPN in Montgomery County, the clearest path is skilled nursing and rehab. These facilities hire new graduates more readily than hospital acute-care units, which tend to require more experience or an RN credential. Some skilled nursing and home health employers advertise tuition assistance or sign-on incentives, but policies vary by facility, so ask directly during interviews. If you are deciding where to apply first, target the county's nursing homes and rehab centers, then use home health and LPN school nurse roles as flexible options once you have a year of clinical experience.
Practical Nursing Programs Within Commuting Distance, Plus the Truth About Online and 6-Month LPN Claims
Maryland's Board of Nursing keeps a roster of approved practical nursing programs, and its June 2026 update lists more than 20 statewide. Only a handful sit within a reasonable drive of zip 20878.
The realistic commute list
- Montgomery College (Rockville and other county campuses): the closest approved practical nursing program to Gaithersburg, roughly 10 to 15 miles depending on which campus your coursework and clinicals land at.
- Howard Community College (Columbia): about 30 miles east, typically 40 to 50 minutes outside rush hour.
- Prince George's Community College (Largo): roughly 35 miles southeast, and the Beltway leg makes the morning drive unpredictable.
- Hagerstown Community College: sits near the outer edge of a 40-mile radius depending on your route, and I-270 north is the only practical approach.
- Carroll Community College (Westminster): a 12-month, full-time certificate. It is a stretch commute at roughly 50 miles, but worth knowing if you have family in Carroll County.
- Baltimore-area options (Community College of Baltimore County, Dundalk, Baltimore City Community College): approved, but a daily Baltimore commute from Gaithersburg is a hard sell for a program with early-morning clinical start times.
Virginia and DC programs exist and some Gaithersburg residents do cross the river, but remember that a Virginia or DC program licenses you through that state's board first. You would then apply for Maryland licensure separately.
"Online LPN programs" , what is actually online
Some programs deliver general education and nursing theory in hybrid LPN programs or fully online formats. Nobody in Maryland graduates an LPN without supervised, in-person clinical and skills lab hours. You cannot learn sterile technique, catheter insertion, or wound care through a screen, and the Board will not approve a program that tries. Treat any advertisement for a 100% online practical nursing program as a red flag or an out-of-state marketing site that will route you somewhere else entirely.
The 6-month LPN question
There is no six-month path to an LPN license in Maryland. Carroll's certificate runs a full 12 months of full-time study, and most community college PN programs run three or four terms. The shortest documented path among accelerated LPN programs in this space is an 11-month private-school program (Lincoln College of Technology lists that timeline), which is faster but not half a year, and its Maryland approval status is worth confirming directly with the Board before you enroll.
When a local ad promises nursing credentials in four to eight weeks, it is almost always CNA or medication-aide training, not practical nursing. Those are legitimate certificates, just not LPN.
Schedule flexibility does exist in the state: Anne Arundel Community College runs its three-semester PN certificate with evening and weekend cohorts. That campus (Arnold) is outside the Gaithersburg commute zone, but it is proof the format exists, so ask every nearby program whether an evening or part-time track is offered before assuming full-time days are your only option.
Related Articles
Montgomery College's Practical Nursing Certificate: Cost, Credits, and Calendar
The tension with Montgomery College isn't quality, it's capacity: this is the most affordable, most respected practical nursing option in the Gaithersburg area, but seats are limited and the application window is narrow. The Practical Nursing Certificate runs 32 credit hours and is built to be finished in one year or less once a student is admitted to the cohort.
What It Actually Costs
Montgomery College publishes tuition in tiers based on residency (Montgomery County resident, Maryland resident from outside the county, and out-of-state), with the county rate substantially lower than the other two. Because current per-credit figures change from year to year, confirm the exact numbers on the college's program-cost page before budgeting. Tuition alone isn't the full picture. Students should plan for mandatory fees, clinical uniforms, textbooks, the TEAS entrance exam, a criminal background check, and a full immunization record, all of which add real dollars on top of the credit-hour price. Treat the sticker tuition as a floor, not a ceiling.
Application Calendar
Montgomery College's LPN/LVN program admissions are selective, and cohorts don't run on a rolling basis. Applications are due April 1 for the fall start, August 1 for spring, and December 1 for summer session I. Missing a deadline typically means waiting for the next cycle, so prospective students should line up prerequisite coursework, GPA (2.5 minimum), and TEAS scores (70% reading, 66% adjusted total) well ahead of the window.
If You Plan to Continue Toward RN
One underrated feature of this program is portability. Credits earned in the practical nursing certificate can apply toward Montgomery College's ADN track for students who later decide to pursue LPN to RN in Maryland. That means the certificate isn't a dead end financially or academically. It functions as a legitimate first rung, letting working LPNs test the waters of nursing employment while keeping a documented, transferable path open toward an associate degree if their goals expand down the road.
Admission Requirements Maryland PN Programs Typically Ask For
Requirements vary between community colleges and private career schools, but Maryland practical nursing programs tend to build their applications around the same core elements. Confirm specifics with each school, since deadlines and cutoffs shift from cycle to cycle.
- High school diploma or GEDAn official transcript or GED score report is the baseline for nearly every PN program. Some schools accept a state-recognized equivalency credential in its place.
- Prerequisite courseworkExpect general education or science requirements such as English composition, math, and anatomy and physiology or biology. Community college certificate tracks are typically stricter here than private career schools.
- Entrance examMany programs require the TEAS or a comparable nursing entrance assessment covering reading, math, science, and English usage. Schools set their own minimum composite score and retake policy.
- Minimum GPAA cumulative GPA floor, often applied to prerequisite science courses specifically, is common. Competitive programs may admit well above the stated minimum when applications outnumber seats.
- Criminal background check and drug screenRequired before clinical placement, because hospitals and long-term care facilities set these conditions, not the school. A positive screen or certain convictions can block clinical rotations and, later, licensure.
- Immunizations, health clearance, and CPR certificationStandard documentation includes MMR, varicella, hepatitis B, Tdap, annual TB screening, influenza, and a physical exam, plus Basic Life Support certification at the healthcare provider level.
- CNA certification (where required)Some Maryland programs require or strongly prefer active certified nursing assistant status and documented direct-care hours. Where it isn't mandatory, it still strengthens a competitive application.
- "No prerequisites" programs, read the fine printSome private career schools do admit students without college-level science coursework, which is what searches for no-prerequisite LPN programs in Maryland turn up. Those schools still require entrance testing, background and drug screening, health clearance, and full in-person clinical participation, the academic front end is shorter, not the accountability.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates at Maryland Practical Nursing Programs
Maryland does not have an approved practical nursing program inside Gaithersburg city limits, so the honest way to judge your options is to look at how PN programs across the state perform on the licensure exam. The figures below come from Maryland Board of Nursing reporting on first-time candidate performance, with most program-level numbers reflecting fiscal year 2024. For context, Maryland's statewide practical nursing programs posted a 96.15 percent first-time pass rate in fiscal year 2025, the statewide candidate average sits near 93 percent, and the national first-time average for U.S.-educated PN candidates is 86.6 percent in 2026. Small cohorts matter here: a program with a dozen test takers can swing from 100 percent to the low 80s in a single year, so read one-year results as a snapshot, not a verdict.
| Program | City | First-Time NCLEX-PN Pass Rate | Reporting Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Carroll Community College | Westminster | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Cecil Community College | North East | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Hagerstown Community College | Hagerstown | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Wor-Wic Community College | Salisbury | 100.00% | FY 2024 |
| Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold | 96.30% | FY 2024 |
| Community College of Baltimore County, Dundalk | Dundalk | 96.00% | FY 2024 |
| Allegany College | Cumberland | 93.33% | FY 2024 |
| Howard Community College | Columbia | 92.59% | 2025 |
| Howard Community College | Columbia | 87.50% | FY 2024 |
| College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | 81.82% | FY 2024 |
| Maryland statewide practical nursing programs | Statewide | 96.15% | FY 2025 |
| National average, first-time U.S.-educated candidates | United States | 86.6% | 2026 |
CNA to LPN to RN: the Montgomery County Career Ladder
One thing to be clear about: no formal CNA-to-LPN bridge exists at Montgomery College, Prince George's Community College, or Frederick Community College. CNAs apply to the standard practical nursing program, where patient care experience is an advantage, not a shortcut. The bridges in this area sit one rung higher, at the LPN-to-RN step.
Paying for LPN School: Grants, WIOA Funding, and 'Free' Training Options
How do you actually pay for a practical nursing certificate in Montgomery County without draining your savings? There are four realistic routes, and most students end up stacking two or three of them.
Federal and State Aid
Maryland PN certificates are board-approved and typically Title IV-eligible, which means credit-bearing programs that run a full academic year usually qualify for federal Pell grants. That matters because Pell is money you don't repay, and it can cover a meaningful chunk of a community college certificate's tuition. Confirm Pell status directly with your program, since not every track is packaged the same way.
Maryland also rolled out Workforce Pell for 2025-2026, aimed at short programs running 150 to 599 clock hours over 8 to 14 weeks that meet 70% completion and job-placement targets. Participation is voluntary and no PN programs are confirmed on that list yet, so treat it as a question to ask, not a guarantee.
State options include the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (Maryland residency required, 12 credits for full-time or 6 to 11 part-time) and, on the back end, the Maryland Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $25,000 for RNs and LPNs in exchange for a two-year service commitment. That last one repays existing loans rather than paying tuition up front.
Workforce and Employer Funding
WIOA-funded training runs through your local American Job Center, but it only covers programs listed on Maryland's Eligible Training Provider List. Verify your chosen program is ETPL-listed before counting on this. Community colleges also offer their own scholarships worth asking the financial aid office about.
Long-term care employers frequently offer tuition assistance or sign-on and repayment deals. The strings are real: expect a work commitment, often one to two years, and clawback language if you leave early.
What 'Free' Usually Means
"Free LPN programs" almost always mean funded programs, WIOA, an employer, or a grant covering costs, gated behind eligibility screening: income limits, residency, unemployment status, or an employment commitment. Free to you, not free to fund.
Maryland's practical nursing landscape is smaller than many assume. According to the Maryland Board of Nursing, only a limited number of PN programs statewide hold current MBON approval, meaning your accredited, in-person options within commuting distance of Gaithersburg are far fewer than the online marketing suggests.
LPN Pay and Hiring Outlook in the Bethesda–Rockville–Gaithersburg Area
Pay for licensed practical nurses in the Bethesda-Rockville-Gaithersburg area is less transparent than many program pages suggest. The local metropolitan division does not currently publish a clean median LPN wage in the accessible federal wage survey tables, and Maryland's statewide LPN median is also not visible in the available public data.2 The most defensible recent benchmark is the May 2025 national median of $64,400 per year, or $30.96 per hour.1 Readers should treat that as a reference point, not a promise of what Montgomery County employers will offer.
What the Wage Data Does and Does Not Show
National figures give a useful spread. The 10th percentile was about $49,740 per year and the 90th percentile about $83,440.1 Entry-level LPNs often land closer to the low-to-mid range, while experienced nurses in charge roles, specialty clinics, or high-cost areas can push toward the upper end. Because Montgomery County is a high-cost labor market, local starting offers may run above the national 10th percentile, but without published metro percentiles that is a directional expectation, not a fixed wage.
Where Setting Affects the Offer
Skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies are among the largest LPN employers and often pay steadily, but schedules can be less predictable. Physician offices, outpatient clinics, and government or school-based roles may offer more regular hours and stronger benefits, sometimes with a modestly higher base rate; the LPN in the Inpatient vs. Outpatient Setting trade-off varies by facility, so candidates should compare total compensation, not just the hourly number.
Hiring Outlook for Montgomery County
National projections for 2024 to 2034 show LPN & LVN Jobs growing roughly 2.6 to 3.0 percent, or about 17,100 net new positions, slightly below the 3.1 percent average for all occupations.3 That slower rate is offset by replacement demand: about 54,400 openings per year nationally, most tied to retirements and attrition.3 In an aging Montgomery County, long-term care, rehabilitation, home health, and chronic disease management are the clearest local demand drivers, especially for LPNs willing to work in geriatric and post-acute settings.
What Local LPNs Earn at a Glance
One number worth keeping in front of you while you compare tuition and program length.
LPN Programs Ranked for Gaithersburg Students
Below are the top practical nursing programs serving Gaithersburg students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. Each one sits within commuting range of Montgomery County, whether it is in-county, elsewhere in Maryland, or across the metro line in DC or Northern Virginia. Keep in mind that any graduation rate shown here describes the entire institution, not the practical nursing cohort.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt
- Institutional graduation rates
- Program accreditation and state approvals
- Net price after grant aid
- Commuting distance from Gaithersburg
- 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
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
A private allied health college in Northeast Washington, DC, Saint Michael runs a campus-based practical nursing certificate about an hour from Gaithersburg, so it sits across the metro line rather than in Montgomery County. Because it is private, there is no in-state versus out-of-state split for Maryland applicants, and no DC or Maryland resident discount applies. Day classes run from early morning to late afternoon, with a separate evening cohort that starts later in the day for students who work.
- Certificate program in practical nursing
- 14-month day track; 18-month evening option
- 1,604 hours of theory and clinical training
- Entrance exam: 76% reading, 70% math
- $75 application fee due upon acceptance
- Campus-based in Washington, DC, with no online option
- Graduates eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam
Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing
This private nursing college in Northern Virginia treats Gaithersburg applicants as out-of-state, so no Maryland reciprocity or resident discount applies. Instruction is hybrid: lectures online, skills labs on campus, and clinicals at partner facilities across the DC metro, including one site in Northeast Washington. Full-time students finish in roughly 14 months, while a part-time track stretches to about 18 months for those balancing a job. Expect a reverse commute across the Potomac or clinical placements on the Virginia side.
- Hybrid delivery: online lectures, on-campus skills labs
- 14-month full-time and 18-month part-time tracks
- 1,350 total contact hours, including 400 clinical hours
- Clinical rotations in acute, long-term, and ambulatory settings
- School targets an 80% NCLEX-PN pass rate
- Non-credit vocational diploma program
- 24/7 access to online resources
Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Carroll Community College
Located in Westminster, Carroll Community College sits about an hour northwest of Gaithersburg and charges Maryland residents outside Carroll County a higher per-credit rate than in-county students. The 60-credit practical nursing certificate is unusual in that admission requires acceptance into the college's RN associate degree program as well, wiring students into an LPN-to-RN pathway from day one. Clinical training is based at Carroll Hospital and long-term care facilities in central Maryland, not in Montgomery County.
- 60-credit Practical Nursing Certificate
- 2.5 GPA minimum for admission
- Must also be accepted into the RN A.S. program
- Science courses valid only five years
- Clinicals at Carroll Hospital and regional long-term care sites
- Approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing
- Grade of C or better required in all courses
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold is roughly an hour from Gaithersburg, but the state designates its practical nursing certificate as a health occupation shortage program, which lets Maryland residents from other counties pay in-county rates when they enroll by the first day of the term. The 41-credit certificate can be finished in one academic year and runs in a hybrid format with evening and weekend classes built for working adults. Clinical hours cover acute medical-surgical, obstetric, and pediatric units as well as extended care and community settings.
- 41-credit certificate completed in one academic year
- Evening and weekend schedule for working adults
- Hybrid format with on-campus skills labs
- Clinical hours in acute med-surg, obstetrics, and pediatrics
- Approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing
- Program tuition listed under $6,500
- Scholarships available
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid
Prince George's Community College
Prince George's Community College in Largo is about 40 minutes from Gaithersburg via the Capital Beltway and is one of the few area schools where Maryland residents get admission priority over out-of-state applicants. Its 47-credit LPN certificate articulates directly into the college's RN associate degree, so graduates do not have to start over to advance. Nursing falls under the state's health manpower shortage tuition rules, which can lower the per-credit cost for Montgomery County residents; confirm the current designation with admissions.
- 47-credit Nursing (LPN) Certificate
- Prerequisites in Anatomy and Physiology I and II, plus psychology
- Articulates into the associate degree RN program
- Campus-based delivery in Largo, Maryland
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam
- Advising through the Center for Health Studies
Nursing (LPN) Certificate — On-Campus
Baltimore City Community College
Baltimore City Community College is roughly 45 to 60 minutes from Gaithersburg depending on traffic on I-495 and I-95, and it extends in-county tuition to every Maryland resident rather than only Baltimore City residents. That makes its per-credit rate among the lowest in-state options on this list, and the college also markets tuition-free pathways for students who qualify. The 45-credit practical nursing certificate runs across three semesters with clinical placements in Baltimore hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
- 45-credit certificate across three semesters
- One-year completion timeline
- 13 prerequisite credits required
- Prerequisites include anatomy, physiology, and microbiology
- Biology placement exam and computer literacy required
- Approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing
- Clinical placements in Baltimore hospitals and long-term care
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College delivers its practical nursing certificate through the workforce division at the Reston Technology Center, an evening and weekend program aimed at working adults. Maryland residents are classified as out-of-state and rank behind Virginia applicants in the limited-enrollment health sciences process, and entry requires a current Virginia CNA license. Because it is a workforce offering, tuition is set as a single program price rather than a per-credit rate, with eight sequential courses and a capstone.
- 8 sequential courses, 12 to 14 months full time
- Evening and weekend classes at Reston Technology Center
- Capstone course required
- Current Virginia CNA license required for admission
- ATI TEAS proficient score required
- Clinical sites within 50 miles of campus
- Approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing
- NCLEX-PN exam fee listed at $200
Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Fortis College-Landover
Fortis College in Landover is a private, campus-based diploma program approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the campus recruits from Montgomery County along with the rest of the DC suburbs. It runs career-focused classes on convenient schedules and leans on employer connections and career services to place graduates, which appeals to students who want a faster, less selective entry point than a community college. Private tuition runs well above the Maryland community college options on this list, and no Maryland resident discount is available.
- Diploma pathway in practical nursing
- Hands-on clinical training in healthcare settings
- Financial aid available for those who qualify
- Career services and local employer connections
- Convenient class schedules
- Campus-based in Landover, Maryland
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia sits in Northwest DC about 45 minutes from Gaithersburg, and Montgomery County residents qualify for the school's DC Metro tuition classification, which is well below the full non-resident rate. The practical nursing certificate is ACEN accredited and approved by the DC Board of Nursing, and admission is competitive with a 2.8 GPA minimum and a minimum ATI TEAS score. Clinical rotations are mandatory and take place across DC-area facilities, so plan for a daily commute into the District.
- 47-semester-hour Practical Nursing Certificate
- ACEN accredited and approved by the DC Board of Nursing
- 2.8 GPA minimum and prerequisite courses required
- ATI TEAS score of at least 58.7 required
- Campus-based with mandatory clinical rotations
- Maximum three years to complete the program
- Only one nursing course may be repeated
- CPR certification and annual health clearance required
Practical Nursing Certificate Program — On-Campus
Gaithersburg LPN Program Questions, Answered
These are the questions Gaithersburg-area students ask most often before committing to a practical nursing program. The answers below reflect Maryland Board of Nursing requirements and current published costs for the 2025-2026 academic year.
How long does it take to become an LPN in Maryland?
Most Maryland practical nursing programs run 12 to 18 months of full-time study, and Montgomery College lists its Practical Nursing Certificate as completable in about a year. Add roughly two to three months after graduation for your Board of Nursing application, criminal background check, and NCLEX-PN scheduling. Realistically, plan on 14 to 18 months from first class to active license.
How much does the Montgomery College practical nursing program cost?
Montgomery College does not publish a standalone practical nursing price sheet, so you build the estimate from the per-credit rates. For 2025-2026, county residents pay $207.00 per credit, other Maryland residents $356.20, and non-Maryland residents $489.40. A 15-credit semester with fees runs $5,343.00 for Maryland residents and $7,341.00 for out-of-state students, before books, uniforms, and testing fees.
Are there online or hybrid LPN programs Gaithersburg students can attend?
Some Maryland programs deliver lecture content online or in a hybrid format, but no practical nursing program is fully online. Supervised clinical hours in real healthcare settings are mandatory for Board approval and NCLEX-PN eligibility. Treat any advertisement for a 100 percent online LPN program as a warning sign, and verify a school's status on the Maryland Board of Nursing approved program list before paying anything.
Can you go from CNA to LPN in Maryland, and how long does it take?
Yes, though Maryland has no formal bridge that shortens the practical nursing curriculum. CNA training requires at least 100 hours (60 classroom and lab, 40 supervised clinical) and typically takes 4 to 12 weeks. You then complete a full Board-approved PN program and pass the NCLEX-PN. Start to finish, the combined path generally runs 16 to 20 months without breaks.
Can a Maryland LPN work in Virginia or DC on the same license?
Maryland participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, and Virginia is also a member, so a multistate Maryland LPN license generally lets you practice in Virginia without a second license, subject to Virginia's board rules and employer requirements. A single-state Maryland license does not. The District of Columbia is not a compact member, so DC practice requires licensure by endorsement.
