Best LPN Programs in Boston 2026
Discover Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Boston, Massachusetts with details on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Boston area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Boston, MA
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, MA - Public 2-Year - qcc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Quinsigamond Community College's Healthcare - Practical Nursing program provides a hybrid pathway for certified LPNs to advance their careers through a comprehensive 4-semester curriculum. Students develop expertise in patient-centered care, therapeutic communication, and healthcare technology across diverse clinical settings. With in-state tuition at $223 per credit, this 60-credit program prepares nurses for potential transfer to bachelor's degree programs while emphasizing culturally diverse patient care. Admission requires current LPN certification and a high school diploma or equivalent, offering flexible learning options for working professionals seeking career enhancement in hospital and healthcare facility environments.
- Hybrid learning format
- 60 total credit program
- In-state tuition $223/credit
- Current LPN certification required
- Prepares for bachelor's transfer
- 4 semester curriculum
- Culturally diverse patient care focus
- Advanced therapeutic communication training
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Evening
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Quinsigamond Community College's Practical Nursing Evening program delivers a hybrid evening format specifically designed for certified LPNs pursuing career advancement. This comprehensive 4-semester program focuses on patient-centered care, therapeutic communication, and biological sciences while incorporating coursework in biology, English, mathematics, and psychology. With in-state tuition at $223 per credit and out-of-state at $429 per credit, the program prepares students for transfer to bachelor-level nursing institutions. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED/HiSET and current LPN credential, providing a flexible learning environment that accommodates working professionals' schedules while building advanced nursing competencies.
- Hybrid program format.
- 4 semesters to complete.
- In-state tuition: $223/credit.
- Out-of-state tuition: $429/credit.
- Requires high school diploma or GED/HiSET.
- Current LPN credential needed.
- Focus on patient-centered care.
- Includes biology, English, mathematics.
- Prepares for transfer to bachelor institutions.
- Therapeutic communication skills.
Quincy College
Quincy, MA - Public 4-Year - quincycollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Certificate of Completion in Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Quincy College's Certificate of Completion in Practical Nursing equips students for careers as licensed practical nurses through a campus-based program. It combines rigorous classroom learning with hands-on clinical training at leading Massachusetts healthcare facilities, focusing on essential nursing skills, patient care, and professional duties via a concept-based curriculum. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-PN exam, with first-time pass rates consistently exceeding 85%. Admission requires prerequisites like College Algebra and Anatomy & Physiology, along with passing the TEAS entrance exam. The program is state-approved and open only to Massachusetts residents, emphasizing high-quality clinical experiences.
- Full state board approval
- Clinical training at top facilities
- Concept-based curriculum
- High NCLEX-PN pass rates
- Massachusetts residents only
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MA - Public 2-Year - massbay.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Massachusetts Bay Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate is an intensive 10-month program that prepares students for rapid entry into healthcare. It combines classroom and clinical training, focusing on patient assessment and direct care skills for diverse settings like hospitals and long-term care. With a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and ACEN accreditation, graduates benefit from strong job growth projections and competitive starting wages around $27 per hour, offering a stable career path without requiring entrance exams.
- 10-month day/evening program
- 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate
- Classroom and clinical training
- 12% job growth projected
- Entry-level wage $27/hour
- ACEN accredited program
- Multiple healthcare work settings
- Career advancement opportunities
Northern Essex Community College
Haverhill, MA - Public 2-Year - necc.mass.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Northern Essex Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate program delivers intensive training in anatomy, physiology, and patient care through classroom, lab, and clinical rotations. With a 95% NCLEX-PN pass rate, graduates are well-prepared for licensure and roles in hospitals, clinics, home health, and rehabilitation. At $346 per credit for in-state students, it's an affordable option that also allows credit transfer toward an Associate Degree in Nursing. The program is Massachusetts Board approved and emphasizes career-ready skills across diverse healthcare settings.
- NCLEX-PN Exam Preparation
- Multiple Clinical Experiences
- Career-Ready Skills
- Affordable In-State Tuition
- Advanced Nursing Pathway
- Massachusetts Board Approved
- Diverse Healthcare Settings
North Shore Community College
Danvers, MA - Public 2-Year - northshore.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
North Shore Community College's 10-month Practical Nursing Certificate program provides an accelerated route to LPN licensure, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN exam. This ACEN-accredited curriculum emphasizes hands-on patient care skills applicable in hospitals, clinics, and home health settings. Massachusetts residents may qualify for free tuition, enhancing accessibility. Graduates gain immediate employment readiness through comprehensive training in medical procedures and professional healthcare practices.
- 10-month certificate program
- Prepare for NCLEX-PN exam
- Multiple healthcare settings
- ACEN accredited program
- Potential free tuition
Boston LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses play a hands-on role across Boston’s healthcare system by delivering direct patient care under the supervision of Registered Nurses and physicians. In Massachusetts, LPNs contribute to patient assessment, implement care plans, administer medications within scope, and support care coordination across inpatient and community settings.
Boston’s healthcare landscape includes major academic medical centers, community hospitals, federally qualified health centers, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, and home health agencies. Consistent with national employment patterns reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many LPN positions in the Boston area are found in nursing and residential care facilities, home health, physician offices, and outpatient clinics, with additional roles in hospital-based ambulatory and specialty units. These diverse settings sustain steady local demand for practical nurses, particularly in long-term and community-based care.
Most Boston-area practical nursing programs are designed as certificate or diploma pathways that can typically be completed in about 10 to 12 months of full-time study. Many schools also offer extended or part-time options that may take approximately 18 to 24 months, pairing weekday or evening coursework with weekend or block clinical rotations. Curricula commonly combine classroom instruction in foundational nursing and pharmacology with skills labs and supervised clinical placements in local hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies to prepare graduates for entry-level practice.
Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN examination to obtain licensure in Massachusetts. Practical nursing education programs and LPN licensure are overseen by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, which establishes education standards, approves programs, and determines eligibility for licensure by examination. Programs in Boston explicitly prepare students for the NCLEX-PN through integrated test preparation, clinical judgment development, and competency-based practice aligned to board requirements.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Boston
The healthcare landscape in Boston offers a positive and growing outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). In Massachusetts, LPN employment is projected to increase by approximately 6.3 percent between 2022 and 2032, leading to an estimated 569 annual job openings. This growth rate surpasses the national average for all occupations, indicating a steady demand for skilled practical and vocational nurses throughout the state. While Massachusetts primarily uses the title Licensed Practical Nurse, the roles and responsibilities are consistent with those of Licensed Vocational Nurses in other regions. The increasing demand for healthcare professionals is largely driven by an aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic health conditions.
LPNs play a crucial role in providing direct patient care across a diverse array of healthcare settings in and around Boston. Key employers range from large hospital systems to specialized home health agencies and residential care facilities. The types of facilities that commonly hire LPNs include:
- Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing Homes:These facilities represent the largest segment of LPN employment in Massachusetts, with a significant number of LPNs working in this sector. Many nursing homes and skilled nursing centers in the Boston area actively seek LPNs, including Highland Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, and North End Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.
- Home Health Agencies:The home health sector is a significant and expanding employer for LPNs, with a reported high vacancy rate for these professionals in home and community-based services. Prominent agencies with a presence in the Boston area that frequently hire LPNs include Amedisys, BAYADA Home Health Care, Vitra Health, and Caring Hearts Homecare.
- Hospitals and Acute Care Settings:While traditionally focused on Registered Nurses, acute care hospitals are increasingly recruiting LPNs to address staffing needs, given a reported vacancy rate. Major hospital systems in the region offer various nursing opportunities.
- Senior Living and Assisted Living Facilities:With an aging population, LPNs are in high demand within residential care facilities and senior living communities. Facilities known to hire LPNs include Brookdale Senior Living, Charter Senior Living of Dedham, and HallKeen Assisted Living Communities, such as Susan Bailis Assisted Living in Boston.
- Rehabilitation Centers:LPNs are essential members of the care teams at rehabilitation facilities, providing support for patients recovering from illness or injury. Many of the skilled nursing facilities also provide comprehensive rehabilitation services.
- Private Practices and Outpatient Care Centers:LPNs can also find opportunities in various outpatient care centers and physician offices throughout Boston and its surrounding suburbs, with positions identified in areas like Chestnut Hill.
- School Health:LPNs are employed as school nurses, often through staffing agencies that serve the Boston public school system and other educational institutions in the area.
- Adult Day Health Centers:Facilities like MENTOR Adult Day Health and Cape Verdean Well Adult Day Care in Dorchester hire LPNs to provide care and support during the day.
- Behavioral Health and Addiction Recovery:Opportunities for LPNs exist in behavioral health settings and addiction recovery centers, including various Massachusetts Detox Centers.
In addition to these diverse settings, several well-known healthcare systems and networks are significant employers for LPNs in the Boston area:
- Beth Israel Lahey Health: As a major integrated healthcare system serving eastern Massachusetts, including Boston, Beth Israel Lahey Health frequently has nursing roles, including for LPNs, across its numerous hospitals, ambulatory sites, and physician practices.
- Boston Children’s Hospital: This renowned institution offers a range of nursing opportunities and maintains a diverse healthcare workforce.
- Major home health providers like Amedisys and BAYADA Home Health Care maintain a strong presence, consistently seeking LPNs for their services throughout the Boston metropolitan area.
- Large senior living and rehabilitation networks, including Brookdale Senior Living, Charter Senior Living, and Erickson Senior Living, frequently post LPN positions across their numerous facilities in greater Boston.
- Various staffing agencies, such as IntelyCare, Sunbelt Staffing, Amergis, and ProCare Therapy, also play a vital role in connecting LPNs with temporary, per diem, and permanent positions in a wide array of Boston-area healthcare facilities, including hospitals, schools, and long-term care settings.
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