Guide to New York’s BOCES LPN Programs

What is the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York?

Created by the New York State legislature in 1948, the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provides education and career training to high school students, recent graduates, and adults in nearly all of the state’s 700+ school districts; 37 BOCES currently exist in the state.

BOCES offers a wide variety of educational programs and on-site job training, including auto body repair, building maintenance, computer repair and networking, criminal justice, electrical wiring, and practical nursing.

BOCES Licensed Practical Nursing Programs

Because of the increasing demand for healthcare professionals in New York State, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program is one of the most popular BOCES programs. Students enrolled in a BOCES LPN program can typically complete the curriculum in less than one year.

With New York State’s population estimated at 20 million people and increasing year after year, there is no shortage of opportunities for LPNs to work in settings as diverse as hospitals, nursing homes, private and public healthcare clinics, home health agencies, government agencies, private businesses, and more.

LPNs in New York State perform important tasks, such as:

  • Administering medication
  • Counseling patients and families on illnesses and treatment regimens
  • Performing routine care procedures
  • Assisting physicians and registered nurses

In addition, LPNs in New York also have opportunities to further their education through LPN bridge programs. These programs allow practicing LPNs to take online or in-person classes to earn Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and become registered nurses.

How Do I Enter a BOCES LPN Program?

Because of the demand for LPN jobs in New York State, the BOCES LPN programs are popular and often have competitive admission requirements.

Although each district has its own separate admission process, most of the programs have the same standards for eligibility. These standards require that you:

1. Complete a Nurse Entrance Exam

This typically takes the form of the Test of Essential Academic Skills, or TEAS exam, which assesses your mathematics and verbal skills, including vocabulary and reading comprehension. Prep courses are available in many districts to help you prepare for this exam.

2. Possess a High School or GED Diploma

In order to be considered for a BOCES LPN program in New York State, you must submit proof of your high school or GED diploma.

3. Be at Least 18 Years Old

The BOCES LPN programs require that you be at least 18 years old, although some programs accept applications from students who are 17 years old.

4. Complete an Interview

Similar to a job interview, the BOCES LPN interview process consists of several questions designed to help program administrators determine if you’re a good candidate for becoming a healthcare professional in New York State.

5. Pass a Physical, Medical, and Background Screening

You must pass a physical, medical, and background screening, which includes immunizations, blood work, and a criminal background check. Drug screenings may also be included.

6. Receive CPR Certification

Most BOCES programs in New York State require that you are certified to perform CPR. You can receive certification at the school you are applying to or by completing a first aid class in your community.

Where are BOCES LPN Programs in New York State?

There are numerous BOCES LPN programs in New York State that serve students in nearly every geographic and metropolitan area of the state:

Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga BOCES

Suite 102, 900 Watervliet-Shaker Rd, Albany, NY (518) 862-4900

Visit the School's Website: Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga BOCES

Broome Delaware Tioga BOCES

435 Glenwood Road, Binghamton, NY (607) 763-3300

Visit the School's Website: Broome Delaware Tioga BOCES

Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES - Belmont

5536 County Route 48, Belmont, NY (585) 268-5681

Visit the School's Website: Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES - Belmont

Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES – Ellicottville

5550 Route 242e, Ellicottville, NY (716) 699-2382

Visit the School's Website: Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES – Ellicottville

Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES – Olean

1825 Windfall Road, Olean, NY (716) 376-8200

Visit the School's Website: Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES – Olean

Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

1879 West Genesee St. Rd., Auburn, NY (315) 253-4899

Visit the School's Website: Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

Columbia-Greene Educational Center BOCES

132 Union Turnpike, Hudson, NY (518) 766-3449

Visit the School's Website: Columbia-Greene Educational Center BOCES

Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES - Norwich

6678 County Road 32, Norwich, NY (607) 335-1200

Visit the School's Website: Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES - Norwich

Dutchess BOCES

5 Boces Road, Poughkeepsie, NY (845) 486-4800

Visit the School's Website: Dutchess BOCES

Eastern Suffolk BOCES - Adult

350 Martha Avenue, Bellport, NY (631) 286-6585

Visit the School's Website: Eastern Suffolk BOCES - Adult

Erie 1 BOCES - Harkness Career and Technical Center

99 Aero Drive, Cheektowaga, NY (716) 632-1076

Visit the School's Website: Erie 1 BOCES - Harkness Career and Technical Center

Erie 1 BOCES - Kenton Center

151 Two Mile Creek Road, Tonawanda, NY (716) 821-7191

Visit the School's Website: Erie 1 BOCES - Kenton Center

Erie 1 BOCES - Niagara Lutheran Home

64 Hager Street, Buffalo, NY (716) 886-4377

Visit the School's Website: Erie 1 BOCES - Niagara Lutheran Home

Erie 1 BOCES – Potter Road Center

705 Potter Road, West Seneca, NY (716) 821-7336

Visit the School's Website: Erie 1 BOCES – Potter Road Center

Erie 1 BOCES – Southtowns Academy

4540 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, NY (716) 821-7191

Visit the School's Website: Erie 1 BOCES – Southtowns Academy

Erie 2 BOCES - Angola

8685 Erie Road, Angola, NY (716) 549-4454

Visit the School's Website: Erie 2 BOCES - Angola

Erie 2 BOCES - Buffalo

175 Jefferson Street, Buffalo, NY (716) 947-9056

Visit the School's Website: Erie 2 BOCES - Buffalo

Erie 2 BOCES - Cassadaga

8115 Glasgow Road, Cassadaga, NY (716) 595-4293

Visit the School's Website: Erie 2 BOCES - Cassadaga

Erie 2 BOCES - Jamestown

508 Cherry Street, Jamestown, NY (716) 484-9811

Visit the School's Website: Erie 2 BOCES - Jamestown

Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Batavia

8250 State Street Rd, Batavia, NY (585) 658-7704

Visit the School's Website: Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Batavia

Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Spencerport

, Spencerport, NY (585) 349-9100

Visit the School's Website: Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Spencerport

Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Warsaw

450 North Main Street, Warsaw, NY (585) 344-7738

Visit the School's Website: Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES - Warsaw

Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES – Mount Morris

27 Lackawanna Ave, Mount Morris, NY (585) 658-7900

Visit the School's Website: Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming BOCES – Mount Morris

Greater Southern Tier BOCES - Bush Campus

459 Philo Road, Elmira, NY (607) 734-3014

Visit the School's Website: Greater Southern Tier BOCES - Bush Campus

Greater Southern Tier BOCES – Coopers Campus

459 Philo Road, Elmira, NY (607) 739-7905

Visit the School's Website: Greater Southern Tier BOCES – Coopers Campus

Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES – Adult

2755 St Hwy 67, Johnstown, NY (518) 736-4300

Visit the School's Website: Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES – Adult

Herkimer-Hamilton-Fulton-Otsego BOCES

352 Gros Blvd, Herkimer, NY (315) 867-2023

Visit the School's Website: Herkimer-Hamilton-Fulton-Otsego BOCES

Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer BOCES

20104 Nys Route 3, Watertown, NY (315) 779-7000

Visit the School's Website: Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer BOCES

Madison-Oneida BOCES - Rome

4937 Spring Rd, Rome, NY (315) 334-8000

Visit the School's Website: Madison-Oneida BOCES - Rome

Madison-Oneida BOCES - Utica

502 Court St, Utica, NY (315) 793-8505

Visit the School's Website: Madison-Oneida BOCES - Utica

Madison-Oneida BOCES - Verona

4937 Spring Road, Verona, NY (315) 361-5500

Visit the School's Website: Madison-Oneida BOCES - Verona

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Cortland

1710 State Route 13, Cortland, NY (607) 758-5100

Visit the School's Website: Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Cortland

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Liverpool

4500 Crown Road, Liverpool, NY (315) 453-4455

Visit the School's Website: Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Liverpool

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Syracuse

103 3rd St, Syracuse, NY (315) 426-9439

Visit the School's Website: Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES - Syracuse

Orange-Ulster BOCES

53 Gibson Road, Goshen, NY (845) 291-0100

Visit the School's Website: Orange-Ulster BOCES

Orleans / Niagara BOCES

4232 Shelby Basin Road, Medina, NY (800) 836-7510

Visit the School's Website: Orleans / Niagara BOCES

Oswego County BOCES

179 County Route 64, Mexico, NY (315) 963-4228

Visit the School's Website: Oswego County BOCES

Otsego-Delaware-Schoharie-Greene BOCES

31 Center Street, 3rd Floor, Oneonta, NY (607) 588-6291

Visit the School's Website: Otsego-Delaware-Schoharie-Greene BOCES

Putnam-Westchester BOCES

200 Boces Drive, Yorktown Heights, NY (914) 245-2700

Visit the School's Website: Putnam-Westchester BOCES

Rensselaer Educational Center BOCES

35 Colleen Road, Troy, NY (518) 283-5752

Visit the School's Website: Rensselaer Educational Center BOCES

Rockland BOCES

65 Parrott Road, West Nyack, NY (845) 627-4700

Visit the School's Website: Rockland BOCES

Southern Westchester BOCES

17 Berkley Drive, Rye Brook, NY (914) 937-3820

Visit the School's Website: Southern Westchester BOCES

Sullivan County BOCES

6 Wierk Avenue, Liberty, NY (845) 295-4000

Visit the School's Website: Sullivan County BOCES

Ulster BOCES

175 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY (845) 255-1450

Visit the School's Website: Ulster BOCES

Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES - Hudson Falls

1051 Dix Ave, Hudson Falls, NY (518) 746-3400

Visit the School's Website: Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES - Hudson Falls

Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES - Saratoga Springs

27 Gick Road, Saratoga Springs, NY (518) 581-3670

Visit the School's Website: Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES - Saratoga Springs

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Newark Education Center

131 Drumling Court, Newark, NY (315) 332-7272

Visit the School's Website: Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Newark Education Center

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Rochester (Day)

435 E. Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY (315) 332-7374

Visit the School's Website: Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Rochester (Day)

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Rochester (Evening)

435 E. Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY (315) 332-7374

Visit the School's Website: Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES - Rochester (Evening)

Western Suffolk BOCES

P.O. Box 8007, Huntington Station, NY (631) 549-4900

Visit the School's Website: Western Suffolk BOCES

Obtaining Financial Aid for BOCES LPN Programs

As with most higher education programs, attending a BOCES LPN program in New York State requires a substantial tuition fee. Fortunately, most students qualify for financial aid through the federal government. The most common financial aid options include:

PELL Grant

PELL Grants are issued by the federal government and are awarded to students based on financial need. This money is designed specifically to be used for tuition and living expenses while obtaining a degree or BOCES LPN certification and doesn't have to be paid back.

Stafford Loan

A Stafford Loan is also issued by the federal government and is designed to pay for tuition and living expenses. However, unlike PELL Grants, students must begin paying back the money they borrowed within a certain timeframe after graduating or completing their educational program. Stafford Loans generally have much lower interest rates than student loans offered by private banks and credit institutions.

Nurses StudyingCompleting the BOCES LPN Coursework

Depending on the type of course you signed up for, your program may take between one year (full-time) and two years (part-time) to complete. As an LPN student in the New York State BOCES program, you will be expected to achieve and maintain high standards of academic progress for things like:

Attendance

Learning to become an effective LPN requires hundreds of hours of hands-on training. Attendance and punctuality are mandatory in BOCES LPN programs and often factor into your grade.

Grades

As an LPN student, you will receive regular feedback concerning your grades and overall progress in the program’s curriculum.

Personal Conduct

In the workforce, LPNs are expected to maintain high levels of professionalism at all times. Standards of personal conduct and behavior are noted in the handbooks of BOCES LPN programs and are strictly enforced.

If you meet all the program’s requirements, you will receive a certificate of completion from your BOCES facility. Once you’ve received your certification, you’re free to take the New York State NCLEX-PN exam to obtain your nursing license.

Getting Your LPN License in New York

Successfully completing a BOCES LPN program is the first step toward LPN licensure in New York State. To begin practicing in NY, you must be fully licensed and registered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Beyond completing your LPN program, other requirements for licensure include:

  • Be of good moral character (i.e. no criminal convictions or pending charges, etc.) - this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis
  • Complete New York State's required infection control coursework
  • Pass the licensure exam, such as the NCLEX-PN examination
  • Apply for an LPN license with NYSED
  • Pay the free for licensure and first registration (currently $143 but is subject to change)

Be sure to review NYSED's LPN licensure requirements for further information.

Employment Opportunities and Job Placement for BOCES LPN Graduates

Nurse TabletEach BOCES LPN program has different rates regarding job placement after students complete the required coursework and pass the NCLEX exam. However, employment rates are generally high and match the overall trend for LPN hiring throughout the country. See what kind of potential salary is available for LPNs.

For example, the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES LPN program claims a 77 percent graduation rate and a 77 percent job placement rate. In 2022, Western Suffolk BOCES reported an LPN retention rate of 81 percent, a job placement rate of 73 percent, and an NCLEX pass rate of 100 percent.

If you are concerned about the possibility of finding a job after completing a BOCES LPN program, contact your local BOCES facility and ask for their most recent graduation and employment numbers.

NY LPN Programs by City

Last Updated/Verified: May 31, 2024