Best LPN Programs in New York City 2026
Discover Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in New York City with information on schools, classes, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities across the five boroughs.
2027 Best LPN Programs in New York, NY
CUNY Bronx Community College
Bronx, NY - Public 2-Year - bcc.cuny.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
CUNY Bronx Community College offers a Licensed Practical Nursing certificate designed for working adults, featuring evening and weekend classes. The 45-credit curriculum trains students in patient-centered care, evidence-based judgment, and cultural competence, emphasizing dignity and integrity. Coursework covers nursing science, patient advocacy, and safe care delivery. After the first semester, students can earn Nurse Aide Certification. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN and find roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care. However, the program is currently suspended due to faculty shortages, so prospective students should check availability. Financial aid is available. This program is ideal for those seeking diverse healthcare opportunities.
- 45 total credit hours
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Evening and weekend classes
- Program suspended due to staffing
- Earn Nurse Aide Certification
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
New York, NY - Public 2-Year - bmcc.cuny.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
At CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, the Practical Nursing Certificate is a 46-credit, five-semester pathway leading to NCLEX-PN eligibility and LPN licensure. The curriculum integrates parent-child nursing, medical-surgical care, mental health, gerontology, pharmacology, and practical skills labs. Students begin clinical rotations in the first semester, gaining real-world experience across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities under seasoned faculty mentorship. Admission is selective, requiring prerequisite coursework and a qualifying HESI A2 score. While the program stands alone as a career entry point, it also provides a solid stepping stone for those pursuing registered nursing. Graduates are prepared for compassionate, competent practice in diverse healthcare settings.
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: HESI
- 5-Semester program
- 46 total credit hours
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Parent-Child Nursing course
- Medical-Surgical Nursing course
- Mental Health Nursing course
- Gerontology/Rehabilitation course
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Long Island City, NY - Public 2-Year - lagcc.cuny.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate is an intensive 10-month, 48-credit pathway to LPN licensure. Approved by the New York State Education Department, the curriculum blends classroom theory with hands-on clinical practice, emphasizing health teaching, counseling, and restorative care. Designed for adult learners from diverse backgrounds, the program fosters a rigorous yet supportive cohort environment with a single fall start each year. Graduates gain the skills to work in chronic and acute care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and community health agencies. The program prepares students to sit for the NCLEX-PN, positioning them for immediate entry into practical nursing roles.
- 10-Month program
- 48 total credit hours
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts fall
- Approved by NYS Education Department
- Prepares for practical nursing roles
- Health teaching and restorative care
- Rigorous yet supportive for adult learners
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY - Public 4-Year - mec.cuny.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Certificate in Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
CUNY Medgar Evers College offers a Certificate in Practical Nursing (CPN) as a full-time, campus-based program. Spanning 18 months and 39 credits, the curriculum integrates didactic instruction with hands-on lab work and clinical placements in maternal-child health, medical/surgical care, and psychosocial nursing. Admission requires a high school diploma, prerequisite sciences (B- or above within five years), and a passing score on the NLN pre-entrance exam. The program emphasizes patient-centered care and evidence-based practice, preparing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN. With a 100% licensure pass rate and 90% job placement within six months, this rigorous track is ideal for those entering diverse healthcare settings. Small cohorts and faculty advising enhance student success.
- Entrance exam required
- 18-Month program
- 39 total credit hours
- 100% licensure pass rate
- 90% job placement rate
- 2.7 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Intensive lab and clinical practice
CUNY Hostos Community College
Bronx, NY - Public 2-Year - hostos.cuny.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
CUNY Hostos Community College offers a one-year, two-semester Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN and immediate entry into LPN practice. The curriculum blends practical nursing training with liberal arts coursework in English, natural sciences, social sciences, and behavioral sciences—setting it apart from purely vocational programs. Through clinical experiences, students deliver care to patients across the lifespan under the guidance of professional nurse instructors. Applicants must complete prerequisite courses and achieve a competitive ATI TEAS score for admission. This New York State Education Department–accredited program provides a strong foundation for diverse healthcare settings and serves as an alternative pathway within allied health sciences.
- New York State Education Department accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 1-Year program
- Complete in within one calendar year
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN Exam
- Alternative career option in Allied Health Sciences
- Marketable skills as a Licensed Practical Nurse
- Exposed to English and natural, social, behavioral sciences
Mildred Elley-New York Campus
New York, NY - Private 2-year - mildred-elley.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nurse Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Designed for future Licensed Practical Nurses, Mildred Elley’s Practical Nurse Certificate combines classroom theory, simulated skills labs, and clinical practicums. The curriculum explores anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology, while building critical communication and problem-solving abilities. Offered at both Albany and New York City campuses, the program features flexible scheduling to fit existing responsibilities. Completion in under two years allows entry into the workforce quickly. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN and pursue positions in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities. With over a century of career preparation, Mildred Elley provides a supportive environment and financial aid for qualified students.
- Complete in less than 2 years
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Flexible class schedules
- In-person at Albany and NYC
- 100+ years of career education
- Coursework includes Anatomy & Physiology
- Combines skills, classroom, clinical
New York LPN Program Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses play a hands-on role in New York City’s healthcare system, delivering bedside care, monitoring vital signs, administering medications under appropriate supervision, and supporting care coordination across diverse patient populations. In a city with high patient volumes and complex health needs, LPNs contribute to safe, efficient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and patients’ homes.
New York City’s healthcare landscape includes a large public hospital network, major academic medical centers, community health clinics, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, and a robust home health sector. LPNs commonly find opportunities in nursing homes, subacute and post-acute units, primary and specialty clinics, and home care, where demand is sustained by an aging population and ongoing needs in chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and transitional care.
Most NYC LPN programs are state approved certificate or diploma pathways designed to be completed in approximately 10 to 12 months of full-time study. Many schools also offer evening or part-time schedules that typically take 18 to 24 months, depending on course load and clinical scheduling. Curricula generally include fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, medical-surgical, maternal and child health, mental health, gerontology, and supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long-term care, and community settings across the five boroughs.
Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN to obtain licensure in New York. Programs in the city align coursework and clinical experiences to NCLEX-PN test plans and often incorporate practice examinations and remediation support. In New York, LPN education programs require approval from the New York State Education Department, which, working in conjunction with the State Board for Nursing, oversees licensure and state-specific requirements. Applicants should review current guidance on licensure eligibility, approved programs, and required trainings such as infection control and child abuse identification and reporting.
- Common employment settings: hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, community clinics, and physician practices
- Typical timelines: about 1 year full-time; about 18 to 24 months part-time or evening schedules
- Licensure: graduation from a New York approved LPN program and passing the NCLEX-PN under the oversight of the New York State Education Department
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in New York
The healthcare employment landscape for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in New York City is dynamic and robust, with a projected increase in demand across various facilities. National LPN employment is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032. New York State anticipates a 16.5% growth in LPN employment between 2020 and 2030, translating to an average of 1,180 annual job openings statewide.
Compensation for LPNs is competitive in the region. As of May 2023, the average annual wage for LPNs statewide in New York was $60,200, which translates to approximately $1,158 per week. For New York City and its surrounding metropolitan area, the average hourly pay for an LPN was $29.86, with most salaries falling between $25.86 and $33.68 per hour (25th to 75th percentile).
Types of Facilities Hiring LPNs in New York City
LPNs are integral to a wide array of healthcare settings throughout New York City, providing essential skilled nursing services. Common employers include:
- Hospitals:LPNs play a crucial role in acute care settings. Historically, a significant portion of LPNs in New York City worked in hospitals.
- Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities:These facilities, including skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, are major employers, offering care for residents requiring extended support.
- Home Health Agencies:LPNs provide vital in-home care, particularly for the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions.
- Public Health:Opportunities exist within agencies like the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, supporting various public health initiatives.
- Centers for the Developmentally Disabled:Specialized care is provided by LPNs in these facilities.
- Senior Living and Assisted Living Facilities:LPNs ensure the well-being and care of residents in these communities.
- Schools:LPNs are employed in educational institutions across the five boroughs.
- Plasma Donation Centers:Facilities such as BioLife hire LPNs for roles involving donor qualification and adverse event management.
- Clinical Research:LPNs can also find roles as clinical research coordinators in various research settings, including with organizations like The IMA Group.
- Remote Positions:A growing number of employers offer remote LPN/LVN roles, including for specialized services.
Major Healthcare Employers and Networks in New York City
New York City is home to numerous large healthcare systems and facilities that actively seek LPNs. Key employers and networks include:
- NYC Health + Hospitals: This comprehensive public healthcare system encompasses 11 acute care hospitals, 5 post-acute/long-term care facilities, Gotham Health Centers, and Correctional Health Services.
- Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facilities:Several specialized centers frequently hire LPNs, such as Bronx Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Far Rockaway Center, Northern Manor Center, Northern Metropolitan Center, Bushwick Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Healthcare Nursing of Brooklyn, and Meridian Nurse (for facilities in Gravesend and Flushing).
- State and Government Agencies:The New York State Department of Health and StateJobsNY list positions for LPNs at various state-run facilities, including Veterans Homes and Addiction Treatment Centers. Other government-affiliated organizations like AHRC NYC and Rising Ground, Inc. also employ LPNs.
- Specialized Healthcare Providers:This category includes organizations like PM Pediatrics Management Group (for pediatric urgent care), Aaron School LLC (for school nurse positions), and Flagler Health (for remote LPN/LVN roles).
- Healthcare Staffing Agencies:These agencies serve as crucial conduits for LPN employment, connecting professionals with opportunities across various facilities. Prominent staffing agencies include Horizon Healthcare Staffing, the Workforce1 Healthcare Career Center (which partners with top NYC healthcare providers), and ATC Healthcare.
List of LPN Programs in New York, NY
New York, NY
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Website
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: HESI
- 5-Semester program
- 46 total credit hours
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Parent-Child Nursing course
- Medical-Surgical Nursing course
Mildred Elley-New York Campus
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nurse Certificate
Campus Based - Website
- Complete in less than 2 years
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Flexible class schedules
- In-person at Albany and NYC
- 100+ years of career education
- Coursework includes Anatomy & Physiology
- Combines skills, classroom, clinical
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