Best LPN Programs in Cleveland 2026
Discover Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Cleveland, Ohio with details on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Cleveland area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Cleveland, OH
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls
Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Private 2-year - fortis.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls offers a Practical Nursing program that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN exam through a hybrid format blending classroom instruction with clinical practice. The 16-month curriculum emphasizes comprehensive patient care across various healthcare settings, ensuring graduates are equipped for diverse nursing roles. Financial aid is available for eligible students, enhancing accessibility. This program focuses on building essential nursing skills without requiring entrance exams, making it an efficient pathway to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Ohio.
- 16-month program duration.
- Hybrid learning format.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Financial aid available.
- Focus on diverse patient care.
Lorain County Community College
Elyria, OH - Public 4-Year - lorainccc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Lorain County Community College offers a one-year Practical Nursing certificate program that prepares students for NCLEX-PN licensure. The curriculum combines medical/surgical, maternity, pediatric, and geriatric nursing with hands-on clinical training. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, completion of state-approved nurse aide training, and passing the ATI TEAS Exam. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA and obtain American Heart Association certification. The 38-credit program includes articulation agreements for further education and Credit for Prior Learning options, equipping graduates to provide nursing care under licensed supervision in diverse healthcare settings.
- One-year technical certificate.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN licensure.
- Hands-on nursing care training.
- Requires high school diploma or GED.
- State-approved nurse aide training prerequisite.
- 2.0 GPA requirement for college coursework.
- ATI TEAS Exam required for admission.
- Curriculum includes medical/surgical nursing.
- Includes maternity and pediatric nursing.
- Geriatrics management covered.
Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH - Public 2-Year - tri-c.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Cuyahoga Community College District's Practical Nursing Certificate program in Cleveland features a career ladder curriculum that enables progression from nurse aide to practical nurse certification and onward to an Associate Degree in Nursing. Students become eligible for the NCLEX-PN exam after the first year, allowing them to work as LPNs while continuing their education. This campus-based program emphasizes seamless educational advancement and prepares graduates for healthcare careers, with financial aid details available through the Financial Aid Office.
- Career ladder curriculum.
- Eligible for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Seamless progression to ADN.
- Certificate of Proficiency awarded.
- Campus-based program.
- Contact Financial Aid for eligibility.
- Nursing and Health Professions school.
- Admission to ADN program required.
- Common admission criteria used.
- No standalone certificate admissions.
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville
Brecksville, OH - Private 2-year - sctoday.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Diploma Program
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville's 14-month hybrid Practical Nursing Diploma Program blends online coursework with on-campus learning, requiring 76.5 credits and emphasizing hands-on clinical skills in anatomy and pharmacology. It prepares graduates for the licensure exam, focusing on patient safety, ethics, and critical thinking for roles in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. With small class sizes, experienced faculty, and career services, the program supports student success, and financial aid is available for eligible candidates.
- Hybrid learning format.
- 14-month program length.
- 76.5 credits required.
- Prepares for licensure exam.
- Career services available.
- Small class sizes.
- Experienced faculty.
- Hands-on training.
- Financial aid options.
- Focus on patient safety.
Cleveland LPN Program Overview
Cleveland’s healthcare sector is one of the largest in the Midwest, anchored by major health systems and a wide network of community providers. Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role across this landscape by delivering bedside and community care under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. In Cleveland, LPNs support patient care in hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities, home health agencies, and public and community health settings, helping address chronic disease management, aging population needs, and access to care in diverse neighborhoods.
Employment opportunities for LPNs in the Cleveland area are broad due to the presence of large academic medical centers, safety net hospitals, and extensive long term and post acute care services across Cuyahoga County and surrounding communities. State and federal workforce publications consistently indicate steady demand for practical nurses in Ohio, particularly in long term care, rehabilitation, and ambulatory care where LPNs are integral to care teams.
Cleveland area practical nursing programs are designed to prepare students for entry level practice and licensure. Full time tracks typically take about 12 months to complete. Many schools also offer part time or evening and weekend options that can extend to roughly 18 to 24 months. Programs blend classroom instruction with skills lab and simulation, and include supervised clinical rotations in local hospitals, nursing homes, and community based sites to build competence in medical surgical care, gerontology, pharmacology, maternal child health, and mental health nursing. Most curricula integrate focused review and practice to prepare graduates for the NCLEX PN.
In Ohio, practical nursing programs must be approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, which also oversees licensure. After completing an approved program, graduates must pass the NCLEX PN and meet background check and other state requirements to obtain LPN licensure. Prospective students should verify a program’s current approval status and review state licensure and examination information through the Board.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Cleveland
The healthcare sector in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio presents a robust and growing employment landscape for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). This industry is a significant economic driver for the region, with Northeast Ohio’s healthcare employment growing 21% from 2001 to 2019, reaching 270,400 workers. In 2023, the Cleveland region averaged approximately 10,000 open healthcare positions. For a broader perspective on the job market, the OhioMeansJobs website provides detailed labor market information.
As of 2022, Ohio employed 37,590 LPNs, with a projected growth of 2% to 38,230 by 2032, leading to an estimated 2,930 annual job openings across the state. Nationally, the employment of LPNs and LVNs is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032. The average annual wage for an LPN in Ohio is $54,360, or $26.13 per hour, and Cleveland is identified as one of the highest-paying cities in Ohio for LPNs. Most LPNs in Ohio (79%) work full-time.
LPNs in Cleveland are employed across a diverse range of healthcare settings, reflecting the varied needs of the community:
- Nursing Homes, Extended Care, and Assisted Living Facilities:These facilities are the largest employers for LPNs in Ohio, accounting for approximately 42.8% of the LPN workforce. Examples in the Cleveland area include Eastbrook Healthcare Center, Sonida Senior Living communities like The Ashton at Mayfield Heights and Summit Corners, and Brookdale Senior Living.
- Home Health Agencies:A significant portion of LPNs (14.9% in Ohio) work in home care. Cleveland Clinic Homecare offers opportunities for LPNs to provide skilled nursing care in patients’ homes in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Erie, and Huron counties, among others like Interim HealthCare and BrightStar Care.
- Medical Offices and Private Practices:Approximately 10.4% of Ohio’s LPNs work in medical offices, providing care in various specialties.
- Hospitals:About 9.6% of LPNs in Ohio are employed in hospitals, with major systems frequently hiring LPNs for roles in areas like labor and delivery, adult telemetry, and outpatient clinics.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities focusing on patient recovery from illness, injury, or surgery, such as the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital operated by Select Medical, also hire LPNs.
- Group Homes:Residential settings like the Hattie Larlham ICF Group Homes also present employment opportunities for LPNs.
- Community Health Centers:Organizations such as NEON Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. offer LPN positions across Greater Cleveland.
- Managed Care Organizations:Molina Healthcare hires LVNs for roles supporting integrated care delivery.
Cleveland is home to nationally recognized healthcare systems that are significant employers of LPNs:
- Cleveland Clinic:This world-renowned health system and academic medical center is the top employer in Cuyahoga County, with about 48,000 employees in Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Clinic careers website lists various LPN roles, including those in outpatient neurology, ambulatory hematology/oncology, and home care services.
- University Hospitals (UH):As the second-largest employer in Northeast Ohio, University Hospitals operates a network of 18 hospitals and 40 health centers with over 32,000 caregivers. LPN opportunities exist in areas such as ambulatory OB clinics, urology, and medical-surgical acute care.
- The MetroHealth System:This safety-net health system serves Cuyahoga County with four hospitals and more than 20 health centers, employing more than 9,000 people. MetroHealth hires LPNs for positions like adult telemetry.
- Summa Health:Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Summa Health is a large integrated healthcare delivery system and a recognized top employer in the region, with LPN roles in departments such as labor and delivery and urology offices.
- Akron Children’s Hospital:Another major healthcare employer in Northeast Ohio that provides LPN opportunities, particularly in pediatric care.
List of LPN Programs in Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga Community College District
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Website
- Career ladder curriculum.
- Eligible for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Seamless progression to ADN.
- Certificate of Proficiency awarded.
- Campus-based program.
- Contact Financial Aid for eligibility.
- Nursing and Health Professions school.
- Admission to ADN program required.
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