Best LPN Programs in Tulsa 2026

Discover Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Tulsa, Oklahoma with information on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Review licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Tulsa area.

Written by Jane Dewy and Edited by The PracticalNursing.org Editorial Team.
Expert Guide Verified updated on May 29th, 2025.
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Tulsa Oklahoma LPN programs offering practical nursing education and hands-on clinical experience for entry-level nursing roles

2027 Best LPN Programs in Tulsa, OK

At practicalnursing.org, we've put together this ranking of the best LPN programs in Tulsa, OK. We carefully weighed each school's NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and cost to give future nurses a clear starting point. Tulsa offers plenty of practical nursing options, including community colleges and technical centers, so picking the right one can feel daunting. That's where this list helps. We've narrowed down the top programs that offer solid clinical training and strong support for passing the NCLEX-PN. Whether you're beginning a new career or making a change, these schools stand out for their quality and results. To see exactly how these rankings were built, check out the methodology page here: https://www.practicalnursing.org/rankings-methodology/.
#1

Tulsa Technology Center

Tulsa, OK - Public 2-Year - tulsatech.edu

Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Tulsa Tech's Practical Nursing program offers a direct path to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in just 15 to 18 months. Designed for hands-on learners, the curriculum emphasizes real-world clinical skills through cutting-edge simulation labs. Here, students practice patient care in a risk-free environment, building confidence and critical thinking before entering healthcare settings. The program covers essential nursing theory, patient assessment, and technical procedures, preparing graduates to take the LPN licensure exam. With both daytime and evening schedules available, it fits working adults and career changers. Oklahoma faces a growing shortage of LPNs, making this training more valuable than ever. Graduates emerge ready for roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, with skills that translate directly to high-demand nursing jobs. The small class sizes and dedicated instructors provide personalized support, while the simulation technology bridges classroom learning and clinical practice. Whether starting fresh or advancing a healthcare career, this program delivers a focused, practical education that leads to immediate employment opportunities.

  • 15-month or 18-month program
  • Prepares for LPN certification
  • State-of-the-art simulation labs
*Data retrieved from: National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS 2025.

Tulsa LPN Program Overview

Tulsa relies on Licensed Practical Nurses to deliver essential, hands-on nursing care in collaboration with registered nurses and physicians. LPNs contribute to bedside care, medication administration, wound care, and patient education across the city’s continuum of services, helping hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics meet daily patient needs.

The Tulsa healthcare landscape includes multiple acute care hospitals, rehabilitation and specialty centers, skilled nursing and assisted living communities, federally qualified and community health clinics, and a large home health and hospice sector. Consistent with state and national patterns reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many LPN roles in Oklahoma are concentrated in nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and home health, reflecting steady demand for practical nursing skills in direct-care settings.

State-approved LPN programs in the Tulsa area are offered through public career and technology centers and accredited colleges. Program structures are designed to blend classroom instruction with supervised clinical rotations in local hospitals, long-term care, and community settings. Typical timelines include:

  • Full-time options that can be completed in about 10 to 12 months
  • Part-time or evening/weekend tracks that may take 18 to 24 months, depending on the school’s schedule and clinical hour requirements

All Oklahoma LPN programs prepare graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN. Licensure is overseen by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, which approves practical nursing programs, outlines application and background check requirements, and authorizes candidates to test. Completing a state-approved program and passing the NCLEX-PN are required steps to become licensed and practice as an LPN in Tulsa.

Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Tulsa

The healthcare employment landscape in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offers numerous promising opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The profession is experiencing significant growth, with an estimated 7% increase in employment projected across Oklahoma from 2020 to 2030. This trend is supported by consistent performance from Oklahoma graduates, who have maintained NCLEX-PN pass rates, indicating strong educational preparation. As of May 2023, LPNs in Tulsa earn an average hourly pay of $24.79, with typical salaries ranging from $21.57 to $27.35 per hour. Factoring in Tulsa’s lower cost of living, which is approximately 17% below the national average, the effective annual earning potential for LPNs in the area is approximately $62,120.

LPNs in Tulsa are employed across a diverse range of healthcare settings, providing flexibility and variety in career paths:

  • Hospitals:Major hospitals are significant employers for LPNs, offering roles in various departments. Prominent institutions include Saint Francis Health System, Hillcrest Medical Center, Ascension St. John, and Oklahoma State University Medical Center. These facilities often have positions in areas such as emergency care, medical-surgical units, and specialized clinics.
  • Nursing and Residential Care Facilities:These settings are among the most common employers for LPNs nationwide. In Tulsa, examples include Southern Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center, Maplewood Care Center, Emerald Care Center Tulsa, and Tulsa Nursing Center.
  • Home Health Agencies:This growing sector actively hires LPNs for providing care in patients’ homes. Key agencies in the Tulsa area include Care Plus Home Health Care Inc., Elara Caring, Ascension at Home Together with Compassus, Aveanna Healthcare, and Oxford HealthCare.
  • Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities focused on patient recovery and therapy provide LPN opportunities. Examples include Kaiser Rehabilitation Center (part of Hillcrest Medical Center) and Tulsa Rehabilitation Hospital. Leaders in the rehabilitation industry, such as Encompass Health and INTEGRIS Health, also have a significant presence with employment opportunities throughout Oklahoma, including the Tulsa area.
  • Senior Living Facilities:This category encompasses assisted living, independent living, and memory care communities. Employers in Tulsa include Compass Senior Living, Known Memory Care by Chapters Living, Sagora Senior Living, and Brookdale.
  • Private Practices and Clinics:LPNs can find roles in outpatient settings, including primary care clinics within larger health systems like Ascension Medical Group.
  • Other Employment Settings:Additional opportunities exist in areas such as correctional healthcare with organizations like TK Health, school nursing positions, and plasma donation centers like BioLife Plasma Services.

Several major healthcare employers in Tulsa are particularly known for regularly hiring LPNs, offering extensive career paths:

  • Saint Francis Health System:As a large and comprehensive system including Saint Francis Hospital and various specialized centers, it provides numerous LPN roles.
  • Hillcrest HealthCare System:A prominent employer within the Ardent Health network, operating Hillcrest Medical Center and other facilities.
  • Ascension St. John:Part of a national faith-based health system, encompassing Ascension Medical Center and Ascension Medical Group, frequently seeks LPNs.
  • INTEGRIS Health:As Oklahoma’s largest owned health system, INTEGRIS Health provides a wide range of services, making it a significant employer for LPNs in Tulsa.
  • Oklahoma State University Medical Center:One of the nation’s largest osteopathic teaching hospitals, offering diverse roles for LPNs.

Beyond these large systems, numerous smaller facilities and networks play an important role in LPN employment in Tulsa. These include entities such as Care Plus Home Health Care Inc., Southern Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center, Maplewood Care Center, Elara Caring, Compass Senior Living, TK Health, Aveanna Healthcare, Oxford HealthCare, Tulsa Rehabilitation Hospital, Emerald Care Center Tulsa, Tulsa Nursing Center, Known Memory Care by Chapters Living, Suncrest Home Health & Hospice, and BioLife Plasma Services. Additionally, staffing agencies like Hire Energy Healthcare Staffing, GreenLife Healthcare Staffing, Total Medical Personnel Staffing, and Gifted Healthcare frequently connect LPNs with temporary and permanent positions across various healthcare environments in the Tulsa area.

List of LPN Programs in Tulsa, OK

Tulsa, OK

Tulsa Technology Center

  • Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing

    Campus Based - Website

    • 15-month or 18-month program
    • Prepares for LPN certification
    • State-of-the-art simulation labs
*Information derived from: IPEDS 2025 survey, conducted by NCES.