How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Massachusetts

The relative brevity of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs facilitates entry into the healthcare industry more quickly than the conventional 4-year programs.

However, before pursuing this path, remember that the school you attend is crucial.

Ensure you check the school’s LPN program’s accreditations to ensure it has a solid reputation.

National organizations such as the ACEN hold educational institutions to a high standard and give greater weight to their accreditation when evaluating job applicants.

Here are the five top institutions providing comprehensive education in LPN programs.

1. Massachusetts Bay Community College

MBCC tops the list of the best LPN programs in Massachusetts.

The popularity of this school’s program is attributed to the lecturer’s hands-on approach.

While the program’s prime aim is theory and practice, theory classes are taught at the MassBay campus, while practicals are handled in local health care institutions.

From 2017 to 2020, the NCLEX-PN pass rate for the MBCC’s LPN program was 100%.

MBCC’s ten-month-long day program begins in the fall semester.

The tuition fee is charged per credit and depends on your residency; residents pay $224 per credit while non-residents pay $430.

2. Northern Essex Community College

NECC’s LPN program is one of the best LPN programs in Massachusetts.

The LPN program is a 47-credit certificate program that includes clinical training, laboratory work, and classroom teaching.

The institution’s tuition fees are primarily determined by your place of residence and the number of credits you are enrolled in.

Each Massachusetts citizen must pay $324 per credit, while three credits cost $1082, six credits cost $2054, and twelve credits cost $4078.

For international and non-resident students, each credit costs $565, 12 credits cost $6,970, and 15 credits cost $8665.

3. Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School

The BRPRTS LPN program is among the best in Massachusetts, which is justified by the school’s full approval by the MBRN.

Each student may choose one of the two programs offered by the school based on their convenience.

• The full-time day program typically begins in September and lasts for ten months or  40 weeks.

or

• The twenty-month, part-time, two-year evening program begins every other September and runs for two years or eighty weeks. Classes are scheduled for three times per week, starting at 4:00 p.m.

The specific school district determines the tuition fee. The different districts are Middleboro, Taunton, Berkley, Rehoboth, Dighton, Raynham, and Bridgewater.

Permanent Day Program costs $7000 for in-district residents and $8000 for non-districts.

Program for nights, part-time cost $8,500 District and $9,500 for non-districts

4. Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School

The mission of the DRVTHS LPN program is to assist students in realizing their full potential as learners by providing them with knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

These skills are necessary to become competent are highly knowledgeable LPNs.

This institution offers three flexible program options for practical nursing:

The Full-Time Course

This day program runs from August to June over four terms, separated by a three-week vacation.

For the 40-week course, you will need to devote weekdays to around 30 to 35 hours of study and clinical practice.

Part-Time

The part-time program lasts eighty weeks and begins every odd year.

The program includes six weeks of summer break and vacation time.

Part-Time Evening Program

The part-time evening program is offered annually if the minimum number of students enroll.

The tuition fee is $6,000

5. Mount Wachusett Community College

While this institution ranks at number five on this list, it still is among the best schools that offer over-the-top LPN classes.

MBN and ACEN accredit the seven-course MWCC LPN program.

Mount Wachusett LPN program takes a year; after finishing the one-year program, you are ready to take the national exam to become an LPN.

Because the school can only admit a limited number of students, you will have to compete with other applicants for a spot in the school, which means that the school only admits the best.

Although tuition for in-state students is $5,668, the average cost of tuition after financial help is $8,582.

Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Massachusetts – Summary Table

Salary

LPNs in Massachusetts earn an average of $28.36 per hour or $58,990 annually.

The annual difference between this and the national average is approximately $11,940.

Regional Salary in Massachusetts