How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Oregon

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Licensed practical nursing (LPN) professionals help medical doctors and registered nurses (RN) with patient care.

To become an LPN in Oregon State, students must attend a high-quality, licensed practical nursing training program.

Candidates willing to pursue a licensed practical nurse certificate, diploma, or degree in Oregon can choose the program from many accredited nursing schools in the state.

Read on to learn more about the LPN program and the schools offering it in Oregon.

Top Schools Offering Licensed Practical Nurse Training in Oregon

1. Institute of Technology – Salem

Institute of Technology - Salem Logo

The practical nursing program at the Institute of Technology (IoT) focuses on offering widespread exposure to its students.

The program takes 44 weeks and includes 1,190 hours of deep theoretical classes and clinical sessions.

The coursework of 48-quarter-credit-hour consists of 19 theoretical lessons and four clinical sessions.

Theoretical classes cover pharmacology, nursing, surgical care, and ethical/legal issues associated with nursing procedures. Classes are from Monday to Thursday.

After graduation, students can apply for an entry-level position as practical nurses in various healthcare settings.

The college is located in Salem.

The total cost of the program, including registration fee, background fee, books, and supplies, is $35,382.50

2. Concorde Career College – Portland

Concorde Career College – Portland Logo

The LPN program at Concorde Career College takes 13 months to complete.

Classes are available during the daytime and evenings.

The program helps students understand their career dreams by training them with the essential knowledge and skills needed to perform effectively in healthcare.

The course includes important lessons like surgical nursing, cardiovascular care, immunology, gastrointestinal care, and human body and anatomy.

Theoretical classes and lab practicals are combined to provide the students with conceptual clarity and exposure to practicals.

Completing the program qualifies the student to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam for practical nurses.

The school is located in Portland, Oregon.

The estimated cost of the LPN program at Concorde Career College is $33,471, including books and supplies.

3. Lane Community College – Eugene

Lane Community College – Eugene Logo

Lane Community College’s licensed practical nurse program provides an academic collaborative learning setting.

The program takes one year with three semesters.

The winter semester has 16 credits; the spring semester has 16 credits, while the summer has 13 credits.

Classroom lessons teach theory, while lab practical and clinical sessions provide many opportunities to sharpen your skills and get practical experience.

To get a certificate, you must attain at least a “C” grade in every lesson during the course.

The estimated cost of the program is $14,530.

The college is located in Eugene, Oregon, with other facilities in Cottage Grove, Florence, and the Lane Aviation Academy.

4. Rogue Community College – Medford

Rogue Community College - Medford Logo

Rogue Community College offers an LPN program that meets the education requirements of nursing candidates in the healthcare industry.

The school’s academic curriculum focuses on evidence-based learning that transforms students into skilled professionals.

This program at RCC takes one year to complete and starts in January.

It educates students about providing holistic patient care, monitoring injectable medications, and administering drugs.

The course includes theory classes and lab practicals, besides having recreation room exercises.

After finishing the program, students become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam to get LPN licensure.

The estimated cost for the program is $120 per credit.

5. Oregon Coast Community College – Newport

Oregon Coast Community College – Newport Logo

At Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC), a practical nursing certificate takes one year to complete.

Students earn a certificate after completing the mandatory 50 credits of the program.

Grades C and above in all courses are required for the student to progress to the next term.

Successful completion of the LPN program qualifies students to sit for the NCLEX-PN National Council to become an LPN.

Note that this certificate is open only to students who applied and were accepted into the associate of applied science in the nursing program.

The estimated cost of the program is $121 per credit.

The school is located in Newport, Oregon.

RCC is a public community college located in Josephine County and Jackson County.

Licensed Practical Nurse Schools in Oregon – Summary Table

Top 5 Schools in Oregon

School NameAddress
Institute of Technology - Salem4700 Silverton Rd NE, Salem, OR 97305
Concorde Career College – Portland1425 NE Irving St UNIT 300, Portland, OR 97232
Lane Community College – Eugene4000 E 30th Ave, Eugene, OR 97405
Rogue Community College - MedfordRCC/SOU Higher Education Center, 101 S Bartlett St, Medford, OR 97501
Oregon Coast Community College – Newport400 SE College Way, Newport, OR 97366

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Oregon

As of June 28, 2022, a licensed practical nurse in Oregon earns an average salary of $50,405, although the range is usually between $45,768 – $56,068.

However, salary ranges can differ significantly depending on the city and other factors such as education, certifications, added skills, and how long you have been in the job.

Annual Salary Range:
$45K
$50K
$56K

Average Salary of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)s in Oregon

City NameSalary
Portland$52,600
Eugene$49,400
Salem$49,900
Gresham$52,500
Beaverton$52,600
Hillsboro$52,400
Medford$48,300
Springfield$49,300
Bend$48,800
Corvallis$49,200
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Oregon

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Albany, OR100$62,050$29.83$74,350$50,670
Bend-Redmond, OR110$61,750$29.69$73,750$51,080
Corvallis, OR40$61,920$29.77$75,110$48,530
Eugene, OR450$62,190$29.9$73,650$50,550
Grants Pass, OR100$67,130$32.28$77,280$51,410
Medford, OR200$64,070$30.8$73,500$52,020
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA2,090$69,170$33.26$79,470$57,770
Salem, OR540$64,130$30.83$76,320$51,230
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, OCC Code 29-2061, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is practical nursing hard to get into?

Licensed practical nurse school can be challenging, but it is worth it.

However, completing the program is much easier if you have a healthy work ethic and good study habits.

Can I work as an LPN if I fail the NCLEX-PN exam?

If you fail the NCLEX exam, your interim permit is revoked immediately.

Therefore, you would practice without a license if you work as a nurse, which is against the law.

However, there is still a chance to re-sit the exam after 45 days.

Can an LPN work as a CMA or CNA?

A licensed practical nurse can only work if he/she has a CMA or CNA certificate from the Board.

All the hours worked in a different role will not be counted in the practice hours during LPN license renewal.

Are practical nurses required to have first aid or BLS (Basic Life Support) training?

No, it is not a requirement.

Competencies in first aid or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation are usually a practice requirement, policy, rules managing a setting, or a particular description of the position in an organization.

What medications can a licensed practical nurse administer?

The Nurse Practice Act in Oregon does not list medications that an LPN can or cannot administer.

In all cases, the licensed practical nurse can only administer medications with the required knowledge, skills, and ability to do it safely.

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