LVN courses are offered in a variety of settings including local community colleges, four-year universities, vocational schools, nursing schools, and online colleges. You will be able to find LVN courses that are available during the day and the evening to meet your needs to help you complete full-time or part-time LVN programs.

As a student in an LVN program, you can expect to be fully prepared for licensure as a licensed practical nurse. You will learn all of the skills necessary to work with patients of all ages and stages in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, private practices, and in-home residences.

In addition to basic courses in math, science, English, and humanities, you will learn about anatomy and physiology, psychology, pharmacology, nutrition, growth and development, educating patients, communicating with patients, conditions and disease, and nursing as it applies to patients of all ages, mental health, surgery, and rehabilitation.

The cost of LVN courses depends on a variety of factors including the college or school you have chosen, whether you are considered a resident of the state your college or school is located within, and whether you have chosen an accelerated, full-time, or part-time program. You may also be eligible for financial aid to offset the costs.

Entry requirements into an LVN program vary based on the college or school you choose. General requirements include being 17 years of age or older, graduating high school or receiving your GED, passing an entrance exam, demonstrating mental stability and overall good health, and completion of prerequisite courses.

LVN classes vary in length based on the subject. Some classes require a combination of lecture, lab, and clinical hours. For example, a medical terminology class may have a total of 16 lecture hours; a basic nursing skills class may have a total of 140 lecture and lab hours; a clinical nursing class may have a total of 192 clinical hours.

Courses within an LVN program do require a lot of study. Each course will build upon previous courses, so the level of difficulty will continue to increase throughout the program. This is especially as you complete your hands-on lab and clinical hours. The LVN program is, on a whole, less difficult than the RN program.

After you have completed your LVN courses, you will be prepared to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical Nursing, or the NCLEX-PN. Once you have passed this test, you will be ready to apply for licensure as an LVN in the state you intend to work. Licensure requirements vary by state.