Nursing Career - How Does a CNA Become an LPN?

While the job as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an entry position for a nursing career, the position of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) makes the natural stepping stone from a CNA to RN. Both CNA and LPN are required to work under the supervision of a doctor or a registered nurse. What makes LPN a better position than CNA? And, how does a CNA become an LPN?

Comparatively, RNs often give LPNs greater responsibility than their CNA counterparts. An LPN, by virtue of added experience, is given added independence to prepare procedural rooms and administer medication to patients. Thereby, LPNs receive higher salaries with average $40,000 per year compare to $27,000 average annual income for CNAs.

If you are currently a CNA and you are interested in moving up your nursing career to next level and become an LPN, what additional qualification is necessary? Generally, the LPN training or education requirements vary from state to state. You should refer to your home state's board of nursing for more specific information. For example, a CNA for the state of California who want to make a switch to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, she needs to have 51 months of experience in a hospital setting. The 51 months of experience in hospital should include 200 hours in genitourinary or maternity, 200 hours in pediatrics and 64 hours in Pharmacology. These requirements are particular for the state of California. For the requirements to become an LPN at your state, get the detail information from your home state's board of nursing and then work toward meeting the requirements to make a success switch from CNA to LPN.

Education Programs For LPNs

You may need extra education qualification in order to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Most LPN programs are available at community colleges throughout the country. Besides the traditional path of campus-based LPN programs, you have an alternative option to earn a qualification as an LPN through online nursing programs offered by many online nursing colleges. These LPN programs vary in length depending on each state's requirements, but on average most LPN programs can be completed in two years of study.

Since most of online nursing programs required some practical hours at hospital or medical center, you need to check the option available in your selected online nursing program regarding the practical portion. Many online nursing schools have worked with local hospitals on practical training for their online students. Therefore, you should check with the school, which you intend to enroll in its online LPN program to make sure it provides a local hospital or medical center you are convenient for when comes to the practical training.

Many hospitals and medical centers do provide continuing education as the employee's benefit for their staff. Therefore, if you are currently working as a CNA, you might want to check with the HR department on the proposed LPN programs that you can enroll in to earn a qualification to make a switch to become an LPN for better career future. After you have completed an LPN program, you also need to pass the national NCLEX-PN before you can begin working in a hospital as an LPN.