Online (Hybrid) LPN Programs in New York: How to Search, Compare & Choose

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)

The Practical Nursing Certificate (LPN) program at BMCC distinguishes itself from practically all other online LPN classes in New York, featuring both nursing and non-nursing courses in online formats. It’s also unique in that students can choose between four-semester (two years) and five-semester (three years) program paths.

Coursework in the 46-credit curriculum may be delivered in any of a number of online formats, including hybrid synchronous, hybrid asynchronous, fully-online synchronous, and fully-online asynchronous.

Along with attending class sessions, students complete hands-on skills labs on BMCC’s campus and clinical practice experiences in medical facilities in and around the greater NYC area. Students completing the program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam which must be passed to obtain New York LPN licensure.

Duration: Four semesters (two-year path) or five semesters (three-year path)

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: $265/credit (tuition only, New York City residents); $420/credit (tuition only, NYC non-residents)

Admissions Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Completion of the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exam
• Criminal background check, drug screening, immunizations, and clean physical exam (required for clinical experiences)

Curriculum:

General Education Courses (Must be completed prior to beginning any LPN courses)

• BIO 111: Human Biology
• ENG 101: English Composition
• HED 110: Comprehensive Health Education
• MAT 104: Mathematics for Health Sciences
• PSY 100: Introduction to Psychology

LPN Certificate Courses

• LPN 101: Fundamentals of Nursing (with clinicals)
• LPN 102: Mental Health Nursing and Therapeutic Communication (with clinicals)
• LPN 103: Lab Practical Skills/Infection Control (Part 1)
• LPN 104: Pharmacology and Nutrition Across the Lifespan (with Medication Calculation & Administration)
• LPN 201: Parent-Child Nursing (with clinicals)
• LPN 202: Lab Practical Skills (Part 2)
• LPN 203: Medical-Surgical Nursing
• LPN 204: Lab Practical Skills (Part 3)
• LPN 301: Gerontology/Rehabilitation & Restorative Care (with clinicals)
• LPN 302: Transition to Practice (Legal and Ethical Aspects of Practical Nursing)

SUNY Canton

Ay SUNY Canton’s 36-credit Practical Nursing Certificate program, students can finish their education and training in two semesters (fall and spring) of full-time study.

Required non-clinical courses are available online with most delivered asynchronously.

In-person clinical experiences are attended at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community agencies throughout the Northern New York area.

Clinicals may be scheduled days, evenings, and/or weekends according to requirements of the specific clinical site.

Graduates are awarded a Certificate in Practical Nursing and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam.

Duration: One year (two semesters)

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: $4,371/semester (tuition and fees, New York residents); $6,786/semester (tuition and fees, out-of-state residents)

Admissions Requirements:

• 17 years of age or older
• High school diploma or equivalent
• U.S. citizenship or legal residence. New York residents are given priority
• Meet stated proficiencies in biology, chemistry, communications, and mathematics
• CPR certification
• Speak and understand English

Curriculum:

Semester I

• LPNC 100: Drug Dosage Calculations & Pharmacology
• LPNC 101: PN Fundamentals
• BIOL 217: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• ENGL 101: Composition and the Spoken Word

Semester II

• LPNC 102: Practical Nursing – Specialty Populations
• LPNC 103: PN Medical-Surgical Nursing
• BIOL 218: Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology

SUNY Niagara

SUNY Niagara is another New York public community college whose Practical Nursing Certificate program features a combination of traditional campus-based and online components.

Like SUNY Canton, SUNY Niagara’s LPN program is hybrid, with in-person nursing classes and labs attended on the school’s main campus and non-clinical courses completed online (asynchronously, in most cases).

Clinical experiences are in person at program-affiliated healthcare facilities in Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties.

Earning the certificate requires completion of a minimum of 45 credits (29 nursing, 10 sciences, and 6 social sciences) with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Graduates of this one-year, full-time program are qualified to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and are eligible for advanced standing in SUNY Niagara’s Registered Nurse program.

Duration: One year

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: Total program (tuition only) – $6,420 (New York residents); $12,840 (out-of-state residents)

Admissions Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Overall high school average of 80 percent or minimum 2.75 for the last 5 years cumulative GPA of all colleges attended
• Successful completion of high school level biology or chemistry course (minimum grade of 80%) or college level biology or chemistry course with a lab (minimum grade of C)
• Satisfactory completion of reading and mathematics foundation requirements (minimum score on placement assessments or pass reading and math academic foundations courses

Curriculum:

First Semester

• BIO 213: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 213L: Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
• NUR 100: Practical Nursing I
• NUR 100C: Practical Nursing I Clinical
• NUR 100L: Practical Nursing I Lab
• MAT 113: Medication Simulation for Nursing
• PSY 110: Introduction to Psychology

Second Semester

• BIO 214: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIO 214L: Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II
• NUR 101: Practical Nursing II
• NUR 101C: Practical Nursing II Clinical
• NUR 101L: Practical Nursing II Lab
• PSY 210: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Summer Session I

• NUR 113: Practical Nursing III
• NUR 113C: Practical Nursing III Clinical
• NUR 113L: Practical Nursing III

Summer Session II

• NUR 114: Practical Nursing IV
• NUR 114C: Practical Nursing IV Clinical

• New York isn’t a Nurse Licensure Compact state. Governor Hochul proposed joining the compact in her 2025 and 2026 budgets, but the Legislature didn’t approve it. A New York license works only in New York, which means you’ll need a separate license to work in compact states such as New Jersey or Vermont.
• You license once and register every three years. Your New York LPN license doesn’t expire, but your registration to practice does. You’ll renew it every three years for $73, and you can’t practice while it’s lapsed.
• There’s no general continuing education (CE) requirement. New York LPNs don’t need CE hours to renew. The main ongoing requirement is approved infection control coursework every four years.
• You can work under a limited permit while you wait. After graduating, you can practice as a Graduate Practical Nurse under RN supervision with a $35 limited permit until you pass the NCLEX-PN, for up to one year.
• BOCES programs dominate. More than half of New York’s LPN programs are run by regional BOCES adult education centers, which tend to offer the lowest costs and evening schedules.
• Pass rates vary widely. New York’s 2025 first-time pass rate was 83.38%, below the national rate of 86.6%. Several large programs fell below 75%, while many smaller BOCES and community college programs topped 90%.

1. Meet the basic requirements. You must be at least 17, have a high school diploma or equivalent, be of good moral character and graduate from an acceptable practical nursing program.
2. Complete infection control coursework. Graduates of NYSED-registered programs have already met the initial requirement through their program.
3. Apply to NYSED for licensure. The fee for your license and first registration is $143. Add $35 for a limited permit if you want to work while you wait to take the NCLEX-PN.
4. Work under a limited permit (optional). With a permit, you can practice as a Graduate Practical Nurse under RN supervision. It expires after one year, or 10 days after you’re notified that you didn’t pass the NCLEX-PN, whichever comes first.
5. Register for the NCLEX-PN with Pearson VUE. Registration costs $200, rising to $350 for registrations on or after February 1, 2027. NYSED must confirm your eligibility before Pearson VUE can send your Authorization to Test.
6. Pass the NCLEX-PN and receive your license.
7. Renew your registration every three years. Your license itself doesn’t expire, but you’ll pay $73 every three years to keep your registration current. You must also complete approved infection control coursework every four years.