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LPN Programs in Connecticut:
Online and On-Campus Training

Explore state-approved LPN programs in CT that can prepare you for a rewarding nursing career in less than two years.

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Becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is one of the quickest ways into the nursing profession. This makes it a great choice for those who don’t want to spend years and years in college. Despite the relatively short training required to become an LPN, these nurses play an essential role in patient care working under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses in hospitals, community clinics, physician’s offices, and long-term care facilities.

Before you can work as an LPN in Connecticut, however, you need to complete an accredited LPN degree, diploma, or certificate program. The purpose of this guide is to help you figure out which Connecticut LPN program is right for you. Besides providing you with a list of state-approved programs to choose from, this guide will also explain what you’ll learn during your LPN studies, how to help pay for your education, the steps in getting licensed in Connecticut, and the job outlook you can expect after you graduate.

College Spotlights: Best LPN Programs in Connecticut

To help start your LPN school search, below are spotlights on two of the best schools currently offering LPN programs in CT. Each offers a comprehensive curriculum, study flexibility, access to student support services, and more. Most importantly, these two schools are approved by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) and prepare graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN), which must be passed to obtain Connecticut LPN licensure.

Lincoln Technical Institute

The Lincoln Technical Institute, a private vocational institution operating throughout the U.S., has two campuses in Connecticut. Lincoln Tech’s Practical Nurse Diploma program, available at both its New Britain and Shelton locations, combines nursing theory classes with hands-on simulation labs and clinical experiences in subjects like well child, mental health, maternal health, and geriatrics. Courses are on campus, online, or blended. Both day (approximately 52 weeks) and evening (approximately 92 weeks) study options are available.

LPN students at Lincoln further develop their skills by participating in health fairs, blood drives, blood pressure screenings, and community health events. Additionally, student support services include an Early Student Engagement program designed to help students develop soft skills like communications, work ethic, time management, etc. Career counseling and job placement services are also available through the Career Services department.

Porter and Chester Institute

The private Porter and Chester Institute offers its Practical Nursing Diploma program on five Connecticut campus locations: Rocky Hill, Bridgeport, Hamden, Enfield, and Waterbury. The 15-month (five-semester) program is delivered in a hybrid format that combines online lectures and didactic coursework with on-campus labs and clinical rotations scheduled each term at various local medical facilities. Classes are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, although course materials can be accessed online asynchronously. To ensure students have the resources they need for the online portion of the curriculum, all students receive laptops from the school.

Admission is open to students with high school diplomas or the equivalent. Applicants must also pass both the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and Wonderlic test with stated minimum scores. They must also provide authorization for a preliminary criminal background check. LPN students at Porter and Chester have access to career assistance services that include career guidance, resume creation, and job search both before and after graduation.

FAQs About LPN Programs in Connecticut

What skills do you learn in LPN programs in Connecticut?

Quality LPN programs in CT provide students with the knowledge and training necessary to qualify for Connecticut LPN licensure and prepare them to be competent caregivers. You should expect to graduate from your LPN program with competency in the following areas.

  • Clinical skills include the ability to work with various healthcare professionals to maintain, promote, and restore patient health. They include properly administering medication, using medical equipment, preventing accidents and injuries, and monitoring overall patient health.
  • Critical thinking skills involve thinking rationally and applying the accepted standards of care for treating patients in a range of circumstances and practice settings.
  • Communication skills involve effective affective oral and written abilities for communicating with supervisors and fellow staff members as well as with patients and their families.
  • Supervision and delegation skills include the ability to work effectively under the supervision of doctors, RNs, and other supervisory staff as well as to properly delegate and oversee the work of nursing assistants, orderlies, and others.

How much do LPN programs cost in Connecticut?

As indicated by the current tuition figures listed below, LPN programs in CT tend to be expensive, particularly in comparison to public school programs in other states. This is because there currently are no public schools that offer LPN programs in Connecticut. In addition to any per-credit rate, expect costs associated with items like books, supplies, lab fees, uniforms, etc. All that being said, these schools do offer scholarships and other cost-savings opportunities that may significantly relieve some of the financial burden.

Lincoln Technical Institute

Practical Nurse Diploma

Total Credits: 61

$469.48/credit

$31,136/total (tuition, books, and supplies)

Porter and Chester Institute

Practical Nurse Diploma

Total Credits: 77 quarter units

$388.31/quarter unit

$33,260/total (tuition, fees, books, supplies, uniforms, materials, etc.)

Can I get financial aid to help pay for my LPN program in Connecticut?

LPN programs in CT aren’t cheap, so most students need help with funding. Fortunately, there are several valuable financial resources available. The most popular is the student loan, but other common resources include scholarships, grants, and employer reimbursement programs.

Find out about funding resources specific to LPN programs in CT by visiting the Porter and Chester and Lincoln Tech financial aid websites. You’ll also find useful information on education funding resources in Connecticut at the CT Office of Higher Education’s Student Financial Aid.

For more information on funding your LPN program, check out EduMed’s financial aid and LPN scholarships guides.

How long do LPN programs in Connecticut take to finish?

Completion times for LPN programs in CT vary depending on the specific school and whether the program is full-time day or part-time evening/weekend. Day programs at Lincoln Tech and Porter and Chester, for example, can be completed in as little as 12 months and 15 months, respectively. The evening/weekend program at Lincoln Tech takes 90 weeks to complete.

Inside Look at Online LPN Programs in Connecticut

Two of the current LPN programs in CT feature some online study components. Lincoln Tech’s program employs a combination of residential, fully-online, and hybrid (online/on-campus) coursework. Porter and Chester’s program is delivered in a hybrid format that includes online synchronous lectures, course materials, and assignments. Apart from any online components, all LPN students in Connecticut still complete most of their education and training through on-campus classes and labs and clinical rotations at local program-approved healthcare facilities.

LPN Licensing Information and Requirements in Connecticut

Practicing as an LPN in Connecticut requires an LPN license issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH). LPNs with a current unencumbered LPN license from another state, U.S. Territory, or Canada, can obtain their Connecticut license through the licensure by endorsement process. Those applying for their first LPN license must use the licensure by examination process. Here’s a look at the major components of that process.

Education and Training

All Connecticut LPN license applicants must complete a DPH-approved practical nursing education program, including at least 1,500 hours of direct care and observational experiences. Students who graduate from their program with less than the minimum 1,500 hours may substitute clinical work experience completed as a graduate or LPN.

Professional Nursing Examination

Connecticut LPN licensure requires completion of the NCLEX-PN. Registration for the NCLEX-PN, including payment of the $200 registration fee, is made through Pearson VUE, the exam’s administrator. Students are encouraged to submit their application for licensure along with payment of the initial application fee of $150 to the DPH after they register for the NCLEX-PN. Upon receipt of their application and transcripts verifying completion of their nursing education program, applicants receive an Authorization to Test from Pearson VUE that allows them to schedule and sit for the NCLEX-PN.

Additional Application Requirements

Applicants must complete the online LPN license application in full and submit all required documents, including a photograph, before their licenses can be issued. Students completing their nursing program outside of Connecticut must have their program’s director submit a Verification of Theory and Clinical Instruction Form to DPH. Applicants who have completed their nursing education outside of the U.S. must submit a Credential Evaluation Service Professional Report through CGFNS International. All applicants are subject to criminal background checks and may be denied licensure if they are found guilty of committing an act contrary to public health and safety.

License Renewal & Continuing Education

Connecticut LPN licenses expire during the LPN’s first birth month following initial issuance and must be renewed annually. DPH mails renewal notices approximately 60 days before license expiration. Renewal is completed online, and the current renewal fee is $70.

There are no annual continuing education requirements for LPNs in Connecticut. However, LPNs actively practicing in the state must complete two contact hours of training on screening for PTSD, suicide risk, depression, grief, and similar conditions and on suicide prevention. This requirement must be met once every six years.

Salary and Job Outlook for LPNs in Connecticut

While job growth for LPNs in Connecticut is projected to lag a bit behind LPNs overall in the U.S., there’s still plenty of opportunity for aspiring nurses. LPN salaries in CT, meanwhile, are particularly strong. In fact, earnings for Connecticut LPNs far outpace those for LPNs in the U.S. as a whole, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median earnings for Connecticut LPNs are currently 23% higher than the national median earnings for LPNs.

Job Outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in Connecticut (2018-2028)

New JobsJob Growth RateAvg. Annual Openings
Connecticut 790 7.7% 890
United States 78,100 10.7% 66,300

Source: Projections Central

Annual Earnings for Licensed Practical Nurses in Connecticut

10th Percentile Median Earnings 90th Percentile
Connecticut $46,510 $58,420 $69,500
United States $34,560 $47,480 $63,360
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT $49,240 $60,270 $77,660
Danbury, CT $46,800 $59,010 $76,080
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $46,350 $58,200 $66,730
New Haven, CT $46,660 $58,010 $67,310
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI $44,440 $56,970 $65,620
Waterbury, CT $46,360 $57,850 $66,290

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2020