LPN Programs in Maryland: Online and On-Campus Training
Explore state-approved LPN programs in MD that can help you become a nurse in less than two years.
If you live in Maryland and are interested in a quick path to a career in nursing, you’re likely considering becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). LPNs play a critical role in providing direct care to patients in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Before you can work as a practical nurse in Maryland, however, you’ll need to complete an LPN degree, diploma, or certificate program and become certified by passing the NCLEX-PN exam.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of the best LPN programs in Maryland to help you find one that can launch your practical nursing career in the quickest and most affordable way possible. We’ve also included information about financial aid opportunities, obtaining your Maryland LPN license, income potential and job outlook, and much more.
College Spotlights: Best LPN Programs in Maryland
The college spotlights below feature three of the best LPN programs in MD. Our choices are based on factors like affordability, study convenience, curriculum quality, access to faculty, and availability of student support services. As with all of the LPN programs in Maryland mentioned in this guide, these programs are state-approved and qualify their graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
Anne Arundel Community College
The Practical Nursing Credit Certificate program at Anne Arundel Community College is a 12-month LPN program that consists of 41 credits of coursework. The program is completed within one academic year that begins in the summer and extends over three terms. Along with didactic nursing classes and labs on AACC’s campus, students complete hands-on clinical experiences in a variety of practice settings like hospitals, rehabilitation and extended care facilities, and community and home health agencies. The program is offered in an evening/weekend format only.
AACC’s dual-enrollment RN Advanced Placement program combines credit transfer, credential assessment, and online education to allow Practical Nursing Certificate students to continue into a second year of study and earn their AS in Nursing degrees. This degree leads to Maryland RN licensure eligibility.
Community College of Baltimore County
The Community College of Baltimore County offers a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate program that consists of three semesters of nursing theory and clinical laboratory study leading toward NCLEX-PN and LPN licensure eligibility. Students must also complete prerequisite courses in psychology, English, and biology. Total prerequisite credits required depend on student choice of either the transfer track (18 for students intending to continue their educations on the RN level) or career track (10 for those not intending to continue their nursing studies).
Along with prerequisite coursework, admissions requirements include a high school diploma or GED, completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), and competency in English, reading, and math. CBCC’s Practical Nursing Certificate program is offered only on the school’s Dundalk campus in Baltimore.
Howard Community College
Howard Community College offers its Licensed Practical Nursing Career Certificate program in a five-semester format that begins and ends in two consecutive summer terms. Students complete 49 credits of coursework consisting of lectures, nursing skills labs, and individualized study. They also provide real patient care under the supervision of nursing instructors in a variety of local practice settings. This program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN and has consistently high pass rates for its graduates.
This LPN program is offered as a curriculum track of HCC’s larger Nurse Education Program with clinical coursework that overlaps with the RN curriculum. This allows for educational and career mobility, including a smooth transition into the college’s LPN Pathway Sequence for earning an AA in Nursing degree.
FAQs About LPN Programs in Maryland
What skills do you learn in LPN programs in Maryland?
All LPN programs in MD provide the knowledge and skills required for competent professional practice as LPNs across the full range of practice settings and circumstances. Specific skills include:
- The ability to provide safe and competent nursing care on the LPN level, including the administration of medications, safe use of medical equipment, effective monitoring of patient care, and prevention of patient injury.
- The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients and their families as well as with supervisors and fellow health team members.
- Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking and appropriate nursing concepts to the clinical decision-making process to affect positive patient outcomes.
- The ability to work effectively under the supervision of doctors, registered nurses, and others as well as to provide direction to unlicensed staff personnel.
- The ability to demonstrate core nursing values and meet proper ethical and legal standards of practice in all settings.
How much do LPN programs cost in Maryland?
Below are current tuition prices for three LPN programs in Maryland to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for your LPN education. Remember that your total program price tag will be greater once you’ve included the cost of such additional items as fees, books, supplies, uniforms and equipment, transportation to campus and clinical practice facilities, etc.
Nevertheless, all of the state-approved LPN programs in MD are offered by community colleges, which means they’re quite affordable, especially if you’re a resident of the county where your campus is located. You’ll pay more if you reside in another state or county.
Baltimore City Community College
Total Credits: 45
$110/credit (in-state); $280/credit (out-of-state)
Cecil College
Total Credits: 45
$125/credit (in-county); $235/credit (out-of-county); $283/credit (out-of-state)
Hagerstown Community College
Total Credits: 42
$123/credit (in-county); $192/credit (out-of-county); $236/credit (neighbor state); $252/credit (out-of-state)
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my LPN program in Maryland?
Students in properly-accredited and state-approved LPN programs in MD may be eligible for one or more financial aid types, including scholarships, grants, loans, work study programs, tuition assistance programs, employer tuition reimbursement programs, VA benefits, and more. Contact school financial aid offices directly to find out about funding programs for specific LPN programs in Maryland.
You can also check out state financial aid opportunities exclusively for Maryland students through the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s State Financial Aid Programs. Also, be sure to visit EduMed’s own LPN scholarships and financial aid guides to learn about more great ways to pay for your practical nursing education.
How long do LPN programs in Maryland take to finish?
LPN programs in MD provide a quick path to launching your career in professional nursing. There are several 12-month LPN programs in Maryland, including those at the Community College of Baltimore County, Anne Arundel Community College, and Baltimore City Community College. It’s important to note, however, that students must also complete prerequisite courses before starting their LPN curriculums. In most cases, students in LPN programs in MD complete all certificate requirements, including prerequisite courses, in 15 to 16 months.
Inside Look at Online LPN Programs in Maryland
All the state-approved LPN programs in MD are delivered in traditional on-campus formats, so you’ll likely attend all or most of your nurse theory classes and labs in-person on your college’s campus. You’ll also complete clinical practice experiences in person at healthcare facilities in your school’s local area.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to many programs shifting their normally on-campus classes to online, at least temporarily. Additionally, programs may offer some prerequisite courses in fully- or partially-online formats. The Community College of Baltimore County, for example, offers two of its LPN program’s prerequisite courses, College Composition I and Introduction to Psychology, entirely online.
LPN Licensing Information and Requirements in Maryland
Employment as a practical nurse in Maryland requires an LPN license issued by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) or another qualifying jurisdiction. Maryland is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which means nurses with a current, unencumbered LPN license issued by another NLC member state or U.S. Territory need not obtain a Maryland LPN license to practice in the state. Those with an LPN license issued by a non-NLC member must obtain an LPN license issued by MBON, usually through the Licensure by Endorsement process.
If you’re seeking your first LPN license in Maryland, you’ll use the Licensure by Examination process. Here’s a look at the elements involved in that process.
Education and Training
All Maryland LPN license applicants must provide proof of graduation from either an MBON-approved LPN program in Maryland or a substantially similar out-of-state program. National accreditation of the program is not a requirement. However, prospective students are advised to give particular consideration to programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates from out-of-state LPN programs may conduct their direct patient care clinical learning requirements either concurrently with or following the completion of their nurse theory learning experiences.
Application for Maryland LPN Licensure
The Maryland LPN licensure process begins with signing up for or opening your MBON account, completing the application, and paying a $100 application fee. Application requirements include providing a transcript of your completed LPN program and submitting a criminal background check application, which consists of both federal and state reviews with fingerprints, and a Declaration of Primary State of Residence form.
Professional Nursing Examination
All applicants for Maryland LPN licensure are required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). Once you have met the Maryland LPN application requirements listed above, register for the exam, which includes paying the $200 registration fee. You’ll then receive an Authorization to Test from Pearson VUE that allows you to schedule your exam. After passing the NCLEX-PN and completing all other application requirements, you’ll be issued your Maryland LPN license by MBON.
License Renewal & Continuing Education
Maryland LPN license holders must renew their licenses biennially. Renewal takes place online through the Nurse License Renewal System and costs $110. There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for renewing your Maryland LPN license.
Salary and Job Outlook for LPNs in Maryland
Shortages in the availability of nursing professionals are driving the strong current demand and job growth for LPNs in Maryland. This is evidenced by the U.S. Department of Labor figures presented below, which indicate particularly positive earnings and job growth for Maryland LPNs when compared to LPNs across the nation as a whole. These figures are supported by occupational employment and wage estimates from Maryland’s Department of Labor. Practical nurses employed in Maryland currently have a healthy employment environment and should continue to have one for many years to come.
Job Outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in Maryland (2018-2028)
| New Jobs | Job Growth Rate | Avg. Annual Openings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1,990 | 16.2% | 1,280 |
| United States | 78,100 | 10.7% | 66,300 |
Source: Projections Central
Annual Earnings for Licensed Practical Nurses in Maryland
| 10th Percentile | Median Earnings | 90th Percentile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $44,020 | $56,830 | $67,480 |
| United States | $34,560 | $47,480 | $63,360 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $43,380 | $56,450 | $66,470 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $43,690 | $57,120 | $77,590 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | $40,580 | $48,210 | $60,590 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $40,150 | $51,830 | $67,300 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | $40,390 | $49,680 | $62,710 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2020
