LPN to RN Online Programs in AZ: Learning About Top Schools
While working as an LPN can be fulfilling, transitioning to an RN role provides more career opportunities and higher earning potential. If you live in Arizona, many online LPN to RN bridge programs can help you make the leap quickly and affordably. This guide details some of the top programs in the state, showcases nurse scholarships and financial aid options, and examines how to choose the right program.
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Top Online LPN to RN Programs in Arizona: How They Work
If you’re a practical nurse in Arizona, you’re likely aware of the major nursing shortage throughout the state. Arizona has suffered — and continues to suffer — one of the biggest nursing shortages in the nation. This presents a tremendous opportunity for practical nurses in Arizona interested in advancing their careers by becoming registered nurses.
This opportunity is well within reach with the surprising number of community colleges and nursing schools in Arizona that offer LPN to RN bridge programs. For added flexibility, many of these programs offer online learning components. Generally, online programs are either fully online or partly online:
- Fully online: All coursework is completed remotely through an online learning management system in which students can complete virtual lessons, engage in online groupwork, and submit assignments online.
- Partially online (or hybrid): Coursework is completed partly online and partly face-to-face, which may include both online and on-campus classes, virtual group work, and in-person clinical training at healthcare facilities.
Online and hybrid programs are often easier to balance if working in a full-time LPN role, making it less stressful to get your RN license.
While the three programs below are hybrid only, the in-person components are typically offered at flexible times.
Mohave Community College
Mohave Community College (MCC) is another Arizona school that offers an LPN to RN bridge option. LPNs admitted into the program earn credits for six nursing courses, which, along with completion of all prerequisite coursework, allows them to complete all other AAS degree requirements in two semesters.
In addition to academic coursework and labs on campus, students complete substantial clinical placement hours at program-affiliated practice facilities. The AAS in Nursing program is available on MCC’s Bullhead City, Colorado City, Lake Havasu, and Kingman campuses.
At least two nursing courses and a handful of non-nursing prerequisites are available in either fully online or hybrid formats.
Duration: Two semesters
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $91 per credit in-state | $331 per credit out-of-state
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- Completed prerequisite courses
- 3.0 or higher GPA
Curriculum:
- Foundations of Nursing (7 credits)
- Fundamentals of Nursing (2 credits)
- Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
- Medical Surgical Nursing 1 (6 credits)
- Medical Surgical Nursing 2 (6 credits)
- Medical Surgical Nursing 3 (5 credits)
- Pediatrics in Nursing (3 credits)
- Obstetrics in Nursing (3 credits)
- Nursing Capstone (2 credits)
- General education courses
Northland Pioneer College
Northland Pioneer College offers a flexible LPN to RN bridge program. Two program nursing courses are available in a hybrid format, and a few prerequisite courses are available in either fully online or hybrid formats.
Features:
- In-person components occur at flexible times, ideal for helping full-time LPNs balance their coursework and nursing shifts
- Small class sizes, meaning students can ask professors more questions and get hands-on guidance for coursework and their professional development
- Boasts a 100% NCLEX pass rate for its 2024 graduating class
Duration: Two years
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $73 per credit in-district | $91 per credit in-state | $410 per credit out-of-state
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- Completed prerequisite courses
Curriculum:
- LPN to RN Transition (3 credits)
- Pharmacology (4 credits)
- Nursing 3 (8 credits)
- Nursing 4 (8 credits)
- NCLEX Review (2 credits)
- 32 general education credits
Pima Community College
The LPN to AAS program at Pima Community College (PCC) in Tucson provides current LPNs a path to skipping the first year of its AAS in Nursing program and instead entering directly into the second year.
Once all prerequisites are completed, students apply for admission to the LPN Transition to AAS program, which includes submitting a letter of employer verification confirming a minimum of 576 hours of LPN employment.
At Pima, the prerequisite courses can be completed online, though nursing courses are only offered in-person. Those courses often include hands-on clinical components. Program start dates are available in the spring and fall.
Duration: Three semesters
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $13,054.29 total
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- Completed prerequisite courses
- Successful completion of a nine-credit transition course
- Passing the National League of Nursing Pre-Admission Exam for RN and PN applicants
Curriculum:
- Success in Health Professions (1 credit)
- Nursing Process 1 + Lab (7 credits)
- Drug Calculations (1 credit)
- Introduction to Pharmacology (3 credits)
- Nursing Process 2 + lab (8 credits)
- Nursing Process 3 + lab (8 credits)
- Nursing Process 4 + lab (9 credits)
- Trends and Issues in Nursing (1 credit)
Arizona Online LPN to RN FAQ
While the spotlights above are useful, they can’t answer every question you have. Admittedly, this FAQ section can’t either, though it does touch on some of the most important questions, such as financial aid and whether 100% online LPN to RN programs truly exist.
How long does it take to finish an LPN to RN bridge program in Arizona?
In most cases, LPN to RN students complete their programs with two to four semesters of full-time study, not including prerequisite coursework. Completion times for LPN to RN programs in Arizona vary from program to program, though. This is due mainly to differences in program requirements and the number of prerequisite courses completed by the student prior to starting their program.
Expert Insight
If your LPN to RN program has a pre-determined course schedule, it can take longer to finish if you do not follow the schedule closely. For example, if your program requires you to take courses in a certain order at particular times in the year, you may need to wait until the class is offered again if you choose to veer from this schedule.
What are the admissions requirements for LPN to RN bridge programs in AZ?
The admissions requirements for LPN to RN bridge programs in Arizona are very much alike. The details, however, often vary by institution, so be sure you clearly understand the requirements for any program you’re interested in before taking the time to enroll.
In all cases, applicants must:
- Hold a current, unencumbered LPN license (in most cases, an Arizona LPN license)
- Complete prerequisite coursework
- Take and pass a pre-admission test
What should I look for in an LPN to RN program in Arizona?
Along with such things as affordability, study convenience, and quality support services, there are two other important factors to look for in the LPN to RN programs in AZ that you consider:
- Board approval: State program approval by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) is required of all graduates of Arizona LPN to RN programs to be eligible for RN licensure.
- Programmatic accreditation: Accreditation provides an important indication that the LPN to RN bridge program you’re interested in meets certain standards of academic quality; the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) gives accreditation to Associate Degree in Nursing programs in the U.S., including LPN to RN bridge programs.
How much do LPN to RN bridge programs in Arizona cost?
Considering the typical costs associated with earning a college degree, you may be surprised to find that total costs for most LPN to RN bridge programs in Arizona are surprisingly affordable. That’s especially true when it comes to programs offered by Arizona public community colleges, which account for most programs in the state.
However, keep in mind that your total program cost will be higher once you factor in additional fees, books, supplies, uniforms, and travel costs. Fortunately, there are nursing scholarships that help lower what you pay out-of-pocket.
Can I get my LPN to RN online in Arizona?
Due to the nature of nursing education, it’s no surprise that fully online LPN to RN bridge programs don’t exist. To qualify for RN licensure in Arizona (and practically everywhere in the U.S.), you must sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and meet RN license requirements, both of which include completion of substantial clinical practice hours attended in-person at program-affiliated healthcare facilities.
Nevertheless, LPN to RN students in Arizona may find their schools offer some prerequisite or more academic courses either fully or partially online.
Arizona LPN vs. RN Salary & Career Comparison
Now that you know what to expect from LPN-to-RN programs, it’s important to look at what you can expect after graduation. Growth for RNs in Arizona is projected at 21.9%, considerably higher than the national average of 5.6%. While the projected growth for LPNs is slightly higher, there are more jobs for RNs in Arizona.
Currently, there are 4,820 RN job openings each year, with an anticipated increase of 12,940. Meanwhile, there are only 730 openings for LPNs, with an expected addition of 1,670 jobs.
The median salary for an RN in Arizona is $88,310, while LPNs earn a median salary of $65,500, representing an increase of nearly 35% for RNs. RNs with in-demand specializations can earn considerably more; the 90th percentile salary for RNs is $109,750.
Dive into the data below to get a better feel for what you can expect in your future career.
| Occupation | Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Arizona | $54,060 | $65,500 | $77,190 |
| Registered Nurses | Arizona | $70,060 | $88,310 | $109,750 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Occupation | Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | United States | 655,000 | 689,900 | 34,900 | 5.30% | 54,400 |
| Registered Nurses | Arizona | 59,110 | 72,050 | 12,940 | 21.90% | 4,820 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Arizona | 6,540 | 8,210 | 1,670 | 25.50% | 730 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
