Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license
Granted by state boards of nursing, not by a national exam alone. A state-approved practical nursing program, typically about 1 year (certificate or diploma).
Granted byState boards of nursing
National exams1NCLEX-PN
ExperienceSupervised clinical experience is part of every approved program (BLS).
Other statesApply state by stateno compact list on this page
How to get licensed
A state-approved practical nursing program, typically about 1 year (certificate or diploma).
- High school diploma or equivalent
- State-approved practical nursing program (about 1 year)
- Apply to your state board of nursing, then register with Pearson VUE
- NCLEX-PNExam
- State LPN or LVN licenseLicense
- Optional: LPN-to-RN program, then the NCLEX-RNOptional
The exams
National bodies write the exams; the state board decides who is licensed. NCSBN — writes the NCLEX-PN.
- NCLEX-PNNational licensure exam for practical nurses, given by computerized adaptive testing. Candidates first meet the requirements of the nursing regulatory body where they plan to practice, then register with Pearson VUE. Exam page: format, fees, dates
NCSBN
NCSBN examinations: registering for the NCLEXNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State rules and other states
Each state board of nursing approves programs and sets its own licensing rules, such as minimum age, background checks and extra state courses. Texas and California call the license LVN; most other states call it LPN.
What 4 state boards publish
| State | What the board asks for | Exam | Fee | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Texas Board of Nursing | Apply in the Texas Nurse Portal (NCLEX-PN application), register with Pearson VUE ($200), pass the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam and have the program submit an Affidavit of Graduation before an Authorization to Test is issued. The license is called LVN. Texas BONLicensure by examination (NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN)Texas Board of Nursing
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| California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians | 12th grade or equivalent, DOJ and FBI fingerprints, and the NCLEX-PN (a passing RN exam does not count). Besides an approved school, the board accepts 51 months of paid bedside nursing experience plus a 54-hour pharmacology course, or 12 months of military medical-corps bedside care. California BVNPTSummary of requirements for licensure as a vocational nurseCalifornia Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT)
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| New York NYSED Office of the Professions | At least 17, high school graduate, an acceptable nursing program, infection control coursework and the NCLEX-PN. The license is for life; registration is renewed every 3 years. Licensure and first registration fee $143. NYSEDLicense requirements for licensed practical nursesNew York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
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| Florida Florida Board of Nursing | Apply for licensure by examination, then sit the NCLEX. Electronic fingerprinting is required under House Bill 975 (2024). Florida joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on 19 January 2018 and offers a multistate upgrade. Florida BONNursing (RN & LPN): licensure by examinationFlorida Board of Nursing
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Each row is copied from that board's own page and cites it. A dash means the board page we read did not state it. Other states have their own rules: check the board where you will work, or open the state pages.
Good to know
Not always required
- Optional certifications in areas such as gerontology, wound care and IV therapy come from professional associations, not the state (BLS).
Changes to watch
- NCSBN: from 1 February 2027 the NCLEX registration fee is $350 in the United States.