Colorado LPN Requirements and Training Programs

ColoradoLicensed Practical Nurses, LPNs, are state-licensed professions who use their skills and learning to care for patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or physician. They work in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, assisted living facilities, dental and physician offices, and correctional facilities. In long-term care facilities, LPNs may work independently, taking on a supervisory role in the management of Certified Nursing Assistants. They may also work collaboratively with RNs as they take patients’ vital signs, collect data on all body systems, provide wound care, prep patients for diagnostic tests, collect sputum, urine, and fecal specimens, insert urinary catheters, administer medications, and supervise unlicensed staff. In order to conduct some duties, such as drawing blood and administering IV medications, LPNs must obtain additional training and receive authorization from the Colorado Board of Nursing.

LPN Programs in CO:

LPN Training Colorado: Prerequisites and Program Content

The Practical Nursing program prepares students to administer basic nursing care and assist with the care of patients of varying ages and status of health. Through a combination of classroom, lab, and clinical training, students learn to provide care as defined by state nurse practice laws. Programs approved by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Board of Nursing equip students with the skills to detect signs and symptoms of illnesses and effectively communicate observations to other members of the health care team.

Classroom seminars integrate education in obstetric, adult, gerontological, pediatric, and psychiatric-mental health nursing, pharmacological calculations, basic concepts of nursing, basic health assessment, alterations in adult health, socialization, nurse leadership, transition to practice, ethics and laws, issues and trends in nursing. The clinical learning takes place in various medical facilities to help students develop diverse skills in each setting. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, students care for patients while working as an essential part of a healthcare team. They develop emotional stability, sharp observation, communication, and decision-making skills, a caring and sympathetic approach to patient care, and learn to follow their supervisors’ directives.

For admissions to the program, applicants must achieve an acceptable score on the TEAS Aptitude Test, provide proof of CNA certification in Colorado State, possess a valid high school diploma or GED, and complete the prerequisite courses (English composition, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology). Applicants accepted on a provisional basis will need to complete a criminal background check, submit proof of current CPR certification and liability insurance, complete a physical exam and obtain required immunization, provide letters of references, and agree to random drug screening.

Program graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).

Duration and Cost of Training: Practical nursing programs are 12 months based on full-time attendance. Part-time programs are 18 to 24 months. Prerequisite requirements, such as CNA certification, anatomy, chemistry, and physiology, will add extra time and costs to complete practical nursing certification. The estimated program cost is $9,000. Additional costs for textbooks, liability insurance, CPR certification, lab supplies, clinical supplies, uniform, shoes, criminal background check, immunization, physical exam, and admission fees may apply.

Financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans will help to relieve the burden of paying for college – for qualifying students.

NCLEX Colorado

The NCLEX is a necessary step for acquiring a license to practice practical nursing in Colorado. PN graduates from state-approved nursing schools are eligible to take the computerized adaptive test once the Board approves. The national licensing exam is a product of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing that evaluates PNs’ competency to deliver safe and effective care as entry-level nurses. The standardized test is an important step that protects public safety and confirms candidates’ competency to practice, not only in Colorado but also in other states with the appropriate license.

Pearson Vue is designated testing provider to deliver and score the exam. Register for the NCLEX-PN on Pearson Vue’s website or by phone (1.866.496.2539). Your registration should coincide with the application to the Board of the licensure exam. Provide a valid email address during registration to receive vital information from the testing agency. Pay the $200 registration fee using a credit card to complete the process.

The Board’s determines a candidate’s eligibility to take the exam. With the Board of Nursing’s authorization, Pearson Vue will issue the Authorization to Test (ATT), which contains your candidate ID, authorization number, validity dates, and candidate information that you submitted during registration. Check the information for accuracy and notify Pearson Vue before the exam date. Schedule and take the test before the ATT expires as there is no option to extend the date. If you miss the date for any reason, you must re-register and pay another fee.

The nursing program’s NCLEX-PN pass rate and Candidate Bulletin are just some tools you can use to make informed decisions and improve your chances of success on the exam. The exam results will be available from the Board’s office (by mail) within 5 to 10 business days. Pearson Vue offers Quick Results Service for a small fee. The results are available within 2 days after taking the test. The results do not authorize candidates to begin practicing. The Board will mail an application packet and Candidate Performance Report if you fail the exam. You can reapply and pay the registration fee at any time, but you must wait at least 45 days to retake the exam.

Colorado LPN Licensure Requirements

Colorado’s mandatory practice act requires nurses to obtain a license issued by Colorado or another compact state before practicing. Candidates for licensure should submit a completed application online, pay the relevant fees, and submit the requested documents to the Board of Nursing. Submission of the application does not guarantee licensure.

The Nursing Licensure Compact became effective in Colorado in 2007, allowing Colorado-licensed nurses the privilege of practicing in other compact states without applying for another license. LPNs may hold one compact license at any given time; the licensed must be issued by the LPN’s state of primary residence. Applicants must make a declaration of their primary residence and supply proof of residence in the form of a Colorado driver’s license, income tax return, or voter registration. Applicants who declare a non-compact state as their primary state of residence will receive a single state licensed provided they meet all the Board’s requirements for licensure.

LPNs with a multi-state, unencumbered license issued by another compact state may practice in Colorado for a period of 90 days.

Licensure By Examination

A graduate nurse (educated in Colorado, out-of-state, or in a foreign country) who wants to take the NCLEX-PN for state licensure should submit the following to the Board’s office:

  • A completed online application for the licensure exam. Create a Healthcare Professions Profile if you’re using the online system for the first time.
  • Pay the $88 licensure fee using a credit card or electronic check. The licensure fee is non-refundable.
  • Affidavit of eligibility attesting to your lawful presence in the United States.
  • Your social security number or a signed social security number affidavit if you do not have one.
  • Your answers to the screening questions. Answer all questions related to your criminal history or pending complaints. Upload court documents or other material for each “yes” response.
  • Evidence of education. Your school should mail an official transcript to the Division of Professions and Occupations Office of Licensing. The transcript should indicate the degree earned and date conferred and mailed in an official sealed envelope from the school. Foreign educated applicants must submit a CES credentials review “Professional Report” from the CGFNS and proof of English proficiency.
  • Your registration for the NCLEX-PN. Candidates can take the exam a maximum of 3 times within 3 years of the date they first took the NCLEX in any state.

The online application will be saved in the system for 30 days, and thereafter expire, requiring applicants to restart from the beginning. The Division will keep the application on file for one year from the submission date. The application and all supporting documents will be purged if you fail to complete the application within that timeframe.

Licensure By Endorsement

Licensure by endorsement is available for LPNs, who hold a current, active nursing license in another non-compact jurisdiction.

Submit the following for licensure by endorsement:

  • A completed online application for licensure by endorsement. Create a Healthcare Professions Profile if you’re using the online system for the first time.
  • Pay the $43 licensure fee using a credit card or electronic check. The licensure fee is non-refundable.
  • Affidavit of eligibility attesting to your lawful presence in the United States.
  • Your social security number or a signed social security number affidavit if you do not have one.
  • Your answers to the screening questions. Answer all questions related to your criminal history or pending complaints. Upload court documents or other material for each “yes” response.
  • Evidence of education. Your school should mail an official transcript to the Division of Professions and Occupations Office of Licensing. The transcript should indicate the degree earned and date conferred and mailed in an official sealed envelope from the school. Foreign educated applicants must submit a CES credentials review “Professional Report” from the CGFNS and proof of English proficiency.
  • Verification of original license. Contact the state where you received your original licensure to verify your license using Nursys or a Request for Verification of Original License Form if the state does not participate in Nursys. Applicable fees are your responsibility.
  • Evidence of active licensure in another state. Upload a copy of your current license or a printout from the web page verifying your license. You might need to demonstrate competency and complete an approved refresher course if you did not practice nursing within a 2-year period preceding the application for endorsement.

Renewing Your LPN License

All practical nursing licenses expire on August 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal is available online and opens six weeks before the expiration date. New licensees who receive a license within 120 days of the expiration date will receive an expiration day for the subsequent renewal period.

Salary and Job Outlook LPNs Colorado

In Colorado, the shortage of quality healthcare professionals includes a lack of practical nurses. Employment demands for LPNs are expected to grow 25% by the year 2020. The health sector’s current demand for close to 1000 nurses means highly competitive salaries and benefits and for existing and newly licensed LPNs.

There were 5,610 LPNs employed in Colorado in May 2014. Although there has been insufficient practical nursing programs to meet demands, the steady injection of new graduates and exit of retiring nurses help to balance the market, so supply doesn’t outweigh demands. As a consequence, newly licensed LPNs can find employment in metropolitan and rural areas within 2 to 6 months of obtaining a license.

A career as an LPN is an excellent option for anyone looking for a viable and fast avenue for entering the healthcare industry. Training is just 12 months, and graduates can become registered nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, and nurse anesthetists with further education. The strict enrollment requirements for registered nursing programs can be disconcerting. However, your training and experience as an LPN will provide a seamless entry into most programs.

Employment opportunities for new nurses are available primarily in long-term care facilities, home health care, physicians’ offices, clinics, and nursing homes. Approximately ten percent of Colorado’s LPNs work in hospitals, but the majority (almost 70 percent) work in long-term care providing services for seniors.

The yearly mean wage for Colorado’s LPNs is $44,450 according to the BLS.

Contact the Board of Nursing
Colorado Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-2430
Alternate: 303-894-2458
Fax: 303-894-2821
Email: dora_nursingboard@state.co.us

Colorado Board of Nursing Approved Training Programs and NCLEX Pass Rates

Alamosa, CO LPN Training Programs:
Trinidad State Junior College – Alamosa Campus
1011 Main St, Alamosa, CO 81101
(800) 411-8382
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 97.00%

Aurora, CO LPN Training Programs:
Concorde Career College
111 Havana St, Aurora, CO 80010
(303) 861-1151
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 86.76%

Pickens Technical College
500 N Airport Blvd, Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 344-4910
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 95.00%

Canon City, CO LPN Training Programs:
Pueblo Community College – Fremont Center
51320 W Highway 50, Canon City, CO 81212
(719) 296-6100
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Colorado, CO LPN Training Programs:
Pikes Peak Community College
5675 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 502-2000
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96.00%

Craig, CO LPN Training Programs:
Colorado Northwestern Community College
2801 W 9th St, Craig, CO 81625
(800) 562-1105
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Delta, CO LPN Training Programs:
Delta-Montrose Technical College
1765 U.s. 50, Delta, CO 81416
(970) 874-7671
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Denver, CO LPN Training Programs:
Emily Griffith Technical College
1250 Welton St, Denver, CO 80204
(720) 423-4757
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 95.65%

Community College of Denver
1111 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
(303) 556-2600
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96.15%

Fort Collin, CO LPN Training Programs:
Front Range Community College – Larimer
4616 S Shields, Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 226-2500
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94.40%

Fort Morgan, CO LPN Training Programs:
Morgan Community College
920 Barlow Rd, Fort Morgan, CO 80701
(970) 542-3100
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94.12%

Glenwood, CO LPN Training Programs:
Colorado Mountain College
802 Grand Ave, Glenwood, CO 81601
(970) 945-8691
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Grand Junction, CO LPN Training Programs:
Colorado Mesa University
1100 North Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 248-1020
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96.15%

Greeley, CO LPN Training Programs:
Aims Community College
5401 W 20th St, Greeley, CO 80634
(970) 330-8008
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

La Junta, CO LPN Training Programs:
Otero Junior College
1802 Colorado Ave, La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-6831
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96.60%

Lamar, CO LPN Training Programs:
Lamar Community College
2401 S Main St, Lamar, CO 81052
(719) 336-1590
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 95.20%

Littleton, CO LPN Training Programs:
Arapahoe Community College
5900 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 797-4222
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Mancos, CO LPN Training Programs:
Southwest Colorado Community College
33057 Hwy. 160, Mancos, CO 81328
(970) 564-6200
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: N/A

Pueblo, CO LPN Training Programs:
Pueblo Community College, Pueblo Campus
900 W. Orman Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004
(719) 549-3200
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Sterling, CO LPN Training Programs:
Northeastern Junior College
100 College Ave, Sterling, CO 80751
(970) 521-6600
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 92.59%

Trinidad, CO LPN Training Programs:
Trinidad State Junior College – Trinidad Campus
600 Prospect, Trinidad, CO 81082
(719) 846-5011
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

Westminster, CO LPN Training Programs:
Front Range Community College – Westminster
3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031
(303) 404-5000
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%

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