North Dakota LPN Requirements and Training Programs

North DakotaChanges in technology and increasing patient needs expand the role of Licensed Practical Nurses. The roles that LPNs assume at licensed medical institutions depend on state laws, the basic nursing education, clinical experiences, and specialized formal or informal training. LPNs operate under the direction of registered nurses and within the scope of practice defined by North Dakota’s Nurse Practice Act. The employing facility’s job description also influences the LPN’s role. While the role varies from one medical institution to another, one thing is certain: LPNs are accountable for the quality of nursing care they provide to patients. By utilizing the nursing process, they’re responsible for planning, implementing, executing, and evaluating nursing care for the patients they’re assigned to – this includes adults, children, seniors, and infants. In general, an LPN’s task includes observing, recording, and reporting changes which require intervention, providing health education to patients and their families, administering medications and treatments, assisting with follow-up care, collaborating with other members of the healthcare team, and serving as a mentor for others.

LPN Programs in ND:

LPN Training North Dakota: Prerequisites and Program Content

North Dakota’s nursing education programs are developed in response to the nursing needs of residents. The programs deliver high-quality, timely, and much-needed training to students through innovative instruction. Graduates have a 100 percent chance of finding employment in North Dakota’s medical care facilities.

The collaborative efforts of ND Board-approved nursing colleges: Bismarck State College (BSC), Lake Region State College (LRSC), Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB), and Williston State College (WSC) make the training possible and available to more than 200 students each year. The structured curriculum provides a solid foundation for career paths in nursing and to emphasize lifelong learning to build the knowledge, skills, critical thinking and flexibility. Students move quickly from Certified Nursing Assisting to the one-year Practical Nurse certificate, and then to a two-year Associate (RN) Nurse degree. The structure of the program encourages students to build on the foundational principles to improve their employability prospects and earning potential.

The schools share a common curriculum aligned with the Board’s scope of practice for LPNs. They deliver didactic courses over the Interactive Video Network (IVN) to the four state colleges and to distance education sites, allowing students the unique opportunity to learn closer to home. Other distance education sites are available to ND residents but vary from year to year. The clinical and laboratory experiences are vital components of the nursing education. Coordinated by the Nursing Director and Coordinator, students transfer to licensed medical facilities where they put the knowledge gained in the didactic sessions to work, caring for patients and residents and using the nursing process to plan, implement, and analyze patient care plans.

The one-year curriculum extends through the fall, spring and summer semesters and includes anatomy and physiology, foundations of nursing, practical nursing, introduction to psychology, developmental psychology, introduction to medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, introduction to maternal/child nursing, and clinical practice.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED, be 18 years or older, should possess experience working in a healthcare environment (as a CNA, EMT etc), possess current CPR certification, and pass the entrance TEAS. An immunization record and record of ACT, SAT, COMPASS, or Accuplacer scores are other requirements for entry.

Successful completion of the program will confirm your eligibility to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure as an LPN in North Dakota.

Duration and Cost of Training: The 12-month LPN training at North Dakota’s approved colleges spans the course of three semesters; fall, spring, and summer. The average cost of tuition is $8,700 and may not include expenses for textbooks, lab supplies, clinical supplies, CPR training, immunization, prerequisite courses, and liability insurance. The average cost of tuition is based on full-time enrollment for resident students.

NCLEX North Dakota

Nurse graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN as a final step for North Dakota licensure. The Board of nursing authorizes applicants for the national exam. Submit your registration to Pearson Vue at the same time you submit an application for licensure to the Board. Use the same name on both submissions, and make sure to include your social security number. Registration for the NCLEX is available online or by phone. The fee is $200 payable using a credit or debit card.

The BON will confirm your eligibility after receiving your application, application fee, fingerprint cards, and nursing education transcript. Pearson Vue will send the Authorization to Test to the email address you provided during registration. The ATT will arrive within 14 days after the Board deems you eligible to take the exam.

The ATT is an important document that makes you eligible to schedule the exam at a Pearson Professional Center. Review the document to ensure it reflects your name as it appears on your ID, your authorization period (usually 90 days), the exam you registered for, and provisions for special accommodations if requested. Your name on the ATT is important, so contact Pearson Vue for correction if needed. You will not be admitted to the testing center if the name doesn’t match the name on your ID. Present one acceptable form of ID at the testing center.

The ATT dates are not extendable. If you do not test within the authorization dates, you’ll have to register again and pay another fee.

Unofficial results will be available within two business days from the time of testing through the NCLEX Quick Results Service offered by Pearson Vue. There is an additional fee for this service. However, your credit card will be billed only if the results are available.

The Quick Results Service does not authorize the candidate to practice as the NB Board of Nursing must issue a license. The Board will mail the results within one week of receipt. If you pass the test, the “Verify” option on the Board’s website will show your license number or a rescinded work authorization if you failed. It the information is not available, it means that the testing service has not sent the results to the Board for processing. If you fail the exam, you must reapply for a retest (after 45 days) and submit another registration fee.

North Dakota LPN Licensure Requirements

The ND Nurse Practices Act governs the practice of nursing. Licensure is a privilege granted by the state to an individual who demonstrates the knowledge, competence, and moral character required to provide safe and quality care. All licensed nurses have a duty to understand the Nurse Practices Act and to keep up with ongoing changes.

All graduate nurses and nurses licensed in other non-compact states must apply for and maintain a current license issued by the Board of Nursing. It is unlawful to practice nursing, offer to practice nursing, assist in the practice of nursing, and use the title or designation of a nurse without current licensure.

All applicants for initial licensure must submit to a statewide and nationwide criminal record check. The applicant is responsible for covering the costs associated with the CBC.

ND joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2004. An applicant whose primary residence is another compact state is not eligible for licensure in ND. The primary state of residence or “home state” is the place declared as a fixed permanent address for legal purposes.

Licensure By Examination

Graduates of an approved nursing education program (in-state and out-of-state) are eligible for licensure by examination. The out-of-state nursing program must be approved by a board of nursing and meet the requirements of ND Board of Nursing.

Submit the following to the Board’s office:

  • A completed application for the initial LPN exam – online submissions only.
  • The application fee ($130) paid via a credit or debit card, checking account or PayPal account.
  • An official transcript of your training from the nursing education program. The transcript should indicate the degree posted and sent directly to the Board’s office. Use the Request for Release of Transcript form if requesting a paper copy from the college or use electronic delivery through the National Student Clearing House if the college participates.
  • A criminal history record check form, acknowledgment form, a completed fingerprint card, and money order or cashier’s check for $42.75 – for electronic fingerprinting. For ink and roll fingerprinting, you should submit a completed criminal history record check, two completed fingerprint cards, and money order to cashier check for $42.75 payable to BCI.
  • A registration for the NCLEX to Pearson Vue.

A Work Authorization will be available to candidates who submit a completed application, fee, evidence of nursing education, and fingerprint cards. The Work Authorization is available online only. The Board will not mail a hard copy. It is valid for 90 days or until the exam results are available. The WA is non-renewable and available only to graduates who submit an application within 60 days of graduation. You can track the status of your application online in the “Application Status” section of this site.

Graduates of foreign nursing programs:

To be eligible for licensure in North Dakota, foreign graduates must:

  • Have a U.S. Social Security Number.
  • Submit a certificate issued by the CGFNS. Graduates of Canadian English-speaking schools are exempt.
  • Submit an evaluation of their nursing education transcript. The transcript must be evaluated by a national credentialing service.
  • Submit an application for licensure and register to the take the licensure exam.
  • Arrange to have all documents sent from the college or credentialing agency directly to the Board’s office.

Licensure By Endorsement

Nurses licensed to practice in another state or territory are eligible for licensure by endorsement if they:

  • Completed a nursing program that prepared them for licensure as LPNs. The nursing education must have included a supervised clinical experience across the life span as part of the curriculum.
  • Practiced nursing for a minimum 400 hours in the preceding four years, OR
  • Completed the nursing program in the preceding four years, OR
  • Completed a board approved refresher course in the preceding four years.
  • Have suitable evidence of initial licensure by an examination that meets ND requirements.

Submit the following to the Board of Nursing:

  • A completed application for the initial LPN endorsement – online submissions only.
  • The application fee ($160) paid via a credit or debit card, checking account or PayPal account.
  • An official transcript of your training from the nursing education program. The transcript should indicate the degree posted and sent directly to the Board’s office. Use the Request for Release of Transcript form if requesting a paper copy from the college or use electronic delivery through the National Student Clearing House if the college participates.
  • A criminal history record check form, acknowledgment form, a completed fingerprint card, and money order or cashier’s check for $42.75 – for electronic fingerprinting. For ink and roll fingerprinting, you should submit a completed criminal history record check, two completed fingerprint cards, and money order to cashier check for $42.75 payable to BCI.
  • Verification of original state of licensure – by examination. If you do not hold an active license in your original state of license by exam, you must submit a second verification of licensure from the state in which you hold an active license and were most recently employed. Use Nursys to verify your license electronically online if the state participates. The alternative is the Verification of Licensure form. Complete the top section of the form and forward to your original state the licensure. The licensing agency should return the completed form to the Board of Nursing.

An incomplete application will become null one year from the date the Board acknowledges receipt. All fees are non-refundable.

To receive a temporary permit, which you can verify online, you must submit the online initial application and fee and verification of licensure or official transcripts. The permit is valid for 90 days only. No paper temporary permits are available.

Renewing Your LPN License

North Dakota LPN licenses expire biennially on December 31. The Board requires licensees to complete the continuing education requirements before granting approval to renew. The continuing education for the purposes of renewal includes a minimum 12 contact hours within the preceding two years.

You’re exempt from the continuing education requirements for your first renewal after obtaining your initial licensure by examination.

In addition to the continuing education requirements, LPNs must fulfill practice requirements. For the purpose of renewing a license, LPNs must practice a minimum 400 hours within the preceding four years. If you completed a nursing education program or a refresher course within the preceding four years, you would be exempt from the practice requirements.

Renewal is available online. Before you begin the renewal, you will need your SSN, LPN license number, total number of hours worked in the previous and current year (separate the hours between the two years), and a PayPal account, credit or debit card, or checking account to process the $110 renewal fee.

You can update your demographic information during the renewal process – address, name change, and contact information.

The license with the updated expiration date will be available for viewing on the Board’s website using the “Verify” tab. Hardcopy licenses are not available. The renewal fee doubles for late renewals.

Salary and Job Outlook LPNs North Dakota

The demand for professional, caring, and nurturing nurses is critical in North Dakota’s health care system, especially in rural areas. The growth of employment for LPNs is a direct response to the long-term health care needs of the elderly population. Additionally, the demand for healthcare in general increases along with growing population. There are more cases of chronic illnesses that there were decades ago, which places further demands on the health care system. To sum it up, the healthcare industry presents an abundance of employment opportunities for nurses and other professionals.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 25% increase in employment for LPNs/LVNs accurately reflect opportunities in nursing homes – which is growing faster than average. Nursing homes will offer the most new jobs for LPNs as more aged and disabled persons check in. Nursing homes will also intake an increasing number of patients in need of rehabilitative care after their release from hospitals.

Home health care also presents rewarding opportunities for new and existing LPNs. Again, it is a reflective of the senior population and the population’s perspective of nursing care facilities. Some seniors/disabled persons prefer to have care delivered in the comfort of their homes. Technological advances also makes it easier and more affordable to receive complex treatments at home. These complex treatments are also accessible in physicians’ offices and clinics, which are also excellent places to seek employment.

The median annual wage for licensed practical nurses in North Dakota was $39,790 in May 2014.

Contact the Board of Nursing
North Dakota Board of Nursing
919 South 7th Street, Suite 504
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone: (701) 328-9777
Fax: (701) 328-9785

North Dakota Board of Nursing Approved Training Programs and NCLEX Pass Rates

Belcourt, ND LPN Training Programs:
Turtle Mountain Community College (AASPN)
PO Box 340
Belcourt ND 58316
(701) 477-7862

Bismarck, ND LPN Training Programs:
United Tribes Technical College (AASPN)
3315 University Dr
Bismarck ND 58504-7596
(701) 255-3285
(701) 255-1844

Bismarck State College
PO Box 5587
Bismarck, ND 58506-5587
(800) 445-5073

University of Mary
7500 University Drive
Bismarck ND 58504
(701) 255-7500

Bottineau, ND LPN Training Programs:
Dakota College at Bottineau
105 Simrall Boulevard
Bottineau, ND 58318-1159
(800) 542-6866

Devils Lake, ND LPN Training Programs:
Lake Region State College
1801 N College Drive
Devils Lake, ND 58301
(701) 662-1569

Dickinson, ND LPN Training Programs:
Dickinson State University (AASPN)
291 Campus Dr
Dickinson ND 58601-4896
(701) 483-2133

Fargo, ND LPN Training Programs:
North Dakota State University
Department of Nursing-Dept #2670
PO Box 6050 / 136 Sudro Hall
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701) 231-7772

Fort Yates, ND LPN Training Programs:
Sitting Bull College (ASPN)
9929 Highway 24
Fort Yates, ND 58538
(701) 854-8053

Grand Forks, ND LPN Training Programs:
University of North Dakota
430 Oxford St
Grand Forks ND 58202-9025
(701)777-4173

Wahpeton, ND LPN Training Programs:
North Dakota State College of Science (AASPN)
800 6th St N
Wahpeton ND 58075-3602
(701) 671-2967

Williston, ND LPN Training Programs:
Williston State College
PO Box 1326
Williston, ND 58801-1326
(701) 774-4290

19 thoughts on “North Dakota LPN Requirements and Training Programs”

  1. Charlene Smith ur post is uncalled for!! I am an LPN and been for 20 yrs. I have worked in many depts. Shit that I do entails delivering babies, brining humans back to life and giving shots for pain!! Lpn’s r great people!! I make $30 an hr so guess I did something right and my job ain’t shit!!

  2. Lpn’s rock!! Try being nice to one and ask one if their job is shit or what they went to school for!! People like u should know an LPN can do a job just like an RN. R u even a nurse?? Do u even know what an LPN can and can’t do??

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