Licensed Practical Nurse

What it pays in the U.S.

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

What the work actually is

• Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
• Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
• Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments.
• Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
• Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
• Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

• Advanced Medical Life Support

  National Association Of Emergency Medical Technicians · Advanced

• National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN)

  National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. · Advanced

• Certified Managed Care Nurse

  American Board of Managed Care Nursing · Specialty

• Wound Care Certification

  National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy · Specialty

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

  International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners · Specialty

• National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)

  National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. · Core

• Weight Management Specialty Certification

  American Council on Exercise · Specialty

• Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse (CPDN)

  Board of Nephrology Examiners Technology Nursing · Specialty

• Vascular Access-Board Certified

  Vascular Access Certification Corporation · Core

• Certified Dialysis - Licensed Vocational Nurse

  Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission · Specialty

• Basic Life Support Certification

  American Red Cross · Skill

• Long-Term Care Certification

  National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, Inc. · Specialty

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.