If you live in New Jersey, would like to pursue a career in the field of nursing and want to get started as quickly as possible, consider training to become a licensed practical nurse. In New Jersey as in many other states, LPNs are in strong demand now and will be for the foreseeable future. They also enjoy competitive pay and benefits. Many RNs start out in this entry-level position to start gaining experience as early as possible.
Several requirements must be met to become a licensed LPN in NJ. Chief among them is completing an LPN training program that's approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The quality of the training that you receive directly influences not only your ability to pass the licensing exam, the NCLEX-PN, but it also impacts your overall ability to be an effective and successful LPN. Read on for information and recommendations regarding LPN programs in New Jersey.
LPN LICENSING REQUIREMENTS IN NEW JERSEY
Learn what you need to do to become an LPN in New Jersey now. That way, you will know exactly how to proceed from one step to the next and will become licensed that much more quickly.
Some of the most crucial LPN licensing requirements in New Jersey include:
- Completing a training program that is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. In most cases, these programs take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete.
- Submitting an application for licensure by examination to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, including a recent identification photo-passport style; birth certificate or US passport; letter of nursing program completion; and criminal history background check.
- Registering for, taking and passing the NCLEX-PN, which is the licensing exam for LPNs and is administered at testing locations around the state on dates throughout the year.
New Jersey has partially implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. This means LPNs from other NLC states with a valid multistate LPN license can practice in NJ, but LPNs of NJ can’t, at the time of this writing, apply for a multistate license. NJ is expected to allow its LPNs to apply for a multistate license sometime in 2021. If you wish to receive email updates, subscribe at nursecompact.com.
In NJ, LPN licenses expire every two years. To renew an LPN license, you must provide proof of having completed at least 30 hours of board-approved continuing education.
New Jersey Board of Nursing
When applying to become an LPN in New Jersey, you will submit your application to the New Jersey Board of Nursing. This agency handles all issues concerning nurse licensing in the Garden State, so keep the following contact information handy:
New Jersey Board of Nursing124 Halsey St 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 504-6430
Fax: (973) 648-3481
LPN SALARY & EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK IN NEW JERSEY
While becoming an LPN is among the simplest ways to break into nursing, it still means having to invest time, money and effort into becoming licensed. Before doing that, you'll want to make sure that you can find work after — and that the work that's available pays well.
Luckily, the news is terrific for LPNs in NJ. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs in New Jersey earn a mean wage of $57,590 per year, which is equal to $27.69 per hour. This is far above the national average salary for LPNs, which is $48,820, or $23.47 per hour. As an LPN in NJ, then, you can expect to enjoy very competitive pay.
Similarly, the job outlook for LPNs in this state is bright. According to the BLS, LPN jobs in New Jersey will increase by 16 percent from 2014 to 2024. This is exactly equal to the nationwide projected growth rate for LPN jobs, and it means that every year during that period, approximately 700 new LPN jobs will become available in NJ. Therefore, you won't just have lots of jobs to choose from now — that will continue to be the case well into the future.
LPN Salaries in New Jersey by Area
As an LPN, the amount that you can expect to be paid varies depending on many factors. Geography is a big one, as LPNs in some metro areas earn far more — and have access to way more jobs — than LPNs in other parts of the state.
Get a feel for which metro regions in NJ are best for LPNs by reviewing the info below:
| Area | Total Employment | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 680 | $27.52 | $57,240 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton | 420 | $26.71 | $55,550 |
| Ocean City | 210 | $26.07 | $54,230 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | 830 | $25.04 | $52,090 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
TOP LPN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY
The most important step in becoming an NJ LPN is enrolling in an approved training program. Take your time while researching the available options, as there are dozens to choose from around the state. Note that in addition to confirming that a program is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, you should check its pass rates for the NCLEX-PN. Ideally, they should be 95 percent or higher.
Here are recommendations for top LPN programs in New Jersey:
Atlantic County Adult Education
5080 Atlantic Ave, Mays Landing, NJ 08330Berkeley College
44 Rifle Camp Rd, Woodland Park, NJ 07424Best Care College
68 S Harrison St, East Orange, NJ 07018Burlington County Institute of Technology
695 Woodlane Rd, Westampton, NJ 08060Camden County College
200 N Broadway, Camden, NJ 08102Cape May County Technical Schools
188 Crest Haven Rd, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210Eastwick College
250 Moore St, Hackensack, NJ 07601Essex County College
303 University Ave, Newark, NJ 07102Holy Name Medical Center
718 Teaneck Rd, Teaneck, NJ 07666Jersey College
1001 Spruce St #7, Ewing Township, NJ 08638Jersey College
546 US-46, Teterboro, NJ 07608Lincoln Technical Institute
240 Bergen Town Ctr, Paramus, NJ 07652Lincoln Technical institute
308 NJ-38, Moorestown, NJ 08057Lincoln Technical Institute
675 US-1 2nd Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830Mercer County Technical Schools
1085 Old Trenton Rd, Trenton, NJ 08690Merit Technical Institute
620 Essex St, Harrison, NJ 07029Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools
112 Rues Ln, East Brunswick, NJ 08816Monmouth County Vocational School District
4000 Kozloski Rd, Freehold, NJ 07728Passaic County Technical Institute
45 Reinhardt Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470Pinelands School of Practical Nursing & Allied Health Inc.
11 History Ln, Jackson Township, NJ 08527Prism Career Institute
3 Executive Campus, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002Prism Career Institute - Egg Harbor
8025 E Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville, NJ 08232Rowan College of South Jersey
3322 College Dr, Vineland, NJ 08360Salem Community College
460 Hollywood Ave, Penns Grove, NJ 08069Union County College
1033 Springfield Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016Universal Training Institute
174 Jefferson St, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
As you can see, although several steps are involved in becoming an LPN in NJ, you can get where you need to be within a short period of time by knowing what to do. Find a program and enroll today.
