Key Points
- LPNs (LVNs in California and Texas) give basic nursing care under an RN's or physician's direction; RNs assess patients and plan their care.
- LPN programs take about 1 year, while RN programs take about 2 to 4 years.
- LPNs pass the NCLEX-PN and RNs pass the NCLEX-RN. Both cost $200 to register, rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027.
- RNs earned a median $33,150 more than LPNs in May 2025: $97,550 vs. $64,400.
- LPN-to-RN bridge programs build on an LPN license toward an ADN or BSN.
LPN vs RN at a Glance
Scope of Practice: What an RN Can Do That an LPN Can't
Both licenses involve direct patient care. The difference is that RN practice centers on patient assessment and care planning, while LPN practice is directed by an RN or physician.
- LPN duties: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs and LVNs monitor patients' health by checking blood pressure, temperature, and other vital signs. They give basic care such as changing bandages and helping with bathing or dressing, report patients' status and concerns to RNs or physicians, and document care. In some states, LPNs with proper training may also give medication or start IV drips.
- How Texas defines LVN practice: The Texas Board of Nursing calls the LVN scope "a directed scope of practice" that requires appropriate supervision. LVNs give focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs, supervised by an RN, advanced practice RN, physician assistant, physician, dentist, or podiatrist.
- RN duties: BLS lists assessing patients' conditions, setting up or contributing to care plans, administering medicines and treatments, consulting with physicians, helping perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, and teaching patients and families how to manage illnesses or injuries.
- Oversight: BLS notes that some registered nurses oversee licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides.
LPN vs RN Education and Licensing
- LPN: A state-approved certificate or diploma program, which BLS says is commonly offered at community colleges and technical schools and typically takes about 1 year. Graduates then take the NCLEX-PN. The full path is covered in how to become an LPN.
- RN: An associate's degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program, followed by the NCLEX-RN. The steps are laid out in how to become a registered nurse.
- Exam fees: Both exams cost $200 to register, rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027, according to the NCLEX fee schedule.
- Format: Some LPN and RN programs are hybrid, but clinical hours are in person for both.
LPN vs RN Salary and Job Outlook
Registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $97,550, or $46.90 an hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics registered nurse profile. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned a median of $64,400, or $30.96 an hour, per the BLS profile for LPNs and LVNs. That is a median gap of $33,150 a year.
Pay spreads widely within each license. The lowest-paid 10 percent of LPNs earned less than $49,740 and the highest-paid 10 percent more than $83,440. For RNs, the same range ran from under $68,940 to over $137,470.
BLS projects 3% job growth for LPNs and 6% for RNs from 2025 to 2035. That works out to about 51,800 LPN openings and 180,800 RN openings a year, from 666,900 LPN jobs and 3,465,400 RN jobs in 2025.
The work settings differ too. About 37% of LPNs work in nursing and residential care facilities, the largest share for that license, while 59% of RNs work in hospitals.
LPN to RN: How Bridge Programs Work
An LPN-to-RN bridge program, called LVN-to-RN in California and Texas, builds on your LPN license toward an ADN or BSN. You still pass the NCLEX-RN to become an RN.
Bridge length depends on the school and the degree it awards. Timelines for each route are covered in how long it takes to become a registered nurse.
As one example, Berkeley College's BS, LPN to BSN in Woodland Park, New Jersey, runs seven semesters of full-time study and requires at least two years (2,080 clinical hours) of recent practice as an LPN. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Before choosing a bridge program, check three things:
- Experience: how much LPN work experience the program requires
- Degree: an ADN or a BSN
- Approval: approval by your state board of nursing
LPN or RN: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between an LPN or RN career depends on your career goals, interests, and education preferences. LPNs provide hands-on care under supervision, while RNs take on greater responsibility with expanded duties. If you're aiming for higher earning potential and a broader scope of practice, pursuing a registered nursing degree may be the better option.
- LPN if you want to be licensed in about a year
- RN if you want the broader scope and higher pay
- Both, in order, if you want an LPN license first and an RN license later
LPN and RN Programs on Dreambound
Dreambound compares training programs from partner schools side by side, with each listing showing the format, length, and credential the school publishes.
Schools With Both LPN and RN Programs
Each school below has an LPN program and an RN program on Dreambound at the same campus, so you can start as an LPN and continue to RN at the same school. Admission to the RN program is a separate step, so check each school's requirements before you apply.
- ECPI University, Charlotte, NC: Practical Nursing (PN) - Diploma, Hybrid, from 15 months; Nursing (RN) - Associate's, Hybrid
- ECPI University, Greenville, SC: Practical Nursing (PN) - Diploma, Hybrid, from 15 months; Nursing (RN) - Associate's, Hybrid
- MCI, Richmond West (Emerywood), VA: Practical Nursing (PN) - Diploma, Hybrid, from 15 months; Nursing (RN) - Associate's, Hybrid
- Northbridge University College of Nursing, Tampa, FL: Practical Nursing Diploma, In person, 12 months; Nursing - Associate Degree, In person, 18 months; Nursing - Bachelor's Degree, In person, 3 years
- Las Vegas College, Las Vegas, NV: Practical Nursing, In person, from 15 months; AAS in Nursing, In person
More LPN and LVN Programs
- Lamson Institute, San Antonio, TX: Vocational Nursing Certificate, In person (a Texas LVN program)
- Rockford Career College, Rockford, IL: Diploma Practical Nursing, Hybrid, 14 months
- Stautzenberger College, Maumee, OH: Diploma Practical Nursing, Hybrid
Compare LPN schools near you.
LPN-to-RN Bridge
- Berkeley College, Woodland Park, NJ: BS, LPN to BSN, In person, seven semesters full time
See all RN programs near you.
