Top LPN Programs in Colorado
Colorado LPN Schools, License Requirements, Job Outlook, and Salary
The state of Colorado is dedicated to taking the health sector to a whole new level for fulfilling the health demands of the community as well as the individuals. It provides opportunities to the nursing aspirants to learn and grow as a self-independent professional. The LPN programs in Colorado provide high-quality education by using modern and latest teaching technologies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that there would be a significant increase in the jobs for the practical nurses in the upcoming years. The nursing school in which you are going to enroll should be approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing.
Though there are many LPN schools in Colorado, choosing the perfect one according to your preferences can be a tedious task. Thus, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of all the practical nursing colleges in the state of Colorado on the basis of the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) pass rate and prepared a list of the top nursing schools in Colorado. Have a look.
Accredited Nursing Schools in Colorado
1
Rank
Morgan Community College
Type of Course:Certificate
It is one of 13 colleges in the state’s largest system of higher education, i.e., the Colorado Community College System, which serves 144,000 students (approx) per year. From two years bachelor’s degree programs to technical certificate programs, MCC offers a wide range of academic programs and responds to the evolving needs of the community and students by providing relevant learning.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
97.75 %
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Address:
920 Barlow Road, Fort Morgan, Colorado 80701
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Contact Number:
970-542-3100
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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2
Rank
Otero Junior College
Type of Course:Certificate
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
97.54 %
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Address:
1802 Colorado Avenue, La Junta, Colorado 81050
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Contact Number:
719.384.6831
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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3
Rank
Colorado Mesa University
Type of Course:Certificate
If you want to serve the community by taking care of the patients and meeting all the health requirements, then you can consider joining the Practical Nursing program at Colorado Mesa University. It offers advanced nursing education and lifelong learning to the students. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Students get abundant opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and intellectually.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
97.22 %
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Address:
1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-3122
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Contact Number:
970.248.1020
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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4
Rank
Delta-Montrose Technical College
Delta-Montrose Technical College (DMTC) is a public institution that is located in Delta, Colorado, and strives to promote the economic growth of the community by empowering the students with career and employment oriented high-quality academic education. Being a part of Delta County Joint School District Board of Education, DMTC has made it a mission to meet the health standards of the community by ensuring professional development and providing equal educational opportunities to all the students regardless of religion, color, and race.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
96.31 %
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Address:
1765 US Highway 50, Delta, Colorado 81416
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Contact Number:
970.874.7671
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5
Rank
Lamar Community College
Type of Course:Certificate
Lamar Community College was founded in 1937 and has been enriching the community for over 75 years. It is a two-year, post-secondary college that is currently fulfilling the education needs of over 1000 students. The college aims to provide quality education to the students so that they can maximize their potential and get success in the ever-changing and fast-paced world.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
95.64 %
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Address:
2401 South Main Street, Lamar, Colorado 81052
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Contact Number:
719.336.2248
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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6
Rank
Trinidad State Junior College – Trinidad Campus
Type of Course:Certificate
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
93.52 %
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Address:
600 Prospect Street, Trinidad, Colorado 81082
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Contact Number:
719.846.5011
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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7
Rank
Emily Griffith Technical College
Type of Course:Certificate
Emily Griffith Technical College is one of the oldest and most well-recognized colleges in Colorado that is in operation for more than 100 years and has served over 2 million students. Currently, it offers more than 500 academic programs and emphasizes on in-depth education, individual competence, overall learning experience, and practical skills of the students so that they can grow as expert professionals.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
90.96 %
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Address:
1860 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado 80203
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Contact Number:
720.423.4700
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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8
Rank
Pickens Technical College
Type of Course:Certificate
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
85.63 %
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Address:
500 Airport Boulevard, Aurora, Colorado 80011
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Contact Number:
303.344.4910
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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Average Annual Salary of Practical Nurses in Colorado
Colorado LPN Licensing Requirements
Licensure by Examination:
If you have passed the NCLEX-PN examination and want to apply for the practical nursing licensure, then you can do so by availing the online licensure service provided by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. In order to apply for the online licensure, you would first need to register on the online web portal. You need to fulfill the following requisites:
- Register with Pearson Vue for the NCLEX-PN exam.
- Provide the proof of age.
- Submit the completely filled online application form.
- Submit a completely filled ‘Record of Conviction' form and fingerprints card.
- The applicant must have passed the NCLEX examination and might be required to provide the NCLEX-PN passing details.
- Submit an application fee of $88.
- Provide your Social Security Number and proof of affidavit of eligibility.
Note: Once you meet the skills and written test criteria and obtain the LPN license, your name will get enlisted in the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry.
Licensure by Endorsement:
The state of Colorado is a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact since 2007; thus, it allows the nurses of another state to work without the need for a new license. If the applicant belongs to a non-compact state, then s/he can apply for an LPN licensure in the state of Colorado through endorsement. You are required to provide the following details-
- Verification of the original license is required whether the applicant is from NURSYS participating state or not.
- Proof of an active LPN license
- Completion of an approved refresher course and competency to practice course, in case, the applicant doesn't possess an active practical nursing license, or his/her license has been expired for more than two years.
- A completely filled application form
- A completely filled ‘Record of Conviction' form
- Endorsement fee of $43
- Completion of the affidavit of eligibility
For the online application for licensure by endorsement, click here.
Colorado State Practical Nursing License Renewal
Applicants can check the expiration status of their license online and can apply for the renewal prior the date of expiration. Keep the following information and proof handy to avoid any inconvenience while filling out the renewal application.
- License number
- A completely filled online application form
- A completely filled ‘Record of Conviction' form
- Completion of the affidavit of eligibility
- Social Security Number
In order to renew your license online, click here.
Reactivation of the Inactive LPN License
If your practical nursing license is in an inactive or retired volunteered status, then you can apply for the reactivation of your license. Basic requirements that you need to fulfill are as follows:
- Completion of an approved refresher and competency course, in case, the applicant doesn't possess an active practical nursing license, or his/her license has been expired for more than two years.
OR
Proof of active nursing practice in some other state, US territory, or federal facility during the past 2 years before filling the application form. Along with the form, you need to submit the following documents –
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- Verification of your active license or the license that has been expired. For this, you need to do the following –
- Apply for NURSYS verification through NURSYS website if your state participates in it.
OR
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- If your state does not participate in NURSYS, then you need to request the verification of nursing license form.
- License number
- A reactivation fee of $111
- Information of current address, phone number, email, and other contact details
- A completely filled online application form along with all the supporting documents.
- A completely filled ‘Record of Conviction' form
- Completion of the affidavit of eligibility
- Completion of online healthcare profession profile at the official website
- Social Security Number
Note: You are required to apply for the reinstatement of the license if it is in the expired status.
For the offline reactivation application form, click here.
Reinstatement of the Expired LPN License
If your LPN license has been expired or if you are a Retired Volunteer Nurse of at least 55 years of age, then you can apply for the reinstatement of the license. Once you have applied for the reinstatement of the license, make sure to submit all the required documents and information within one year of the date of submission. After that, you would need to submit a new application. For those applicants who reside in the United States of America, Social Security Number and affidavit submission is required. Once submitted, you will be able to check the status of your application online and can print your license after approval. You might be asked to provide the following documents and information while applying for the reinstatement of the expired license-
- Submit any of these documents: driver's license, a government-issued ID card or passport with the number and the expiration date.
- An Active Status fee of $136 and Retired Volunteer Nurse Status fee of $20.
- A completely filled application form with your name, e-mail address, date of birth, telephone number, and license number.
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Provide documentation if you have undergone a name or address change.
- Maintain an online Healthcare Professions Profile.
Note: You are required to apply for the reactivation of the license if your license is in the inactive status.
Click here for the offline application for reinstatement of the licensure.
LPN License Verification
The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) of the state of the Colorado makes the verification process of any license easy and accessible with its online license verification service. If you are a practical nurse and want to verify your license, then you have to select the type of your license (nursing) and provide the following information.
- Prefix and the number of your license.
- Other necessary information like name, business name, city, state, and zip code.
Average Annual Salary of Practical Nurses in Colorado
According to indeed.com, the average salary of licensed practical nurses in Colorado was $35,000 per annum (as of Sep 26, 2016). As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mean annual and hourly salaries of LPNs in Colorado were $47,530 and $22.85, respectively (as of May 2015).
Various Job Titles for LPNs with Average Annual Salaries
| Job Titles |
Salary |
| LPN LVN UP |
$58,000 |
| Flu Clinic Nurse |
$40,000 |
| Travel LVN |
$46,000 |
| LVN School Nurse |
$25,000 |
| Licensed Practical Vocation Nurse |
$37,000 |
| Clinical RN |
$47,000 |
| LPN Pact |
$31,000 |
| Flu Nurse |
$38,000 |
| LPN Specialty Clinic |
$34,000 |
| Practical Nurse LPN |
$36,000 |
| LPN Correction |
$33,000 |
| Nurse Pediatric Home Health |
$24,000 |
| LPN intermittent |
$35,000 |
| LVN LPN |
$81,000 |
| LPN LVN |
$32,000 |
Information Source: indeed.com (as of Sep 26, 2016)
As per the above statistics, the highest salary (i.e., $81,000) was of LVN LPN and the least salary (i.e., $24,000) was earned by the Nurse Pediatric Home Health.
Annual Average Salaries of LVNs in Various Cities of Colorado
| Location |
Salary |
| Arvada |
$45,538 |
| Aurora |
$45,538 |
| Broomfield |
$45,538 |
| Boulder |
$46,484 |
| Castle Rock |
$41,041 |
| Colorado Springs |
$44,561 |
| Denver |
$45,538 |
| Grand Junction |
$41,078 |
| Fort Collins |
$42,758 |
| Jefferson |
$40,993 |
| Greeley |
$42,758 |
| Pueblo |
$41,181 |
| Loveland |
$42,758 |
| Westminster |
$45,538 |
Information Source: salary.com (as of August 29, 2016)
As per the analysis of the above table, the income of these professionals was maximum (i.e., $46,484) in Boulder and minimum (i.e., $40,993) in Jefferson.
Job Outlook
Licensed Practical Nurses usually work under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Physician. The increasing average life expectancy and rising demand for effective health care have created a strong job outlook for LPNs in the state of Colorado. The home health companies and hospitals offer lucrative pay, educational benefits, flexible schedules, and other incentives to recruit new nurses and retain the existing ones.
