Top LPN Programs in New Mexico
New Mexico LPN Schools, License Requirements, Salary, and Job Outlook
Licensed practical nurses are the medical professionals who care for the patients in different phases of life. For the well-being of their clients, they do everything, from acute care to health promotion. They do not work independently. Instead, they practice under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Physician.
LPN is one of the most booming nursing specialties, and these nurses have numerous job opportunities in the United States of America. A report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the employment level of licensed practical nurses will rise at a much faster rate between 2014-2024. Also, these professionals are paid quite well in almost every state of the country. Thus, a high salary and a great scope in the future for this profession are making it quite popular amongst the nursing aspirants.
New Mexico aims to provide top quality health care to the patients. Therefore, in order to accomplish this task, the state has been encouraging approved nursing programs. According to a recent study by the bls.gov, jobs for LPNs will increase by almost 16% by the year 2020. Several community colleges, vocational high schools, and technical centers offer degree, diploma, or certificate in license practical nursing in New Mexico. Here is the detailed information on LPN programs, license, salary, and job outlook.
The list of accredited nursing schools in New Mexico that offer LPN programs with excellent clinical, classroom, and laboratory facilities is as follows-
1
Rank
New Mexico Junior College
Type of Course:Nursing Program
New Mexico Junior College was established in 1965 and is located less than 5 miles outside Hobbs in New Mexico. The campus is spread over an area of 243 acres with 331,400 gross square feet of building space. Apart from nursing, this college offers courses in Computer Information Systems, General Management, Associates of Arts, Associates of Applied Science, Associates of Science, etc.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
100.00 %
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Address:
5317 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs, New Mexico 88240
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Contact Number:
(575) 392-4510
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-
Type of Course:
Nursing Program
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2
Rank
Dona Ana Community College
Type of Course:Practical Nursing Certificate Program
It is one of the top nursing schools in New Mexico. Dona Ana Community College (DACC) is located in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. This institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is a responsive learning center that offers learning opportunities to a wide range of learners. Dona Ana Community College assures equality of rights and access to all the students irrespective of their caste, color, creed, or program in which they are enrolled. Besides this, it also supports the professional growth of the students and creates a safe and supportive learning environment for them.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
100.00 %
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Address:
2800 North Sonoma Ranch Boulevard, Las Cruces, NM 88011
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Contact Number:
(575) 527-7500
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Type of Course:
Practical Nursing Certificate Program
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3
Rank
New Mexico State University – Carlsbad
Type of Course:Practical Nursing Certificate Program
New Mexico State University (NMSU), Carlsbad, is a two-year community college. NMSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers 40 different associate’s as well as advanced degrees and certification. It is also expanding its dual credit, academic, and vocational programs. This institute aims to deliver high-quality academic coursework and hands-on training by using state-of-the-art equipment and innovative curriculum, designed for the success of the students.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
100.00 %
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Address:
1500 University Drive, Carlsbad, NM 88220
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Contact Number:
(575) 234-9200
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-
Type of Course:
Practical Nursing Certificate Program
4
Rank
Clovis Community College
Type of Course:LPN Program
Clovis Community College (CCC) is a higher educational institute located in New Mexico. This college gives opportunities to the students to gain the general education and pursue associate’s degree or certifications, while also helping them increase their self-confidence and productivity. The college enhances the employability of the students and assures success in career. It offers an easily adaptable and comfortable environment for personal as well as the professional growth of the students.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
96.72 %
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Address:
417 Schepps Boulevard, Clovis, New Mexico 88101
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Contact Number:
(575) 769-2811
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Type of Course:
Certificate of Practical Nursing
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5
Rank
Pima Medical Institute
Type of Course:Associate Degree in Nursing
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
91.65 %
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Address:
4400 Cutler Avenue N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110
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Contact Number:
(800) 477-7462
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Type of Course:
Associate Degree in Nursing
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6
Rank
Luna Community College
Type of Course:Practical Nursing Certificate Program
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
89.80 %
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Address:
366 Luna Drive, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701
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Contact Number:
(505) 454-2500
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Type of Course:
Practical Nursing Certificate Program
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7
Rank
Northern New Mexico College
Type of Course:Practical Nursing Certificate Program
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
81.72 %
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Address:
921 North Paseo De Onate, Espanola, New Mexico 87532
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Contact Number:
(505) 747-2100
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Type of Course:
Practical Nursing Certificate Program
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8
Rank
Vista College– Las Cruces
Type of Course:Practical Nursing Program
Vista College is situated in Las Cruses, New Mexico, with its other campuses in Utah and Texas. Vista College offers a wide range of educational programs- associate’s degree, career certifications, transfer options, and workforce development. This institute is well-known for designing its programs in such a manner that fulfills all the requirements of the students. The size of the classes is usually kept small so that the instructors can give proper attention to the students.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
81.19 %
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Address:
850 North Telshore Boulevard, Suites F-G, Las Cruces, NM 88011
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Contact Number:
(575) 208-0175
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Type of Course:
Practical Nursing Diploma
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9
Rank
Carrington College
Type of Course:Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate and Associate Degree Programs
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
41.67 %
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Address:
1001 Menaul Boulevard N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
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Contact Number:
(505) 634-5236
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Type of Course:
Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate and Associate Degree Programs
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License Requirements for an LPN in New Mexico
To work as a licensed practical nurse in the state, the aspirants need to obtain a license from the New Mexico Board of Nursing. Here are the steps that you need to follow to get a license in New Mexico.
Step 1. Complete an LPN/LVN Program
Gaining a certificate, degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program is the initial step towards becoming a practical nurse. For this, you need to join an educational course approved by the New Mexico Nursing Board.
Step 2. Clear the State Exam
Soon after completion of an LPN educational program from an accredited school, university or college, a candidate must send a certificate of completion of the LPN program to the state board. After this, the candidate would be eligible to take the state exam (NCLEX-PN). Clearing this exam is mandatory for the further procedure of licensure.
Step 3. Application for the Licensure
After passing the state exam, candidates have to send an application form to the board of nursing to obtain the LPN license. The application form should be completely filled and signed. With the form, you need to provide your passport size photograph, application fee, certification, and authorization form.
Step 4. Verification of the Documents
After receiving your application for the license, the board verifies all your information, transcripts, and documents. This process may take a few days or even weeks. After proper verification of all the facts and information given by you, the board enlists your name in the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry.
Step 5. Maintenance of the Licensure
If you have obtained a license in the state, it doesn’t mean that you will remain registered as an LPN in the state forever. The license remains valid just for 2 years, and you are required to renew it within this duration if you want to practice without any hindrance.
License Verification
Verification of the LPN license can be done through the NURSYS system, maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. To get the detailed knowledge of NURSYS system, one can login to https://www.nursys.com.
One can also verify the LPN license online by visiting the below-given link:
https://www.bon.state.nm.us/lookup.html
Here, you can look up the license by providing the license number, social security number, or first and last name.
Click here to download the paper application. Fill it and submit with a fee of $30.
Licensure by Endorsement
If you are a resident of a compact state and want to practice as an LPN in New Mexico, you have to gain the licensure by endorsement with that state board of nursing.
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin are counted in compact states.
To renew your license, you need to submit an online LPN application or paper application along with the fee, 3M Cogent background, fingerprints, and verification form.
There are some prerequisites that a candidate needs to fulfill in order to apply for the license by endorsement. They are as follows –
- You must have completed LPN course from an approved university, college or school.
- Must own a license in any other state or territory of the United States of America.
- You must be licensed by passing a national licensure exam in English.
- Must submit a completely filled application for licensure by endorsement along with the required fee.
- LPN applicants with a license after July 1, 1969, have to meet all the educational requirements.
- LPN applicants who are military personnel and have written the national licensing examination after July 1, 1977, may be licensed by endorsement in New Mexico. For this, they need to provide their DD-214 showing the related civilian occupation to be an LPN.
- Applicants from Canada who have been endorsed by any other state after passing the NCLEX or the Canadian nursing exam in English are eligible for endorsement in NM.
Requirements to be fulfilled for getting an LPN license:
1. For In-State Applicants:
- You can register online or via telephone at 1-877-996-6277.
- A fee of $44 for your criminal background check is to be paid directly to 3M Cogent.
- Select a fingerprint location.
- Travel to the fingerprint location and pay for the criminal background check (in case payment is not made online) and any other fees required by the fingerprint location.
2. For Out-of-State Applicants:
- Go through New Mexico Processing Service Handout.
- Obtain 2 fingerprint cards.
- Register online or via telephone (1-877-996-6277).
- Fingerprint cards (FD-258): Submit fingerprint cards with the application and a fee of $44 to 3M Cogent. You can pay using MasterCard, Visa, or via Money Order.
3. For International Applicants:
If you are an international applicant for LPN license in New Mexico, there are some requirements that you have to fulfill.
- Educated nurses, who are the residents of someplace other than the United States of America, have to prove their proficiency in English to obtain the LPN license in New Mexico. For this, they have to clear an approved English Competency test, such as –
- Completion of an English-medium nursing program in any other country.
- The scorecard that proves you have passed a nursing exam in English in any other country.
- Certification of qualifying the tests like Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English language Testing System (IELTS), or Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
License Renewal
Nursing license renewal in New Mexico is quite easy. Licensees, who want to renew their license, can apply online. This makes the process of renewal fast and easy. The New Mexico Nursing Board will mail you a License Renewal Notice along with your online Registration Code one month before the expiration of your license.
Click the below-provided link to get the license renewed online.
http://nmbon.sks.com/uploads/files/Online%20Renewal%20Notice_20May2016.pdf
Before starting online renewal process, you must have your credit card, registration code (pin #), and license number.
If you are new to the online procedure, you need a registration code and license number to get registered. If you are already registered on the Online Licensing site, log in by entering your user name and password.
Residency/Address/Name Change
Click the following link for online declaration of primary state of residence, or if you want to change your name or address on the license.
http://nmbon.sks.com/name-address-residency-change-licensure-verification-form.aspx
Attach the requisite documents and submit after providing your electronic signature.
Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Mexico
As per the statistics of indeed.com, the average salary of licensed practical nurses in New Mexico was $44,000 per annum (as of September 8, 2016). Whereas, according to the bls.gov, as of May 2015, the average hourly wage and annual salary of these professionals were $22.48 and $46,760, respectively.
Various Job Titles for LPNs with Average Annual Salary
| Job Title |
Salary |
| LPN LVN |
$35,000 |
| Psychiatric Nurse |
$50,000 |
| LPN Primary Care |
$41,000 |
| Long-Term Care LPN |
$23,000 |
| LPN Cma Rma |
$27,000 |
| LPN Ambulatory |
$30,000 |
| Correctional Prison Facility LPN |
$20,000 |
| Renal Dialysis Nurse |
$46,000 |
| Patient Care Technician Student |
$15,000 |
| Medical Assistant Family Practice |
$25,000 |
| Nar Nursing Assistant hope |
$22,000 |
| Nurse RN LPN |
$43,000 |
| LPN Long-Term Care |
$29,000 |
| Clinical Nurse LPN |
$33,000 |
| CNA Medical Surgical |
$24,000 |
Information Source: indeed.com (as of September 8, 2016)
According to the above data, the salary of the Psychiatric Nurses was the highest. i.e., $50,000. The Patient Care Technician Students were paid the least (i.e., $15,000).
Average Annual Salary of LPNs in Different Cities of New Mexico
| Name of the City |
Salary |
| Alamogordo |
$34,310 |
| Albuquerque |
$41,577 |
| Clovis |
$33,765 |
| Farmington |
$32,033 |
| Hobbs |
$31,792 |
| Las Cruces |
$35,955 |
| Rio Rancho |
$41,577 |
| Roswell |
$25,299 |
| Santa Fe |
$40,190 |
| Sunland Park |
$37,641 |
Information Source: salary.com (as of August, 2016)
From the table above, we can conclude that the licensed practical nurses earned the highest, i.e., $41,577, in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. In Roswell, these professionals were paid the least (i.e., $25,299).
Job Outlook for Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses in New Mexico
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2015, there were 2,150 licensed practical nurses employed in New Mexico. This shows that demand for these professionals is quite high in the state. Thus, New Mexico is a perfect place for the individuals who aspire to practice as an LPN. The state ranks 43rd among all the states of the country in terms of salary it offers to these nursing professionals. They are offered jobs from various employers such as Genesis Health Care, AHC Staffing, Correctional Health Care Companies, and Gila Regional Medical Center.
