Facts about LPNs in North Carolina
The North Carolina Occupational Employment and Wages 2010 report shows that an LPN in this state earns approximately $39,711 and an hourly rate of $19.09. Entry level LPNs make about $32,741. These numbers can change depending on the LPN’s location, experience and level of education.
The job outlook for LPNs in NC is projected to go up at 21% through 2018. Becoming an LPN means you earn more than the average workers in the state which also means you can easily afford a decent lifestyle.
There are many North Carolina public nursing schools that offer the LPN program. Here is a brief review of two randomly selected community colleges:
Vance Granville Community College
VGCC is a community college that was founded in 1969 but was originally called as Vance County Technical Institute. This college has three satellite campuses in NC. It has a yearly enrollment of 5,000.
The Practical Nursing program was started in 1971. In 2003, the LPN program was finally approved for a double capacity of 40 students annually. This program best prepares students to take on the roles of a licensed practical nurse in North Carolina.
LPN courses are taught by the best instructors who use unique teaching strategies that target small group work, discussion groups and hands-on practice. These courses are both blackboard-enhanced and web-enhanced, with the Fall of 2006 giving way to the opening of the state-of-the-art Simulation Center for Health Sciences. To the faculty, simulation is an efficient way to study patient care in the most practical clinical setting.
VGCC's Practical Nursing program is a three-semester study. At the end of the three semesters, a student becomes eligible to apply for the licensure exam.
Carteret Community College
Carteret is located in Morehead, North Carolina, and is a public institution. This school offers different areas of study such as media, culinary arts, law enforcement and health science. There are approximately 1,628 students that enroll each year with many of them over the age of 40.
Their Practical Nursing program is a 48 credit hour curriculum that prepares you to have the knowledge and skills in nursing care. As a LPN student, you will participate in planning, implementing, and assessing nursing care.
Since the school limits its LPN enrollment each year by carefully selecting their students, it is best to provide the best grades and complete prerequisites so that you shoot right up to the top of their list. Once you become considered for the program, prepare to have clinical rotations during the weekends or evenings.
Updated: February 21, 2026
