Northern Virginia puts you in the Washington DC healthcare market — one of the largest in the country — while training at Virginia community college prices. Programs at NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) and others run 12 months, not 6. Virginia is an NLC compact state, so your license works in DC and Maryland. Military base opportunities at Norfolk, Fort Barfoot, and Quantico add additional employment pathways.
⚡ Fastest: 12 Months🏥 Local Clinical Placement💰 From ~$5K✅ Accredited Programs
⚠️ Why 6-Month LPN Programs Don't Exist in Virginia
The Virginia Board of Nursing requires clinical hours that fill a 12-month program. No Virginia institution offers 6-month LPN completion. Northern Virginia's proximity to DC creates a unique advantage: train at Virginia prices, work in the DC metro market. Military installations across the state add healthcare employment opportunities that most states don't have. NLC membership extends your license across the region.
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~$6K
Avg. Program Cost
10–12
Months (Fastest)
$63K+
Avg. VA LPN Salary
NCLEX-PN
Licensure Exam
What's the Fastest LPN Program in Virginia?
If you're searching for a "6-month LPN program," what you really want is the fastest legitimate path to your nursing license. In Virginia, the quickest accredited programs run 10–12 months full-time. Here's how they work:
Accelerated full-time: Classes and clinicals 4–5 days/week, 10–12 month completion
Hybrid/online theory: Study lectures at home, attend clinicals on set days — still 11–14 months
Evening/weekend tracks: Designed for working adults, typically 14–18 months
Community colleges in Virginia offer some of the most affordable paths — often under $8,000 total tuition for in-district students. Private nursing schools cost more but sometimes offer faster schedules and more flexible clinical placement.
Accredited LPN Schools in Virginia
All schools listed are accredited and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Verify current enrollment status directly with each school.
Northern Virginia CC
📍 Annandale
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$6,800Clinical: Fairfax County hospitals
Tidewater CC
📍 Norfolk
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$6,200Clinical: Hampton Roads partners
J. Sargeant Reynolds CC
📍 Richmond
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$6,400Clinical: Henrico County facilities
Virginia LPN Licensure Requirements
Requirement
Detail
Governing Body
Virginia Board of Nursing
Program Accreditation
Must be state board-approved
Minimum Clinical Hours
400 hours
Licensure Exam
NCLEX-PN (Pearson VUE)
Background Check
Required prior to clinical placement
CPR Certification
Required before clinical start
Drug Screening
Required by most clinical partner facilities
Immunizations
Per program/facility requirements
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LPN Salary in Virginia
Licensed Practical Nurses in Virginia earn an average of $63,380/year ($30.47/hour) according to the BLS. Salaries vary by city, experience, and work setting.
Virginia Beach: $65,200/year
Richmond: $64,800/year
Arlington: $68,400/year
Top employers: Skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, physician offices
No. Despite what some ads claim, no accredited LPN program in Virginia can be completed in 6 months. State boards require hundreds of supervised clinical hours that simply cannot be compressed into that timeframe. The fastest legitimate programs take 10–11 months.
The fastest accredited programs run about 10–12 months for full-time students. Some accelerated tracks at technical colleges can get close to 10 months, but you'll be in class and clinicals nearly every day. Part-time or hybrid programs typically take 14–18 months.
Community college programs often run $4,000–$12,000 for in-district students. Private and nationally accredited programs can range from $18,000–$35,000. Financial aid, grants, and employer tuition assistance may be available.
After graduating from an approved program and applying through the Virginia Board of Nursing, you schedule your NCLEX-PN exam through Pearson VUE. Testing centers are located in major Virginia cities.
Hybrid programs that combine online theory with in-person clinicals are legitimate and approved by state boards. However, any program claiming to be 100% online with no clinical requirement is not accredited and will not qualify you for NCLEX-PN or licensure.
⚠️ Data Disclaimer: Salary figures, tuition costs, program lengths, and school information are gathered from publicly available sources and intended as general guidance. Program availability, accreditation, and tuition are subject to change — verify details with the school and Virginia Board of Nursing before enrolling. This page may contain affiliate links.
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