Tennessee is the healthcare capital of America — HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and Vanderbilt are all headquartered here — and the state's technical colleges deliver LPN training at some of the lowest tuition in the country. Tennessee Promise covers tuition at all 27 TCATs and 13 community colleges. No state income tax on wages. NLC compact state. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville all have massive hospital markets recruiting community college graduates.
🏫 Community College = Best Value🏥 Local Clinical Placement💰 From ~$4.5K✅ Accredited Programs
If you're researching LPN programs in Tennessee, the state's technical college and community college system should be at the top of your list — and Tennessee's unique position as America's healthcare capital makes this an exceptionally strategic place to start a nursing career. Tennessee's 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and 13 community colleges deliver Board-approved LPN training at tuition rates that Tennessee Promise can cover entirely for qualifying students. HCA Healthcare (the largest for-profit hospital company in the world), Community Health Systems, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are all headquartered in Nashville and recruit directly from Tennessee's technical colleges. Memphis has the Regional One Health trauma center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Knoxville has the University of Tennessee Medical Center. All three metros compete for LPN graduates from community college programs. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages — your LPN paycheck is 100% yours at the state level. Private LPN programs charge $18,000–$30,000 for the same Board-approved curriculum that TCATs deliver at a fraction of the cost. No Tennessee Board-approved LPN program finishes in under 10 months. Tennessee is an NLC compact state, so your license works in neighboring Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and 30+ other states.
🔄 Need More Flexibility? Compare Online & Evening Programs
Community colleges are the best deal — but they often have waitlists, limited seats, and 1–2 start dates per year. If you need evening/weekend classes, multiple start dates, or online coursework with clinicals arranged near you, these accredited programs fill that gap. Sponsored listings — schools pay to appear.
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~$5K
Avg. Program Cost
10–12
Months (Fastest)
$53K+
Avg. TN LPN Salary
NCLEX-PN
Licensure Exam
How Community College LPN Programs Work in Tennessee
Tennessee's community college LPN programs run 10–14 months depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. Here's what to expect:
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee
All schools listed are accredited and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Verify current enrollment status directly with each school.
TN College of Applied Tech – Nashville
📍 Nashville
HybridApplied Technology
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$5,200Clinical: Davidson County partners
Volunteer State CC
📍 Gallatin
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$5,400Clinical: Sumner County facilities
Tennessee LPN Licensure Requirements
Requirement
Detail
Governing Body
Tennessee 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
🔄 Can't Get Into a Community College Program? Compare Alternatives
Waitlisted? Need evening classes or a different start date? These programs offer flexible schedules and online options with local clinicals. Sponsored listings.
Sponsored listings — schools pay to appear. By submitting, you agree to receive information from schools that match your interests.
LPN Salary in Tennessee
Licensed Practical Nurses in Tennessee earn an average of $53,490/year ($25.72/hour) according to the BLS. Salaries vary by city, experience, and work setting.
Nashville: $56,800/year
Memphis: $54,200/year
Knoxville: $53,400/year
Top employers: Skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, physician offices
Community colleges cost a fraction of private programs, deliver the same Board-approved curriculum and clinical hours, and often have equal or better NCLEX-PN pass rates. They also place you at local hospitals where you'll likely work after graduation. The only downside: waitlists and limited start dates. If you can get a seat, a community college is almost always the best choice.
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 Tennessee Board of Nursing, you schedule your NCLEX-PN exam through Pearson VUE. Testing centers are located in major Tennessee 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 Tennessee Board of Nursing before enrolling. This page may contain affiliate links.
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