Can I challenge the LPN Boards?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I am currently in an ADN program and will finish in August of 2008. Is it possible to test out for your LPN boards?? What are the requirements?? I live in Alabama but it is possible to do it in Florida. If any knows please tell me! Thanks!

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Specializes in acute care.

I believe your state BON will be able to tell you if you are able to do this. In NY, we are no longer able to take the LPN exam while in an RN program. Take care!

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I was in a BSN program and we could take the LPN boards after our 3rd semester.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

Depends on your State. Call your BON.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

In my two-year (4 semester) ADN program, we were able to take the LPN boards after the first two semesters of classes were completed. This is standard at the technical schools in WI.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

In N.J. they stopped that practice years ago. Now you have to have graduated from the program that you want to take the boards from.

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It actually is not challenging the exam, you have to complete the required hours and courses to be able to sit for the exam. Just because you are in an RN program does not necessarily permit you to take the test, it is specific to the BON that you would be applying thru, as well as the curriculum in your program and how it is set up. But the key is that it is not challenged.

The only people in the entire US that can actually challenge the PN exam and did not attend an approved school of nursing program are those that were military corpsmen in the service and then only in California and Virginia. No other states permit it and that license cannot be endorsed to any other state.

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Specializes in Government.
In N.J. they stopped that practice years ago.

In New Jersey in the early 1970's I was a CNA and worked with a few "LPN By Waiver" folks. They had no formal schooling at all and just learned on the job and got a licensure waiver. I believe that practice stopped in the late 1970's.

I'd have loved to have gotten my LPN license during my BSN program. I didn't even know that was an option in some states! Live and learn.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.
You must be endorse by your school to take the NCLEX exam and that's

called by equivalency. You must consult your school for the information

you will need to provide in order to take the exam while in RN classes.

Thanks,

Edwina M. Garrett

Administrative Assistant

South Carolina Board of Nursing

110 Centerview Dr Ste 202

Columbia, SC 29210

This is the response I received from the SC BON. Apparently in SC in some instances you CAN.

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