Can a BSN student become a LPN?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Hey everyone, I have a quick question: Can a BSN student take the LPN test after the first year of nursing classes and work as a LPN? I have seen multiple posts from members who say they are going to do this, but I have never found any information on it and my instructors have never heard of it either. Each time I ask in the thread for information I never get a response. Could someone please enlighten me? It would be great to work making some decent money this coming summer after my first year of nursing school. Thank you for your time.

Depends on your program. You must have an ATT - authorization to test - from your school to take boards.

Awesome, thanks for the information. So all I have to do is go to the program director and ask if they will let me take the test? After that, I take the test and I am an LPN...sounds pretty easy if that is it. Is there any online information regarding this?

Well, you have to ask, and then they have to agree to do the paperwork, you have to fill out an extensive application, submit it, with a check, to your state's BON, and then get permission to test, then set up a date with Pearson Vue, and then pass.

I have no idea if there's any online info about this.

Thank you again, I appreciate the information. Since my instructors didn't know what I Was talking about I will hit up the chair of the nursing program. I fixed her computer for her and have her as a pharm. teacher so hopefully she is nice enough to hook me up!

One last question, do I have to meet the requirements of an LPN to actually sit for the boards and get my license or can my school "override" that. I ask because of course after one year of a BSN program we will not have as many clinical hours as an LPN and was just curious. Thanks.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
One last question, do I have to meet the requirements of an LPN to actually sit for the boards and get my license or can my school "override" that. I ask because of course after one year of a BSN program we will not have as many clinical hours as an LPN and was just curious. Thanks.

Your school can not just "override" it. You have to have taken certain nursing courses first, I think they include at least your first year and geriatrics. It really depends though because my friend is in an ADN and their students can sit to take the test after the first year. I am in a BSN and we can not sit to take until after our third semester

Ah, thats what I was looking for. I was wondering because I know our program is considered "slower paced" that ADN and such, but not really because we have to encorporate theory and what not. I will definately check into it, thank you all for the help.

I did this and so did several of my classmates. The Board provided us with a form for our school to fill out and to be signed by the head of our nursing dept. The form listed the areas they wanted to be covered, with a space for the school to indicate how many hours of classroom and how many hours of clinical were completed for each of the required areas. It all had to add up to a minimum set by the board and each area had to be covered. You must ask the head of your nursing dept. if she is willing to do this for you. Then contact the board and get the application. Make certain that the board knows that you need the form for persons claiming equivalency in an RN program, so they just don't send you the run of the mill form for graduates of LPN programs. But remember, your schools's dean has to be willing to do this. Some schools just say flat out no. There is nothing anywhere that forces them to allow this. It has to be one of their policies. Good luck.

Thanks caliotter3, where you in a university program or fast-tracked? I'm curious if I will have the required amount of time done after my first year or if I will have to wait until the second year at which time I would be better off getting a nursing extern job probably. I will let you all know what I find out.

I was in a regular BSN program. They did not have accelerated programs that long ago. However, I was in an advanced placement program. My school had advanced placement options for people who were already RNs, LVNs, or had substantial portions of a nursing program already completed. They dealt with each person on an individual basis, depending on their circumstances. At the time I attended my school it also had a policy that if one completed 75% of the program, one could apply to take the RN boards. They supposedly stopped that option, because too many people were not taking it seriously; they were just taking the boards to practice, and didn't care if they passed or not; it was making the school look bad statistics wise. And we all know about saving the reputation of the school. That comes first. Those who lackadaisically took the boards early and failed them, ruined something important for many people down the road who followed them. I'm not the only person who needed to take the boards early in order to support my family. They hurt me.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

only a few state boards of nursing are permitting one to take nclex upon completing part of rn program. check with your state board to see if permitted.

ny just stopped.

phasing out of the option permitting students in rn nursing programs to practice as lpns the state education department is phasing out the option permitting students in rn nursing programs to practice as lpns and after june 1, 2007, will no longer accept applications for licensed practical nursing based on completion of form 2-eq. to be eligible for this option before it is phased out, all applications must be received and requirements must be completed by june 1, 2007. (february 27, 2007)

several factors resulted in the department’s position to phase out this option. based on a number of patient safety concerns the department re-examined its policy regarding this issue. our investigation found that:

  • as a result of curricular changes in registered professional nursing programs, the fourth semester of the program may contain all of the didactic and clinical assignments related to certain content areas such as obstetrical or psychiatric nursing, for example. students not taking this last semester and licensed as lpns under the 2-eq option, therefore, might have little or no contact in these areas. we have concluded that the assumption of substantial equivalence can no longer be supported.
  • persons licensed as lpns under this option have had no content on the differentiated scope of practice of lpns and rns and therefore do not know how to practice as an lpn.
  • individuals so licensed are not able to be licensed in other jurisdictions as the requirement in other states is for completion of an lpn program.
  • this option is not available in any of the 47 professions regulated by the department

caveot: many state boards require that one graduate from school of nursing in order to be licensed in their state, so lpn license will not have reciprocity in all states.

pa, de and nj are states do not have option.

+ Add a Comment