Can I sit LPN in Florida after completing 1 year RN studies?

valzRN, ASN, RN · Jun 26, 2010

I attended PJC and the director told me that you have to pass 75% of the RN program before you can sit for LPN. You have to pass fundamentals, med-surg, cardiac, resp, and ob/peds before you can sit for them. I even checked with the state to see if it could be done having not passed on of the classes, and they said that the school would have to fill out some paper for me to sit. I passed everything and failed cardiac by 1 point, retook it the very next term and failed it again by 2 points. I begged the school to let me sit for my lpn but they wouldn't let me. One lousy point man... 1 1/2 years in school and nothing. but luckily I did find another college, 50 miles away, that will be willing to test me into their program and I can have my RN in 2 terms and sit for my LPN in 1 term. So... I am going to sit for LPN after that first term anyways. Hope that helps!

Pantherchick · Jul 12, 2010

I attended PJC and the director told me that you have to pass 75% of the RN program before you can sit for LPN. You have to pass fundamentals, med-surg, cardiac, resp, and ob/peds before you can sit for them. I even checked with the state to see if it could be done having not passed on of the classes, and they said that the school would have to fill out some paper for me to sit. I passed everything and failed cardiac by 1 point, retook it the very next term and failed it again by 2 points. I begged the school to let me sit for my lpn but they wouldn't let me. One lousy point man... 1 1/2 years in school and nothing. but luckily I did find another college, 50 miles away, that will be willing to test me into their program and I can have my RN in 2 terms and sit for my LPN in 1 term. So... I am going to sit for LPN after that first term anyways. Hope that helps!

I have 2 years of Pre-Med. My career took a different turn and it's been a while since I've been in school and I wonder if I can sit for the LPN anyway? Anyone have any ideas on where I can go, how to get started on this? Relocating throughout Florida is not a problem for me.

valzRN, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

I attended PJC and the director told me that you have to pass 75% of the RN program before you can sit for LPN. You have to pass fundamentals, med-surg, cardiac, resp, and ob/peds before you can sit for them. I even checked with the state to see if it could be done having not passed on of the classes, and they said that the school would have to fill out some paper for me to sit. I passed everything and failed cardiac by 1 point, retook it the very next term and failed it again by 2 points. I begged the school to let me sit for my lpn but they wouldn't let me. One lousy point man... 1 1/2 years in school and nothing. but luckily I did find another college, 50 miles away, that will be willing to test me into their program and I can have my RN in 2 terms and sit for my LPN in 1 term. So... I am going to sit for LPN after that first term anyways. Hope that helps!

I have 2 years of Pre-Med. My career took a different turn and it's been a while since I've been in school and I wonder if I can sit for the LPN anyway? Anyone have any ideas on where I can go, how to get started on this? Relocating throughout Florida is not a problem for me.

Well, things have taken a turn since I posted this. Yes, you do have to go to the director of the program where you attended and get a letter. Per the BON, the director must write the letter stating that they feel that you are proficient enough to sit for boards. In my case, I missed cardiac by 1 point, then 2. That doesn't mean that I didn't learn anything! I went back to the school where I attended and talked to the director, she wrote the letter for me. Then you have to have course descriptions that tell the BON what is included in that class. The BON wants LPN's to cover fundamentals, pharm, peds/ob, geriatrics, GI, mental health, endocrine, and there are other sections, and you can find everything about sitting for the boards at http://www.doh.fl.state.us/nursing . You have to request transcripts, have your AHA CPR, 2 hr. Medical Error Prevention CEU's, and I think that's it. (I don't have my list in front of me, it's all in the packet that you can print from that site.) After you get all that together, you send it to the boards, along with $204, and wait 30 days.

If they approve it, the board will send you a paper called an ATT, which you will need to register with Pearson to take the test. Get your pocketbook out, there's another $200 just to register for the test. The test is offered 5 days a week and there is a list of Pearson testing sites that you can chose from that's closest to you. The test can take up to 6.5 hours, and varies from 75 questions to 245. After your done, you wait another 30 days to find out if you passed.

There is another thread around here somewhere that discusses the "Pearson trick." I don't remember where that was though, sorry. You can log onto the DOH site and after 2 weeks, you can search yourself and if you have a license, the number will come up.

If you want to further your career, you can then apply for the LPN to RN career mobility program and within 3 terms be able to sit for the NCLEX_RN. That's my plan. I just pray that the board accepts my paperwork and at least gives me a chance to sit for them. I am studying now for it. LPN is different is more ways than I first thought. So, this is nursing for me from a different angle. Good luck with your endeavor. Maybe one day I will finally be able to change my name from student4lyf, to finallyaRN, LOL!