Studies & Degrees in Practical Nursing
Practical nursing is the entry level of nursing practice. Practical nurses give basic medical care to people who are ill, injured, convalescing or living with a disability, and they typically work under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. In the United States they are called licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs); the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that the two roles are nearly identical and that the title depends on the state. Canada also uses the title licensed practical nurse. In Spain, the qualification that SpainExchange groups under this subject is the Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería, which trains nursing assistants.
Programmes combine classroom teaching with clinical placements. According to the BLS, practical nursing programmes include nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, and all of them include supervised clinical experience. Typical tasks are checking blood pressure, temperature and other vital signs, changing bandages, helping patients to bathe or dress, and keeping health records. What a practical nurse may do also depends on local rules: in some US states, LPNs with the proper training may give medication or start intravenous drips.
Qualifications and levels
- United States: certificate or diploma. LPNs and LVNs must complete a state-approved programme, which typically takes about one year, and then pass an exam to be licensed. Programmes are commonly found in community colleges and technical schools. At Alexandria Technical & Community College the diploma takes two or three semesters and admits students each fall and spring; applicants must already be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Minnesota and score 50 or higher on the TEAS entrance exam. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, which is delivered by computerised adaptive testing.
- Canada: diploma. The Practical Nursing diploma at Camosun College in Victoria lasts 20 months, full-time. Graduates are eligible to write the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nursing (REx-PN) and apply for licensure as a licensed practical nurse in British Columbia.
- Spain: intermediate vocational training. The Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería is a grado medio of 1,400 hours in the Sanidad family. Entry requires the compulsory secondary education certificate (ESO) or an equivalent. Modules include basic nursing techniques and hospital hygiene, and the course ends with a work placement (Formación en Centros de Trabajo). The C.E.S Santa María de los Ángeles in Málaga teaches it over one academic year and one term, in a morning or an afternoon group, as a course funded by agreement with the Junta de Andalucía.
Practical nursing can also be a first step. The BLS notes that an LPN may complete an LPN-to-RN programme to become a registered nurse. Pine Technical and Community College, for instance, lets its practical nursing graduates move on to its Nursing Mobility programme towards registered nurse licensure.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 19 active schools for practical nursing. Fourteen are in the United States and two in Spain; Canada, Ukraine and Russia have one each.
The US schools are mostly community and technical colleges, such as Alexandria Technical & Community College, Pine Technical and Community College, Somerset Community College, Henderson Community College, Nunez Community College, Arkansas Northeastern College and Augusta Technical College, together with City College at MSU Billings, Idaho State University and the College of Southern Idaho. In Spain the list has the C.E.S Santa María de los Ángeles in Málaga and Imásd Forma in Vigo. Camosun College is the Canadian entry. The list also includes two medical universities: Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi (Ukraine) and Rostov State Medical University in Rostov-on-Don (Russia).
Two points matter for international students. First, a nursing licence is tied to the place where it is issued. In the United States each state approves its own programmes, and the BLS advises contacting the state board of nursing for the list. Before enrolling, check that the programme leads to a licence where you plan to work. Second, costs differ by student status. Camosun College accepts international students and estimates tuition for the whole diploma at $17,105 for domestic students and $42,684 for international students (fees effective from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027).
Careers
Practical nurses work in nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, physicians' offices and private homes. In British Columbia, the regulator BCCNM describes LPNs as focusing on clients with stable or predictable states of health, in hospitals, long-term care, community health and home care. In Spain, the ministry's portal TodoFP places nursing assistants in primary care, including clinics and homes for the elderly, and in specialised care such as hospital wards, emergency departments and paediatrics.
In the United States there were 666,900 LPN and LVN jobs in 2025. The BLS projects employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 51,800 openings each year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse?
A practical nurse completes a shorter programme, typically about one year in the United States, and usually works under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. Camosun College explains that practical nurses study from the same body of nursing knowledge as registered nurses, with a more focused approach.
How long does a practical nursing programme take?
About one year in the United States, 20 months for the diploma at Camosun College in Canada, and 1,400 hours for the Spanish Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería.
Do practical nurses need a licence?
In the United States, yes: after a state-approved programme, candidates must pass an exam, the NCLEX-PN. In British Columbia, graduates write the REx-PN and apply to the regulator for licensure.