How to Get Your LPN License in Vermont (2026)

How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Vermont

Vermont's healthcare landscape is defined by its rural communities, critical access hospitals, and a strong commitment to primary care. Licensed Practical Nurses play a central role in this system, working in long-term care, home health, community health centers, and rural clinics where they often serve as the primary clinical contact for patients. If you're pursuing an LPN license in Vermont, here's a complete walkthrough of the process.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Practical Nursing Program

Your first step is graduating from a practical nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or approved by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA). Vermont's community college system, including Community College of Vermont and Vermont Technical College, offers PN programs that blend classroom instruction with supervised clinical rotations. Programs typically run 12-18 months and include coursework in anatomy, pharmacology, nutrition, and patient care across clinical settings.

Before applying, confirm that your program holds current NCLEX-PN approval in Vermont. The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) verifies program standing during the license application.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam

After graduating, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), administered by Pearson VUE. Steps:

1. Submit an application to the Vermont OPR to obtain your Authorization to Test (ATT).
2. Register with Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com and schedule your test date at a testing center convenient to you (Burlington, Montpelier, or remote proctored options).
3. Pay the NCLEX-PN exam fee ($200 to Pearson VUE directly, separate from the state licensing fee).
4. Test within your ATT validity window (typically 90 days).

The NCLEX-PN uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT), ranging from 85 to 150 questions. Results are generally available within 2 business days through the Quick Results service ($7.95 fee).

Step 3: Apply for Your Vermont LPN License

Vermont LPN applications are submitted through the Office of Professional Regulation's online portal. Required elements:

• Completed application form
• Official transcripts from your PN program sent directly to OPR
• Proof of NCLEX-PN passage (OPR receives results directly from Pearson VUE)
• Criminal background check (Vermont Bureau of Criminal Investigation)
• Application fee of approximately $75-$125 (confirm current fee on the OPR website before submitting)

Processing times vary but generally run 4-6 weeks from receipt of all materials. Vermont issues licenses in two-year renewal cycles. You can track application status through the OPR online portal.

eNLC Compact Membership

Vermont is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which means a Vermont multistate license allows you to practice in all other eNLC member states without obtaining additional licenses. As of 2026, the compact includes 40+ states.

To qualify for a multistate license, you must declare Vermont as your primary state of residence. If you live in Vermont but hold a license in another compact state, you'll need to transition your home state designation. Compact privileges are automatic, no separate application is required beyond obtaining your Vermont LPN license.

For LPNs relocating to Vermont from another compact state, your current multistate license remains valid until it expires; you then renew in Vermont as your new home state.

Continuing Education Requirements

Vermont LPNs must complete 30 continuing education (CE) hours per two-year renewal cycle to maintain licensure. CE must be relevant to your nursing practice. There is no mandated topic breakdown in Vermont (unlike states such as Florida), giving you flexibility to pursue CE aligned with your specialty or patient population.

Approved CE sources include:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accredited providers
• National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES)
• Vermont Board-approved programs through the Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders (VONL)
• Online CE platforms (Relias, Nurse.com, Medscape Nursing)

Keep documentation of completed CE for at least 4 years in case of an OPR audit.

Vermont LPN Salary Ranges

Vermont LPN compensation reflects the state's cost of living and healthcare market:

• Entry-level LPN (0-2 years): $38,000-$44,000/year
• Mid-career LPN (3-7 years): $44,000-$52,000/year
• Experienced LPN (8+ years): $52,000-$60,000/year

Burlington and Chittenden County positions trend higher than those in rural Northeast Kingdom or Southeast Vermont counties. Home health and hospice LPN roles often include travel pay and mileage reimbursements. Per diem rates in Vermont typically run $22-$30/hour.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) offers loan repayment programs for LPNs working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), a significant benefit given Vermont's rural geography. Many critical access hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Vermont qualify as NHSC sites.

Top Employers for LPNs in Vermont

• UVM Medical Center (Burlington), Vermont's only academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center; the largest LPN employer in the state
• Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin), Regional hospital serving Washington County; strong LTC and med-surg LPN demand
• Porter Medical Center (Middlebury), Addison County's primary hospital; community-based LPN roles
• Vermont Department of Health, Public health nursing and immunization clinic roles
• Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, Home health LPN positions across northwest Vermont
• Elderwood and other SNF operators, Skilled nursing facility networks with consistent LPN hiring statewide

Rural primary care is a standout niche for Vermont LPNs. Federally Qualified Health Centers like Community Health Centers of Burlington actively hire LPNs for patient care coordination, chronic disease management, and preventive care, roles that carry real autonomy and community impact.