Medical Licensed Practical Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of medical licensed practical nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for medical licensed practical nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of medical licensed practical nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for medical licensed practical nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses?
Do medical licensed practical nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do medical licensed practical nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for medical licensed practical nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Jobs Postings for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses By Education
- High School or GED: 44,905 (41%)
- No Education Listed: 44,648 (41%)
- Bachelor's degree: 12,491 (11%)
- Master's degree: 4,213 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,544 (3%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of medical licensed practical nurses. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 41% of positions. In 41% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Jobs Postings for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 116,520 (72%)
- 2-3 Years: 41,550 (26%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,754 (2%)
- 7-9 Years: 128 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 530 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for medical licensed practical nurses. In 72% of job postings for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 2% of job postings for medical licensed practical nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for medical licensed practical nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective medical licensed practical nurses, and in 2023 a total of 54,148 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective medical licensed practical nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. | 45,550 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other. | 4,776 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 3,822 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Shape the future of nursing with Franklin’s M.S. in Nursing-Nurse Educator program. The 18-month, CCNE accredited online program blends evidence-based advanced nursing practice with industry-standard skills and concepts in instructional methods and design that equip you to excel in academic or clinical settings.
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by medical licensed practical nurses to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for medical licensed practical nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Based on 430,384 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
Based on 430,384 job postings related to medical licensed practical nurses, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 57% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing care, medication administration, vital signs, home health care and medical records were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for medical licensed practical nurses, followed by management, teaching, customer service, problem solving and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
| Medical Records | 53,978 | 13% |
| Computerized Physician Order Entry | 45,357 | 11% |
| Intravenous Therapy | 39,775 | 9% |
| Long-Term Care | 38,915 | 9% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 38,477 | 9% |
| Nursing Process | 32,209 | 7% |
| Infection Control | 32,012 | 7% |
| Pediatrics | 30,285 | 7% |
| Nursing Homes | 29,448 | 7% |
| Care Coordination | 28,153 | 7% |
| Direct Patient Care | 25,138 | 6% |
| Treatment Planning | 24,261 | 6% |
| Acute Care | 24,111 | 6% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 23,760 | 6% |
| Rehabilitation | 23,147 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
| Planning | 31,569 | 7% |
| Coordinating | 28,243 | 7% |
| Compassion | 26,282 | 6% |
| English Language | 26,077 | 6% |
| Leadership | 25,527 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 24,262 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 22,141 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 21,771 | 5% |
| Accountability | 20,144 | 5% |
| Critical Thinking | 19,765 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 19,458 | 5% |
| Transcribing | 19,326 | 4% |
| Writing | 17,990 | 4% |
| Operations | 17,444 | 4% |
| Teamwork | 16,141 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about medical licensed practical nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for medical licensed practical nurses.
What do medical licensed practical nurses do?
How much do medical licensed practical nurses make?
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