Do you want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse?
Well, if you want an exciting career saving and caring for people’s lives, this is the job for you!
With the option to work with the state’s best doctors and health professionals and deal with complicated yet fascinating cases, this job is incredibly rewarding and memorable.
That being said, becoming one is the confusing part.
There are a lot of requirements that differ from state to state!
So, how do you become one?
Well, not to worry because in this article, we’ve gone in-depth providing you with 4 solid steps on how to become an LPN in Wyoming!
We’ll also answer FAQs, such as:
- How much does an LPN in Wyoming make?
- Is Wyoming an NLC state?
- How can I advance my career after becoming an LPN?
We have a lot to discuss, so let’s get right into it!
How to Become an LPN in Wyoming – 4 Simple Steps
These are the 4 simple steps to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Wyoming:
Step #1: Enroll in a State-Approved LPN Program
Step #2: Register for Your LPN License in Wyoming
Step #3: Land Your First Job
Step #4: Keep Your License Active
Let’s look at each step, one by one.
Step #1: Enroll in a State-Approved LPN Program
Going back to school may sound like a pain, however, it is vital.
You will be handling patients with various health conditions, some of which may be critical.
Working as an LPN requires knowledge of medical terminologies, procedures, medicines, and more.
It also requires specialized skills such as taking vital signs, getting medical histories, administering medicines, and managing IV therapies.
This is why proper training from a good school is crucial.
But don’t worry! LPN programs only last 12-18 months! And this depends on whether you are studying full-time or part-time.
So, how do you choose a good school?
State-Approval
The first thing you should look for when choosing a school is state-approval.
This means that the school has been evaluated by Wyoming’s Board of Nursing and has met the standards set by the state.
Here is a list of approved LPN programs in Wyoming.
Other than state-approval, you can also look if the school has passed other accreditations. This will give you further confidence that the school provides a good quality of education.
NCLEX pass rates are also great indicators of how well a school prepares its graduates for the licensure exam.
Program Content
Although there will be differences in the program content depending on the school, there are some fundamental subjects that each LPN program offers.
Some of the possible subjects you will encounter in your program are:
- Pediatrics
- Maternal and Newborn Care
- Adult Health
- Psychiatric and Mental Health
- Community Health
- Medical and Surgical Nursing
- Long-term Care and Geriatrics
LPN programs also include clinical training for the students. You can experience working in real-life settings under the supervision of a preceptor.
This will help you practice your skills and techniques in handling patients. And it will also give you a better idea of where you would like to work after you get your LPN license.
Admission Requirements
To enroll in an LPN program, you’ll need to meet some prerequisites.
Some schools will have more or fewer requirements, but as a general guide, you may need to prepare the following:
- a high school diploma or the equivalent, such as the General Educational Development
- personal interview
- SAT or ACT scores
- a copy of college transcripts (if applicable)
- full immunization and vaccination
- thorough background checks
Step #2: Register for Your LPN License in Wyoming
Congratulations! You’ve achieved a big milestone by graduating from your LPN program.
Now, all you have to do is acquire an LPN license.
But how do you do that?
There are two methods:
- Examination
- Endorsement
Examination
To become a Licensed Practical Nurse, you need to pass the NCLEX-PN examination.
NCLEX-PN stands for National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses.
All aspiring LPNs nationwide must take and pass this exam upon graduating from an accredited LPN program.
But, to take the NCLEX, you’ll need to submit the following requirements first to the Wyoming State Board of Nursing:
- Filled-out application form and payment of the $190 application fee
- Official transcript from your state-approved nursing program (sent directly from your LPN school to the BON)
- Fingerprint card with a signed waiver
- NCLEX registration through Pearson Vue and payment of the $200 registration fee
Once your initial application is approved, you will receive an Authorization to Test email.
You can use this to schedule your exam day.
Remember that the ATT is only valid for 90 days, which means that you MUST test within 90 days of receiving your ATT.
The exam is somewhat challenging, so make sure to prepare well!
If you pass, you will receive your license from the board of nursing.
If not, you will receive a notification together with a diagnosis of your areas of weakness. This can help you prepare to retake your examination.
However, you can only retest 45 days after your first exam date. You will also need to submit a re-exam application and re-register through Pearson Vue.
Endorsement
The endorsement procedure is only for LPNs from non-NLC states who want to work in Wyoming.
What is an NLC state?
NLC refers to the Nurse Licensure Compact, which enables nurses licensed in one of the Nursing Compact states to practice in any of the other compact states without having to get additional nursing licenses.
Wisconsin is a member of the NLC. Thus, if you are a resident of an NLC state, you may practice as an LPN here without difficulty.
Check out this page for a list of all NLC states.
If your state is not part of the NLC, you must apply for a Wyoming LPN license through endorsement and supply the following:
- Filled-out application form and payment of the $180 application fee
- Official transcript from a state-approved nursing program
- Fingerprint cards for a criminal background check
- Verification of your license from your original state of licensure
- If you do not hold an active license in your original state of licensure, you are required to submit a second verification of licensure form from the state in which you hold an active license and were most recently employed.
If the BON accepts your application, you will receive a message and will be issued your license.
You can also track the progress of your application by logging into your Nurse Portal account.
Step #3: Land Your First Job!
One of the best things about choosing a career path as an LPN is that LPNs are in demand.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, because of the rise in the number of elderly patients and those with chronic diseases, there is a need for more healthcare services.
LPN jobs are on the rise and opportunities are increasing by the year.
Here are some of the best places to look for LPN jobs:
- Residential care facilities
- Hospitals
- Doctors’ offices
- Home health care services
- Government – state, local, and federal
You can also look for jobs in schools, correctional facilities, sports centers, health shops, insurance companies, and the like.
Healthcare is needed everywhere, so you can be innovative!
Step #4: Keep Your License Active
The last and final step to becoming an LPN in Wyoming is keeping your licensing active.
This step isn’t a one-time thing. It’s recurring and you’ll have to be doing it once every two years.
Why?
Well, licenses expire, and in the state of Wyoming, they expire every 2 years.
How can you renew your license?
This depends on the number of practice hours you accumulate in two years.
- If you have less than 200 hours of nursing practice, you are required to take 30 hours of continuing education.
- If you have at least 200 hours of nursing practice, you are required to take 15 hours of continuing education.
- If you have 400 or more hours of nursing practice, you are NOT required to complete continuing education.
You can read more about the CE requirements for LPNs here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming an LPN in Wyoming
We’ve covered a lot already!
But there are still some important things to keep in mind. Let’s tackle a few of them.
How much does an LPN make in Wyoming?
LPNs in Wyoming have an average salary of $54,880 per year. This is higher than the national average!
That’s great news for LPNsin Wyoming!
And remember… You can still increase your salary depending on what city you work in, what institution you work in, how many years of experience you have, and whether you have promotions or not.
Gaining specialized training can also increase your potential for earning.
Is Wyoming an NLC State?
Yes, it is!
This is good news for you because it means you can apply for a multistate license.
This will allow you to look for job opportunities in other NLC states, and not just in Wyoming.
How can I advance my career after becoming an LPN?
You may be thinking to yourself: “What happens after I become an LPN? What are my options to improve my career?”
Well, you’re in luck.
After becoming an LPN, opportunities for advancement are rife.
You can become certified in certain areas of specialization, such as:
- IV Therapy
- Long-Term Care
- Pharmacology
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Wound Care
- Correctional Health
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- and many more
If you are looking for greater responsibility, a better career, and handsome salaries, you can also consider becoming a Registered Nurse.
If that doesn’t fill your ambition, you could become a specialized nurse or APRN, one of the best positions as a nurse and one where you can work side by side with senior doctors.
Wrapping it up
Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse has its challenges, but it leads to a meaningful and rewarding career.
It just requires dedication.
Just as in any medical field, nursing takes time, has numerous requirements, and gets harder as you go along, but the key here is to remain committed to your goal.
With a dedicated work ethic, strong passion, motivation, and relentless consistency, you too, can become the Licensed Practical Nurse you’ve always wanted to be.
We hope this helps you in your journey to becoming an LPN!