Pay is the easy comparison. These are the O*NET task statements and work-context ratings for each occupation — the part of the decision a salary table cannot show. Work context is rated on a 1–5 scale by people doing the job, and every measure O*NET rates for both occupations is printed below, ranked by how far apart the two sit. A gap of a full point is a real difference in the work; anything smaller is the two occupations being alike, and is shown as such rather than filtered out.
LPN vs RN (2026)
RN pays more: a median of $97,550 a year against $64,400 for LPN (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — a gap of $33,150 a year (51% more). Getting there costs more too: 2-4 years, against about 1 year for LPN. Every figure on this page is a published BLS or O*NET statistic with its release year attached.
On a nursing-home corridor or a busy medical-surgical floor, an LPN and an RN can spend most of a shift doing visibly similar work: vital signs, wound care, medication administration, charting, talking to families. The difference is scope of practice rather than effort — assessment, care planning and delegation are registered-nurse acts in most states, and an LPN practises under the direction of an RN or a physician. How visible that difference is on any given day depends almost entirely on the setting.
- Median pay gap
- $33,150
- Typical entry education
- Certificate vs Bachelor's
- Projected change
- +2.6% vs +4.9%
- Openings a year
- 54,400 vs 189,100
RN higher · BLS OEWS, May 2025
LPN vs RN · BLS EP, 2024–2034
LPN vs RN · BLS EP, 2024–2034
LPN vs RN · BLS EP, 2024–2034
LPN vs RN, side by side
| Measure | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC occupation code | 29-2061 | 29-1141 | US Standard Occupational Classification, 2018 |
| Median annual wage | $64,400 | $97,550 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median hourly wage | $30.96/hr | $46.90/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 10% earn under | $49,740 | $68,940 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $59,000 | $80,330 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 25% earn over | $76,030 | $112,350 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 10% earn over | $83,440 | $137,470 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed in the US | 648,410 | 3,379,720 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change | +2.6% | +4.9% | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Openings a year | 54,400 | 189,100 | BLS EP, 2024–2034, including replacement demand |
| Typical entry education | Certificate | Bachelor's | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Prior work experience typically needed | None | None | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| On-the-job training typically needed | None | None | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Preparation level (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation | Medium preparation | O*NET 30.3 Database, May 2026 |
| AI-resilience score (NueCareer analysis, 0–100) | 46 | 53 | NueCareer analysis of O*NET work activities and work context — not a BLS figure |
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Employment change, annual openings and entry requirements are BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. Job zone is O*NET 30.3 Database (May 2026).
The AI-resilience score is a NueCareer analysis of O*NET work-activity and work-context composition. It is our number, not a BLS or O*NET one, and it describes task mix rather than forecasting adoption.
What actually differs day to day
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
What people in the job actually hold: Some College Courses 38%, Post-Secondary Certificate 35%, Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) 16% (O*NET incumbent survey).
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
What people in the job actually hold: Bachelor's Degree 56%, Post-Secondary Certificate 23%, Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) 19% (O*NET incumbent survey).
| Work context (O*NET, 1–5) | LPN | RN | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in GeneralPeople | 3.6 | 4.5 | 0.9 |
| Spend Time StandingPhysical | 3.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your BodyPhysical | 3.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 |
| Consequence of ErrorPressure | 3.4 | 3.9 | 0.5 |
| Spend Time SittingPhysical | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.5 |
| Indoors, Environmentally ControlledEnvironment | 4.1 | 4.6 | 0.4 |
| Time PressurePressure | 4.4 | 4.0 | 0.4 |
| Conflict SituationsPressure | 3.5 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| Freedom to Make DecisionsAutonomy | 3.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within TeamsPeople | 4.6 | 4.9 | 0.3 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather ConditionsEnvironment | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Contact With OthersPeople | 4.8 | 4.9 | 0.1 |
None of the 12 measures separates these two by a full point. O*NET cannot tell them apart on the conditions of the work, which is a real finding rather than missing data: whatever divides these two jobs, it is not what the day feels like.
What it takes to get in, on each side
Entry requirements below are BLS Employment Projections for both occupations. Where an occupation carries a hand-verified credential record, the accrediting body, the named exam and the realistic program length are shown too, each traced to the issuing body's own page with the date it was checked. Where it does not, this page publishes the federal data and says so rather than filling the gap.
How you become an LPN
Credential detail hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked August 23, 2026.
Licensed practical nurses (called licensed vocational nurses in some states) must complete a state-approved practical nursing program, which typically takes about a year, and then pass an exam to become licensed. That exam is the NCLEX-PN, developed by NCSBN and used by state boards of nursing.
- Typical entry education (BLS)
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Typical program length
- About 1 year
- Realistic range
- BLS reports that certificate and diploma practical nursing programs, commonly found in community colleges and technical schools and sometimes in high schools, typically take about 1 year to complete.
- Accreditation: ACEN
- ACEN accredits practical nursing programs among all other nursing levels. Note the distinction that matters for licensure: what the state board requires is that the program be state-approved. ACEN accreditation is voluntary national accreditation on top of that, and a program can hold board approval without it. BLS advises contacting your state board of nursing for the list of approved programs.
- Exam: NCLEX-PN
- Taken after completing a state-approved practical nursing program. It measures entry-level nursing competency and uses computerized adaptive testing. Passing it is the gate to the LPN/LVN license.
- Governing body: NCSBN
- Develops and publishes the NCLEX-PN examination and its test plan, used by state boards of nursing to measure entry-level practical nursing competency for licensure.
- Licensed state by state
- Even the job title varies: some states license licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) rather than licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Each state board of nursing decides which practical nursing programs it approves, and sets the remaining license conditions and renewal terms. BLS directs candidates to their state board for the approved program list and to CareerOneStop for state licensing board requirements.
Step by step
- Enroll in a state-approved practical nursing programAbout 1 year
Certificate and diploma programs are offered by community colleges and technical schools. Confirm with your state board of nursing that the program is on its approved list before enrolling.
- Complete the coursework and supervised clinical experience
Programs cover nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, and all include supervised clinical experience.
- Pass the NCLEX-PN
After finishing the approved program, sit the NCLEX-PN through your nursing regulatory body and Pearson VUE.
- Obtain the state LPN or LVN license
Apply to the board of nursing in the state where you will work. Some employers additionally require or prefer CPR or basic life support (BLS) certification.
- Add optional certifications or bridge to RN
Optional certifications are available through professional associations in areas such as gerontology, wound care and intravenous (IV) therapy. LPNs can also complete an LPN-to-RN program to become a registered nurse.
Sources checked for LPN
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (How to Become One) — checked August 23, 2026
- NCSBN, NCLEX Test Plans — checked August 23, 2026
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, FAQs: ACEN and Accreditation — checked August 23, 2026
How you become an RN
Credential detail hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked August 23, 2026.
Every registered nurse in the United States needs a nursing license issued by the state board of nursing where they work. To get one you must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a qualifying exam, the NCLEX-RN. Three education routes lead to the same exam: an associate degree (ADN or ASN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or a hospital diploma program.
- Typical entry education (BLS)
- Bachelor's degree
- Typical program length
- 2-4 years
- Realistic range
- BLS reports that BSN programs typically take 4 years to complete and that hospital or medical center diploma programs typically take 2 to 3 years. Associate degree programs are offered at community colleges. All three include supervised clinical experience.
- Accreditation: CCNE
- CCNE accredits baccalaureate, graduate, and residency/fellowship programs in nursing, so it covers the BSN route but not associate or diploma programs. Programmatic accreditation is not the same thing as the state board approval that licensure depends on: state boards license graduates of programs they have approved, and a program can be board-approved without being nationally accredited. Employers and graduate schools commonly look for accreditation, so check both.
- Accreditation: ACEN
- ACEN accredits practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's and clinical doctorate nursing programs, so it is the accreditor that covers the ADN and hospital diploma routes into RN licensure. ACEN accreditation is voluntary; a program must apply for it.
- Accreditation: NLN CNEA
- A third recognized nursing accreditor, accrediting nursing programs of all types including distance education programs. As with CCNE and ACEN, this is programmatic accreditation and is distinct from state board approval.
- Exam: NCLEX-RN
- The licensure exam taken after graduating from an approved nursing program. It measures entry-level nursing competency, uses computerized adaptive testing, and uses case studies to assess clinical decision-making. Registration runs through the nursing regulatory body you are seeking licensure from as well as Pearson VUE.
- Governing body: NCSBN
- Develops and publishes the NCLEX-RN examination and its test plan, which state boards of nursing use to measure entry-level nursing competency for licensure.
- Governing body: ANCC
- Offers voluntary specialty certification for nurses; certification is separate from the state license and is not required to practice as an RN.
- Licensed state by state
- The license is issued by the state board of nursing, not nationally. Each board decides which nursing programs it approves for licensure purposes, and sets the requirements beyond graduation and the NCLEX-RN, such as criminal background checks. Renewal terms and any continuing education are also board-set. Contact the board in the state where you intend to practice for its specific requirements.
Step by step
- Enroll in a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing2-4 years
Pick one of the three routes: an associate degree (ADN or ASN), a BSN, or a hospital diploma program. All three qualify a licensed graduate for entry-level staff nurse positions, although employers, particularly hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree.
- Complete the coursework and supervised clinical hours
Programs cover anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences, and all include supervised clinical experience. Bachelor's programs usually add communication, leadership and critical thinking.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
After graduating, register with the nursing regulatory body where you plan to practice and with Pearson VUE, then sit the NCLEX-RN, NCSBN's computerized adaptive entry-level competency exam.
- Obtain the state license
Apply to the board of nursing in the state where you will work. Other requirements, such as passing a criminal background check, vary by state.
- Add certifications your employer requires
Specialty certification through professional associations, in areas such as ambulatory care, gerontology or pediatrics, is usually voluntary but some employers require it. RN positions may also require CPR, basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification.
Sources checked for RN
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses (How to Become One) — checked August 23, 2026
- NCSBN, NCLEX Test Plans — checked August 23, 2026
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing, CCNE Accreditation — checked August 23, 2026
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, FAQs: ACEN and Accreditation — checked August 23, 2026
- NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) — checked August 23, 2026
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — checked August 23, 2026
Which should you choose?
There is no answer to this that is true for everybody, and any page that gives you one is usually selling a program. What we can do is state the trade in the terms the federal data actually supports, and leave the decision where it belongs.
Choose RN if the pay gap is worth the extra training
The gap is $33,150 a year (51% more) over the LPN median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That gap is real and it compounds over a career. So does what it costs to get there: RN typically needs 2-4 years, against about 1 year for LPN, and BLS records the entry requirement as bachelor's rather than certificate. Those are years you are not earning, and in most cases tuition you are borrowing. Compare the gap against the debt and the delay, not against your current pay.
Choose LPN if you need to be earning sooner
LPN gets you into paid work faster: about 1 year. Its median of $64,400 is still above the $50,980 median across all US occupations. Check the hiring volume rather than assuming the shorter route is the easier one to get hired into: BLS projects 54,400 openings a year for LPN and 189,100 for RN (BLS EP, 2024–2034). And it is a legitimate stopping point, not only a stepping stone — plenty of people who intended to move on did not, because the work suited them.
Choose neither if the day-to-day work does not fit
The task lists and the O*NET work-context readings above differ more between these two than the wage figures do, and work context is what you experience every shift: how much time pressure, how much contact with the public, how much of the day on your feet, how bad a mistake is. LPN and RN are not the only two options — they are just the two you searched for. If neither task list reads like a description of a day you want, that is useful information, not a failed comparison.
We are not going to name a winner. One of these pays more and the other costs less to enter, which is a trade, not a ranking — and the right side of it depends on your finances, your timeline, your tolerance for the specific work and, for the licensed roles, your state. Every figure above is a published federal statistic with its vintage attached, so you can check the trade against your own situation rather than take our word for it.
LPN vs RN: FAQ
What is the difference between an LPN and an RN?
On a nursing-home corridor or a busy medical-surgical floor, an LPN and an RN can spend most of a shift doing visibly similar work: vital signs, wound care, medication administration, charting, talking to families. The difference is scope of practice rather than effort — assessment, care planning and delegation are registered-nurse acts in most states, and an LPN practises under the direction of an RN or a physician. How visible that difference is on any given day depends almost entirely on the setting. In federal terms they are two separate occupations: Licensed Practical Nurse is SOC 29-2061 and Registered Nurse is SOC 29-1141, which is why they carry separate wage and projection figures rather than a shared one.
Does an LPN or an RN make more money?
Registered Nurse pays more. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median is $97,550 a year against $64,400 — a gap of $33,150 a year (51% more). The realistic entry band matters as much as the median: the lowest-paid 10% of RNs earn under $68,940 and the lowest-paid 10% of LPNs under $49,740. Getting the higher figure costs 2-4 years.
Is it harder to become an LPN or an RN?
BLS records the typical entry requirement as postsecondary nondegree award for licensed practical nurses and bachelor's degree for registered nurses (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034). In practice that means about 1 year for LPN and 2-4 years for RN. The licensing bodies, accreditation requirements and named exams for both are set out in full further down this page, each checked against the issuing body’s own site.
Which has better job security, an LPN or an RN?
BLS projects +2.6% employment change for licensed practical nurses and +4.9% for registered nurses over 2024–2034, with 54,400 and 189,100 openings a year respectively (BLS Employment Projections). For anyone entering now the openings figure matters more than the growth rate, because it includes people leaving the occupation as well as new posts. Our own AI-resilience score — a NueCareer analysis of O*NET task composition, not a federal statistic — puts LPN at 46 and RN at 53 out of 100.
Should I become an LPN or an RN?
We will not tell you, and you should be wary of a page that does — most of the sites ranking for this question are schools that teach one of the two. We are not going to name a winner. One of these pays more and the other costs less to enter, which is a trade, not a ranking — and the right side of it depends on your finances, your timeline, your tolerance for the specific work and, for the licensed roles, your state. Every figure above is a published federal statistic with its vintage attached, so you can check the trade against your own situation rather than take our word for it.
Full profiles, wage percentiles and state-by-state pay: Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse. Wage data is BLS OEWS May 2025.