Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Programs in Delaware

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide a critical service in Delaware’s hospitals and healthcare centers. To enter this essential and in-demand profession, you need to follow a specific set of steps that begins with attending an approved LPN program.

In this guide, we examine the state-approved LPN programs in Delaware and the additional licensure requirements you need to satisfy. Discover what these programs and the licensure process look like.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

As of March 2025, there are only three institutions in Delaware offering fully approved practical nurse training programs. These institutions are listed alphabetically below and not ranked according to our methodology.

Compare details like program length, format, and cost to determine the best LPN program for you.

Delaware Skill Center’s LPN program prepares you to take the NCLEX-PN for state licensure in ten and a half months. The adult vocational training center runs full-time classes Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in New Castle. You also complete clinical experiences at facilities throughout New Castle County.

The program starts each August and runs through June, and your classes feature an 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Since 2023, DSC graduates have a 100% pass rate on the first attempt of the NCLEX-PN as well as a 100% job placement rate.

Go to DSC’s LPN program

Delaware Technical Community College’s diploma program in practical nursing studies helps prepare you for the NCLEX-PN exam and Delaware state licensure. Available at the Dover, Georgetown, and Stanton campuses, the program usually takes one year to complete through part-time studies.

Your DTCC cohort will generally have between 16-24 students, and courses run Monday-Thursday in three semesters. Along with your general education and nursing curriculum, you’ll complete clinical components at healthcare facilities affiliated with the school.

Go to DTCC’s LPN program

Polytech Adult Education’s practical nursing program prepares you for the NCLEX-PN exam and Delaware LPN licensure in three intensive semesters. The program combines classroom and clinical training and equips you with skills in mental health, microbiology, medical-surgical nursing, and more.

The program typically begins in September and runs for eleven and a half months.

Go to Polytech’s LPN program

For a program to qualify graduates for the NCLEX-PN examination and state licensure in Delaware, it must hold approval from the Delaware Board of Nursing. This process involves a review of the school, the program curriculum, the faculty, and student outcomes.

As of March 2025, Delaware has four approved LPN programs, including a new program at Dawn Career Institute that holds initial approval.

Accreditation is another signifier of a quality LPN program. The main programmatic accreditor for LPN programs is the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). While attending an ACEN-accredited program is not technically mandatory, it provides you and your future employers with an assurance of quality. It may be a requirement for employment in some cases, and accreditation may also be mandatory for transfer credits and licensure by reciprocity in some states.

As an LPN student in Delaware, you have several financial support pathways available to you, including federal loans and scholarship programs.

At the state level, you can pursue Delaware Higher Education Office scholarships, as well as several scholarships offered through the Delaware Community Foundation. You can also apply for school-specific awards, such as the SEED Scholarship program from DTCC.

Start the financial aid process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA could qualify you for federal financial aid and may be required for school and state awards. Note that only schools that are accredited by U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditors can participate in Title IV (federal aid) programs — another reason why accreditation is so important.

To become an LPN in Delaware, you need to complete a state-approved program, pass the national LPN exam, and apply for licensure with the Delaware Board of Nursing. The sections below provide details for each of these steps.

The median annual salary for LPNs in Delaware comes in higher than the national median wage for LPNs. In fact, the Delaware wages for LPNs surpass the national salaries at all levels of earners except for the top 10%. In Delaware, according to BLS data from May 2023, the bottom 10% of earners make around $53,080 or less, while the top 10% make an estimated $72,460 or more.

At $61,780, the median annual earnings in Dover, Delaware’s only metropolitan region, are surprisingly lower than the state’s overall median. This may be due to a greater demand for LPNs in the more rural regions of the state, leading employers to incentivize work outside of the cities.

Delaware has one of the fastest projected growth rates for LPNs in the country. The state’s aging population, increasing number of healthcare services, and the growing responsibilities of nurses put LPNs in great demand.

According to Projections Central, approximately 360 new LPN positions could open between 2022-2032. While the number may appear low, it is significant for a state of Delaware’s size. After all, Delaware only employs 1,780 LPNs in total as of May 2023.