Top vocational, career, and community colleges for nursing in Kentucky

Community colleges and vocational (or career) schools provide short, accessible programs that help people launch new careers. They are cheaper and faster than traditional four-year colleges and universities. In fact, to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you only need to complete a 12- to 18-month program and pass a national licensure exam. To become a registered nurse (RN), you must complete a two- to three-year program and pass a national licensure exam.

In Kentucky, there are a wide range of community colleges available to you in both suburban and urban settings. As their name implies, most community colleges and vocational schools are embedded right in your community. You can attend community colleges all across the state, including Southeast Community and Technical College in Cumberland or Pineville; Somerset Community College in London, Albany, or Somerset; and Maysville Community and Technical College in Maysville, Cynthiana, Morehead, or Mount Sterling.

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A degree or certificate from one of these schools can help you to gain a job with employers like Aetna or Pentec Health. In Kentucky, LPNs generally make between $33,000 and $43,000 annually, and RNs generally make between $48,000 and $67,000 per year. With about 50,000 people employed as LPNs and RNs, there are plenty of opportunities available in the state of Kentucky.

To help you launch your nursing career, we've gathered below the names of the vocational, career, and community colleges across the state.