How to Become an LPN in Michigan 2026
To become an LPN in Michigan, complete a state-approved practical nursing program, pass the NCLEX-PN, and submit your application through Michigan’s MiPLUS licensing portal. The Michigan Board of Nursing, under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, oversees all LPN licensure. Michigan is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
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Michigan licenses practical nurses through the Bureau of Professional Licensing, which operates under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The Michigan Board of Nursing sets the eligibility rules, approves practical nursing programs, and reviews applications. All first-time applicants must graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX-PN before they can practice.
Use the links below to jump to Michigan LPN education requirements, application steps, NCLEX-PN rules, and renewal information.
- LPN education requirements in Michigan
- How to apply for your Michigan LPN license
- NCLEX-PN eligibility and retake rules
- License renewal and continuing education
- Michigan LPN salary and job outlook
- Where Michigan LPNs work
- Nurse Licensure Compact status
LPN Education Requirements in Michigan
Michigan requires that all LPN applicants complete a state-approved practical nursing program before sitting for the NCLEX-PN. State code sets the minimum program length at one year, and all approved programs include both classroom instruction and supervised clinical hours. Programs are offered at community colleges and vocational-technical schools across the state.
When selecting a program, verify that it holds current Michigan Board of Nursing approval. The Board requires that approved programs maintain acceptable NCLEX-PN pass rates as a condition of continued approval. Students who complete a program before it loses approval are not automatically barred from licensure, but choosing a program with a strong pass rate history reduces that risk. If you’re comparing options, check our guide to LPN programs in Michigan for a list of approved programs and factors to weigh.
Out-of-state applicants must have attended a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). If the out-of-state program wasn’t accredited by one of those bodies, the applicant must submit a letter from the program director attesting that the curriculum meets Michigan’s standards, or a letter from that state’s board of nursing if the program is closed. All applicants, regardless of where they attended, must attempt the NCLEX-PN within three years of graduation.
How to Apply for Your Michigan LPN License
Once you’ve completed your program, your school submits certification directly to the Board of Nursing. If you attended an out-of-state program, official transcripts must be sent directly from the school to the Bureau of Professional Licensing. You don’t submit these yourself.
After your school sends documentation, you’ll complete the following steps through Michigan’s online systems:
- Submit your application through the MiPLUS portal at michigan.gov/lara. This is the Bureau of Professional Licensing’s online licensing system for all application submissions, status checks, and fee payments.
- Register with Pearson VUE at vue.com/nclex to schedule the NCLEX-PN. Both your MiPLUS application and Pearson VUE registration must be complete before the Board will issue Authorization to Test (ATT).
- Complete fingerprinting through a state-approved Live Scan vendor for a criminal background check. Delays in completing fingerprinting will slow your application.
- Pay the application fee. Current fee information is listed in the MiPLUS portal and on the LARA website.
Applicants with licenses in good standing from another state may be eligible for a provisional license while Michigan processes the full endorsement application. Endorsement applicants must request license verification from every state where they hold or have held a permanent license, sent directly from those state boards to Michigan. Internationally educated LPN applicants must have their credentials evaluated through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
NCLEX-PN: What to Expect in Michigan
The NCLEX-PN is a computerized adaptive test administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and delivered through Pearson VUE. Michigan requires that you attempt the exam within three years of completing your nursing program. If you don’t pass within that window, you’re no longer eligible to retest until you obtain a written certification of skills competency from a Board-approved nursing education program or receive a Board-approved extension. Extensions are limited and require documentation that the delay was due to disability, military service, or another circumstance beyond your control.
There is no limit on the number of times you can sit for the NCLEX-PN in Michigan, but a 45-day waiting period is required between all attempts. Once you re-register with Pearson VUE, you’ll receive a new Authorization to Test (ATT) with a 90-day testing window that doesn’t begin until the 45th day after your previous exam date.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Michigan LPN licenses are issued on a two-year cycle. You’ll receive renewal information approximately 90 days before your expiration date. Renewal is completed through the MiPLUS portal.
To renew, Michigan requires 25 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year period. The requirements include:
- At least 2 hours on pain and symptom management
- 1 hour on identifying victims of human trafficking (one-time requirement, not repeated each cycle)
- 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the license cycle (so 2 hours per 2-year renewal)
Practicing with an expired Michigan LPN license is not permitted. If you miss your renewal deadline, you have 60 days to renew late before additional reinstatement requirements apply.
Michigan LPN Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan LPNs earned a median annual salary of $65,460 as of May 2025. The mean annual wage was $67,340. LPNs in the top quarter of earners in Michigan made $73,880 or more, and those in the top 10 percent earned $77,780 or above.
| Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Median (50th) | $65,460 |
| Mean | $67,340 |
| 75th Percentile | $73,880 |
| 90th Percentile | $77,780 |
Projections Central data shows Michigan LPN employment is projected to grow 1.3% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 820 average annual job openings expected during that period. Most openings reflect replacement needs as current LPNs leave the workforce rather than growth in total positions. Long-term care, assisted living, and home health remain the primary drivers of demand.
Where Michigan LPNs Work
Michigan LPNs are concentrated in a distinct set of settings that differ from where registered nurses typically work. Long-term care facilities employ the largest share of the state’s practical nurses, followed by assisted living facilities, physician offices, and home health agencies. These four settings account for the majority of LPN employment in Michigan.
LPNs are far more likely than RNs to work in each of these settings on a proportional basis. Assisted living in particular is an area where Michigan LPNs outnumber RNs in sheer numbers, and long-term care remains the single largest employer of practical nurses in the state. Hospital inpatient roles exist but represent a smaller and declining share of LPN employment compared to prior decades.
In terms of clinical focus, geriatrics and elder care account for the largest share of Michigan LPN practice, followed by case management and long-term or sub-acute care. Other active areas include rehabilitation, family practice, medical-surgical, and psychiatric and mental health. LPNs in direct care roles spend most of their time monitoring vital signs, administering medications and fluids, managing wounds, and providing daily living support, while a smaller portion take on coordination and quality improvement roles.
Nurse Licensure Compact Status
Michigan is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). HB 4246, which would add Michigan to the eNLC, passed the Michigan House in June 2025 and is currently pending in the Michigan Senate. Until that legislation is enacted and takes effect, compact licenses issued by other states are not valid for practice in Michigan. Out-of-state nurses must apply for licensure by endorsement through the MiPLUS portal. For a full breakdown of Michigan endorsement requirements, see our guide to nursing license requirements in Michigan.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become an LPN in Michigan?
Most Michigan LPN programs take approximately one year to complete, as required by state code. That timeline covers both classroom coursework and supervised clinical hours. After graduation, you’ll need additional time to submit your application through MiPLUS, complete fingerprinting, register with Pearson VUE, and receive Authorization to Test before you can sit for the NCLEX-PN.
Is Michigan a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
No. Michigan is not currently a Nurse Licensure Compact member. HB 4246, which would bring Michigan into the compact, passed the Michigan House in June 2025 and is pending in the Senate. Until it is enacted and takes effect, out-of-state nurses must apply for licensure by endorsement and cannot use a compact license to practice in Michigan.
How many times can you take the NCLEX-PN in Michigan?
There is no limit on the number of NCLEX-PN attempts in Michigan. You must pass within three years of completing your nursing program. If you don’t pass within that window, you’ll need to obtain a written certification of skills competency from a Board-approved program before you can test again. A 45-day waiting period is required between all attempts.
What are the continuing education requirements for Michigan LPN license renewal?
Michigan LPNs must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education every two years. At least 2 hours must cover pain and symptom management. A one-time requirement of 1 hour on human trafficking identification applies, but is not repeated each renewal cycle. Michigan also requires 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the license cycle, completed before renewal. Renewal is done through the MiPLUS portal.
What do LPNs earn in Michigan?
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2025, Michigan LPNs earned a median annual salary of $65,460. The mean was $67,340. LPNs in the 75th percentile earned $73,880 or more annually.
Key Takeaways
- Board-approved program required — Michigan requires completion of a LARA-approved practical nursing program before you can apply to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
- Applications go through MiPLUS — The Bureau of Professional Licensing processes all LPN applications through Michigan’s online MiPLUS portal.
- Michigan is not a compact state — Out-of-state nurses cannot use a compact license in Michigan. Endorsement applicants must apply through MiPLUS. HB 4246 is pending in the Senate.
- No limit on NCLEX-PN attempts — Michigan does not cap retakes, but you must pass within three years of graduation. After that window, a skills competency certification is required before testing again. A 45-day wait applies between all attempts.
- 25 CE hours required for renewal — Michigan LPNs renew every two years and must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education, including pain management and implicit bias training.
Find approved LPN programs in Michigan, compare options by location and format, and get application details for your area.
Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, May 2025 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates — Michigan. Job growth data: Projections Central, 2022–2032 state projections. This data reflects statewide averages. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.