Licensed Practical Nursing Pathway Program

Licensed Practical Nursing Pathway Program at University of Vermont Health

Ready to further your education?

Through our partnership with Vermont State University (VTSU), our LPN Pathway Program allows full-time employees of a Vermont partner within UVM Health to continue earning a salary while taking classes towards LPN certification and licensure.

What is the purpose of this program?

This program aims to offer the opportunity for employees to further their nursing careers through the practical nursing program at Vermont State University.

Learn more about our LPN Pathway Program here.

Interested in Learning More?

Important Dates:

  • VTSU Applications Open: September of each calendar year
  • VTSU Application Deadline: December of each calendar year
  • UVM Health Applications Open: January of each calendar year
  • UVM Health Application Deadline: March 1st of each calendar year
  • UVM Health Cohort Selection: April 1st of each calendar year
  • VTSU Classes Begin: August of each calendar year

Eligibility Requirements

All candidates must:

  • Currently work at least 72 scheduled hours per pay period at a Vermont partner site within the UVM Health (part-time/per diem employees are not eligible).
  • Be in good standing at a Vermont UVM Health partner with no corrective actions above a verbal warning.

How to Apply: LPN Pathway Program

Pathway Program Application Deadline – March 1st of each calendar year

LPN Pathway Program applications will only be accepted during the defined application period.

Please have ready the following items to upload with your application:

  • Vermont State University PN Program Acceptance Letter
  • Résumé
  • Cover Letter – What interests you in a career in nursing? Why should you be selected?
  • Reference Letter – Must be completed by a non-family member and speak to your ability to be successful in the LPN Pathway Program and as a nurse.
  • Leader Confirmation of Support - Leaders must complete the electronic UVM Health Pathway Program Leader Approval Form (link opens in a new window) prior to the application deadline. Please coordinate with your leader to ensure this is completed.

    *Please note that the Leader Approval Form must be accessed from a UVM Health account.

Pathway Program Applications For 2026 Are Now Closed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the program structure for classes and clinicals?

This program will follow the traditional academic schedule as defined by Vermont State University. Participants may choose which site they desire to complete their studies at and must be aware that they may be required to travel for classes and/or clinicals.

Visit the website of Vermont State University (link opens in a new window) to learn more about their nursing programs.

How many work hours are required during the program?

While enrolled in the LPN program at VTSU, students will work their regular job 24 hours per pay period. Students will receive pay for an additional 48 hours per pay period to allow time for classwork, lab/clinical instruction, and studying.

What is the Financial Structure of the LPN Pathway Program?

UVM Health will prepay up to $5,000 per LPN academic semester ($15,000 total, last dollar) towards tuition, academic fees, and textbooks. These funds will not carry over between semesters.

Pathway participants will complete the FAFSA and engage in the Financial Aid process with VTSU.

Participants should be sure to review the details of tuition expenses related to VTSU’s PN Program. Any remaining expenses related to tuition, academic fees, and textbooks would be the responsibility of the participant. https://vermontstate.edu/academic-programs/practical-nursing-certificate/?affordability

Participants in the LPN Pathway Program are electing to use their annual UVM Health employee tuition assistance benefit towards related programmatic expenses.

The LPN Pathway Program is administered through a platform called Navigator, part of the Guild Education System. Participants will have access to a virtual credit card that may only be used for approved Pathway Program costs.

Pathway participants will be held to all applicable UVM Health educational benefit repayment policies should they terminate employment (voluntarily or involuntarily), terminate participation in a program (voluntarily or involuntarily), or fail to fulfill their entire working commitment.

Am I guaranteed a spot in the LPN Pathway Program?

Each UVM Health partner assesses its LPN needs annually and determines how many employees it can support through the Pathway Program. This number, in combination with the number of applicants, determines how competitive each application period will be.

Am I guaranteed a role as an LPN upon graduation from the LPN Pathway Program?

Available LPN roles will be posted to Workday, and participants will follow the UVM Health application and interview process. Graduates are required to apply to open LPN roles at their partner and may consider LPN roles at other partners. Talent Acquisition will support participants in exploring available LPN roles, but timing and availability of roles will vary by partner.

UVM Health does not guarantee participants an LPN role upon completion of the program.

LPN Pathway Program participants are not guaranteed a seat in the RN Pathway Program, though priority is given to those directly progressing. Individuals who are academically eligible to directly progress and are selected for a seat in the RN Pathway Program may remain in their current roles for the duration of the RN Pathway Program if they are unable to obtain an LPN role.

What if I’m not an employee at one of the Vermont UVM Health Network partners? Can I still apply?

Being a full-time employee in a UVM Health Network Vermont partner is a requirement for application and enrollment. To be eligible for the program you’ll need to be hired as a full-time employee in any Vermont UVM Health Network partner.

Interested in joining our team?

Call 800-722-9922 and choose option 3 to talk with one of our talent acquisition partners about full-time job opportunities at one of our Vermont UVM Health healthcare partners.

What if I’m per diem or part-time? Am I eligible?

In order to be eligible, you need to be a full-time employee.

I work at a New York UVM Health Network partner. Am I eligible?

At this time, the LPN Pathway Program is specific to the Vermont partners within the UVM Health Network.

I’ve taken preparatory courses in the past. Do I need to retake those courses?

Possibly, depending on the timeframe and your grades. VTSU will review the courses and grades on your transcript to determine whether they meet the requirements for this program. If you do need to retake courses, check out Pathfinder, which is a program offered by UVM Health in partnership with Community College of Vermont and will support employees who are seeking to enter a UVM Health Pathway Program to begin taking prepaid preparatory, prerequisite and corequisite courses.

I’ve started nursing school in the past but did not finish. Do I need to start over?

The LPN Pathway Program is designed to align with VTSU’s three-semester PN curriculum. For the purposes of this program, all coursework and lab/clinical instruction must be completed in its entirety. Please contact VTSU Admissions for specific questions related to your academic history.

I have not yet taken any of the required preparatory coursework. Can I still apply?

Possibly, depending on the timeframe and your grades. VTSU will review the courses and grades on your transcript to determine whether they meet the requirements for this program. If you do need to take any required preparatory courses, check out Pathfinder, which is a program offered by UVM Health in partnership with Community College of Vermont and will support employees who are seeking to enter a UVM Health Pathway Program to begin taking prepaid preparatory, prerequisite and corequisite courses. All required preparatory coursework must be completed by June 1st, prior to the start of the applicable academic year.

Once I am enrolled in the Pathway Program, are there any tax implications that I should be aware of?

Amounts paid under this Program have tax implications. Amounts that are paid to you, or your educational institution towards tuition, academic fees, books, supplies, or other related expenses, constitute payments that will be treated as taxable income and subject to all applicable state and federal withholdings should they exceed the annual tax-free threshold for employer-provided educational assistance under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Appropriate taxes will be applied to any amounts above the annual tax-free threshold by payroll and withheld from your regular paychecks.

Please consult your personal tax advisor, as University of Vermont Health cannot provide you with individualized tax advice.

Can I apply for the Pathway Program if I am already actively enrolled and attending the academic program on my own?

Our Pathway Programs are designed to support employees through the entirety of the academic program. Off-cycle enrollments will not be accepted.

LPN Pathway Program Application (all required)

Please complete the below form and a member of our team will be in touch.

Formats accepted: .pdf / .doc / .docx / .txt / .jpg / .jpeg / .png

By submitting information, you are not officially applying to a position at this time, and you authorize University of Vermont Health to contact you via phone, email, and text messaging.

Questions?

Please contact:
Rebecca Aldrich, Workforce Development Program Manager – Rebecca.Aldrich@uvmhealth.org (link opens in a new window)

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