Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Licensed practical nurses in Indianapolis earn a median of about $32 an hour, and a one-year certificate is enough to qualify. Community Health Network, Eskenazi Health and the city's senior care operators are hiring. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get licensed.
Current licensed practical nurse Openings in Indianapolis, IN
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Licensed Practical Nurse Work in Indianapolis
In Indianapolis, LPN jobs lean toward long-term care, clinics and community settings rather than hospital floors. The city is headquarters for American Senior Communities, whose local communities run from American Village on East 54th Street to Bethany Village on South Shelby Street and Beech Grove Meadows, and Trilogy Health Services also hires LPNs here as charge, admissions and MDS nurses. Downtown, Eskenazi Health uses LPNs in its specialty clinics and opioid treatment program near West 10th Street.
Community Health Network adds roles you will not find everywhere: school LPNs placed in districts such as Decatur Township on the southwest side, and emergency department LPNs at Community South on County Line Road. The Roudebush VA also hires LPNs for its outpatient clinics in Brownsburg and Shelbyville. The largest hospital system, IU Health, posts few LPN jobs in the metro, so most practical nurses here build careers in these other settings.
Top Indianapolis Employers Hiring Licensed Practical Nurses
These Indianapolis employers post LPN openings or name the role on their own careers sites:
- Community Health Network - hires LPNs for school nursing contracts, emergency departments and clinics across Marion County.
- Eskenazi Health - the county's public system staffs dermatology, urology and opioid treatment clinics with LPNs.
- American Senior Communities - the Indianapolis-based nursing home operator hires LPNs for its communities across the city.
- Trilogy Health Services - the senior living operator hires LPNs as floor nurses, evening supervisors and admissions nurses.
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - hires LPNs on the federal GS scale for VA clinics in Brownsburg and Shelbyville.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries in Indianapolis
- Entry level: about $25.50 to $30 an hour for newly licensed LPNs.
- Experienced: roughly $30 to $36 an hour, with most near $32.
- Senior: $36 to $37 an hour and up for supervisors and MDS coordinators.
These are estimates from federal May 2025 wage data for the Indianapolis metro, cross-checked against VA pay ranges, which run from about $21 to $33 an hour on the GS scale. Pay moves with the setting, the shift and supervisory duties such as charge nurse or MDS work, while clinic and school roles usually run on daytime hours and, for schools, the school-year calendar.
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Indianapolis
You need to finish a practical nursing program approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing, pass the NCLEX-PN, and apply for your license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, which includes a criminal background check. In Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College offers a one-year Practical Nursing Technical Certificate through its School of Nursing, now downtown after the Lawrence site closed in 2026. Hondros College of Nursing on Depauw Boulevard and Hardon Education on East 55th Street also run practical nursing programs, Hardon's in about 12 months.
What the Job Involves
LPNs give medications and treatments, take vital signs, change dressings, collect specimens and record each patient's condition under the direction of a registered nurse or physician. In long-term care, an LPN often runs a hall or unit as charge nurse, supervising nursing assistants and keeping care plans and assessments up to date.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Indiana or multistate LPN license
- Safe, accurate medication administration
- Electronic health record charting
- Wound care and basic assessment skills
- Ability to lead nursing assistants on a unit
- Calm communication with residents and families
Career Path and Advancement
Many Indianapolis LPNs start in senior care or a clinic, then take on charge nurse, MDS coordinator or admissions roles. The biggest step up is the RN: Ivy Tech Indianapolis offers a PN-to-ASN path, and Hondros runs both PN and ADN programs, so you can keep working while you move toward a registered nurse license.
Related Careers in Indianapolis
If practical nursing interests you, these related Indianapolis guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do LPNs make in Indianapolis?
The metro median is about $32 an hour, or roughly $67,000 a year. Newer LPNs often start near $25.50 to $30, and experienced LPNs in supervisory roles can reach $36 an hour or more.
Who licenses LPNs in Indiana?
The Indiana State Board of Nursing licenses practical nurses, and applications go through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. You need an approved practical nursing program, a passing NCLEX-PN score and a criminal background check.
How long does it take to become an LPN in Indianapolis?
Plan on about a year of school. Ivy Tech's certificate is listed as a one-year program and Hardon's as 12 months, and you then sit for the NCLEX-PN.
Where do LPNs work in Indianapolis?
Most work in nursing homes and senior living communities, specialty clinics, school nursing programs and VA outpatient clinics. Fewer work on hospital inpatient floors, where RNs fill most roles.
Can an LPN become an RN in Indianapolis?
Yes. Ivy Tech Indianapolis offers a PN-to-ASN path, and Hondros College of Nursing offers an ADN, both of which prepare you for the NCLEX-RN. Many LPNs keep working while they study.
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