Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs in Washington, DC
LPN openings in Washington, DC are posting pay of roughly $28 to $37 an hour, with the steadiest hiring in Ward 7 nursing homes, federal long-term care and pediatric clinics. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get a DC license.
Current licensed practical nurse Openings in Washington, DC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Licensed Practical Nurse Work in Washington
In the District, LPN work clusters in two places. The first is long-term and post-acute care east of the Anacostia, where skilled nursing homes along Kenilworth Avenue and near Benning Road in Ward 7 run around-the-clock floor and charge shifts. The second is the federal and pediatric side of the city: the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus in Northwest and the Children's National network, whose main hospital sits on the Irving Street medical campus, hire LPNs into clinic and residential roles. Hospitals here lean heavily on RNs, so most LPN openings are in nursing homes, clinics and federal care rather than inpatient units.
What makes DC different is the license and the paycheck. Local postings ask for a DC LPN license, and because the District requires pay ranges in job ads, you can compare offers before you apply. Many nurses also hold Maryland or Virginia licenses and pick up shifts across the DMV.
Top Washington Employers Hiring Licensed Practical Nurses
These DC employers have posted or describe LPN roles on their own hiring sites:
- The Residences at Kenilworth Park - a skilled nursing and rehab center on Kenilworth Avenue NE hiring LPNs at a posted $30 to $37 an hour.
- The Residences at Benning Metro - a Ward 7 nursing and rehabilitation center on Blaine Street NE with open LPN positions.
- Armed Forces Retirement Home - the federal retirement community for veterans hires LPNs at GS-7 for its Washington campus through USAJOBS.
- Children's National Hospital - the pediatric system lists the LPN as one of its nursing position types, working under an RN or physician, with a DC LPN license required.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries in Washington
- Entry level: about $27 to $30 per hour for newly licensed LPNs.
- Experienced: roughly $30 to $37 per hour in skilled nursing and long-term care.
- Senior / federal: about $37 to $42 per hour, with federal LPN grades reaching about $88,000 a year at the top step.
These are estimates drawn from pay ranges in recent DC postings, not guarantees. Night and weekend shifts, charge duties, years of experience and the employer type move pay the most, and federal jobs add the GS step system, retirement and leave. DC's minimum wage is $18.40 an hour, so every LPN offer sits well above the floor.
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Washington
You need to finish an approved practical nursing program, pass the NCLEX-PN and hold a license from the DC Board of Nursing, which sits inside DC Health. In the District the legal title is Licensed Practical Nurse, not LVN. The local public route is the Practical Nursing Certificate at UDC Community College's Lamond-Riggs campus on South Dakota Avenue NE, which is approved by the DC Board of Nursing and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN. UDC Community College also offers an LPN-to-AASN path for nurses who later want to become RNs. If you are licensed in another state, check with the DC Board of Nursing before you apply, since DC employers ask for a DC license.
What the Job Involves
LPNs give medications and treatments, check vital signs, change dressings, monitor residents or patients for changes, and document care in the electronic record, all under the direction of an RN or physician. In long-term care that means a medication pass for a hall of residents, wound care, family updates and reporting changes to the charge nurse. In clinics it means rooming patients, giving vaccines and injections, and handling phone triage within your scope.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active DC LPN license and current BLS certification
- Safe medication administration and accurate documentation
- Wound care and treatment experience
- Geriatric or pediatric experience, depending on the setting
- Comfort with electronic health records
- Calm communication with residents, families and the care team
Career Path and Advancement
Many DC LPNs start on the floor in a Ward 7 nursing home, move into charge nurse or treatment nurse roles, and then go after federal LPN posts, where the GS ladder rewards tenure. The biggest jump is to registered nurse: the LPN-to-AASN option at UDC Community College lets you build on your PN credential, and an RN license opens the hospital jobs on the Irving Street campus, in Foggy Bottom and across the District.
Related Careers in Washington
If practical nursing interests you, these Washington guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DC license to work as an LPN in Washington?
Yes. LPNs who work in the District need a license from the DC Board of Nursing, and local employers list a DC LPN license as a requirement. If you hold a license from Maryland, Virginia or another state, confirm your route with the DC Board of Nursing before you start applying.
How much do LPNs make in Washington, DC?
Recent DC postings show roughly $28 to $37 an hour for most LPN roles, and federal LPN grades can reach about $88,000 a year at the top step. Shift, setting and experience make the biggest difference.
Where can I train to become an LPN in DC?
UDC Community College runs a Practical Nursing Certificate at its Lamond-Riggs campus on South Dakota Avenue NE. The program is approved by the DC Board of Nursing and prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
What shifts do LPNs work in DC nursing homes?
Skilled nursing homes staff around the clock, so day, evening, night and weekend shifts are all common, often in 8 or 12 hour blocks. Clinic LPN roles at pediatric and community practices usually run weekday daytime hours.
Can an LPN become an RN in Washington?
Yes. UDC Community College offers an LPN-to-AASN option that builds on a practical nursing credential, and graduates then sit for the NCLEX-RN. Becoming an RN opens hospital roles across the District and a large jump in pay.
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