East Alabama Health’s First On-Site LPN Cohort Achieves 100% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate

East Alabama Health’s (EAH) first cohort of its on-site Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program has achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). 

The NCLEX-PN is the standardized test required for nursing graduates to become licensed. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in EAH’s ongoing efforts to expand opportunities for employees to pursue higher education and address the growing demand for nurses in the region.

“We are immensely proud of all our graduates for this accomplishment,” said Lauren Farris, manager of Workforce Development at East Alabama Health. “A 100% NCLEX pass rate shows what is possible when committed students are supported by a training program designed for real-world success.”

In August 2024, East Alabama Health partnered with Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC) to launch an innovative on-site LPN program designed to break down educational barriers and combat the region’s nursing shortage. Since the program’s launch, nine participants have graduated debt-free as LPNs, and 10 are currently enrolled in the program with an expected graduation in summer 2026. 

The program is held at East Alabama Health’s Education Center in Auburn, which includes a lecture room, a simulation lab, a fundamentals lab, a pharmacology lab, and office/meeting space. Students in the program get paid while enrolled and keep employment during school. After finishing their degree and passing the NCLEX, the students step into their new jobs at East Alabama Health as LPNs.

The on-site LPN program is part of EAH’s broader workforce development strategy, which includes initiatives such as the Earn & Learn program for high school students, scholarship opportunities, and educational support for employees pursuing advanced degrees.

For more information on opportunities at East Alabama Health, click here.

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About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital that is currently under construction to add 30 critical care beds. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.