A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), known in some states as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), is a medical professional trained to provide foundational patient care under supervision. Travel nursing is a staffing model where nurses take temporary, short-term contracts, typically lasting 13 weeks, to fill staffing gaps across the country. LPNs can be travel nurses, but the opportunities and the nature of the work are distinctly different from those available to Registered Nurses (RNs). This career path combines the LPN’s hands-on care role with the flexibility of a temporary assignment.
Scope of Practice: Why LPN Travel Roles Differ
The scope of practice for an LPN is the reason LPN travel opportunities differ from RN contracts. LPNs operate under the direct supervision of an RN or a physician, a regulatory requirement established by state-specific Nurse Practice Acts. This framework limits the LPN’s autonomy, meaning they are generally not authorized to perform the initial comprehensive patient assessment or develop the primary nursing care plan.
Tasks requiring advanced clinical judgment, such as administering blood products or certain complex intravenous medications, are often outside the LPN scope of practice in many states. This supervision requirement means LPN travel contracts are concentrated in settings where an RN or physician is consistently available to oversee care. The greater independence afforded to RNs allows them to take on a wider range of roles in acute care settings, which are less suitable for LPN travelers.
The Current Market for LPN Travel Contracts
LPN travel contracts are consistently available in specific sectors of healthcare, though fewer than those for travel RNs. Demand is concentrated in settings that rely heavily on the LPN’s foundational, hands-on care skills and where the supervisory structure is already in place. Long-term care (LTC) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) represent the largest portion of the LPN travel market, seeking LPNs to provide direct bedside care to stable patient populations.
Other common settings include correctional facilities, which utilize LPNs for basic health services, and various outpatient clinics. Contracts typically last the industry standard of 13 weeks, though extensions up to 26 weeks are common. Travel LPN roles are often found in rural areas or facilities struggling with chronic staffing shortages.
Key Requirements to Start Traveling as an LPN
LPNs interested in travel must establish a strong foundation of clinical experience before applying for contracts. Most staffing agencies require a minimum of one to two years of recent, full-time experience in a specific specialty before considering a nurse for a travel assignment. This prerequisite ensures the LPN can quickly adapt to a new facility’s procedures and patient population with minimal orientation time.
All applicants must hold a current, unencumbered LPN license and a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Specialty certifications can enhance a travel LPN’s profile and earning potential in specific areas, such as Wound Care Certification (WCC), IV Therapy Certification, or the Long-Term Care certification. A clean disciplinary record and strong professional references are also important, ensuring the traveler can function reliably and professionally in a new environment.
Navigating Multi-State Licensing
The ability to practice in a new state is necessary for every assignment. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement allowing LPNs and RNs who live in a compact state to hold a single multistate license, granting the privilege to practice in all other compact states. This system streamlines the process for travel nurses whose primary state of residence is a member of the compact.
LPNs whose primary state is not part of the NLC, or those traveling to a non-compact state, must apply for licensure by endorsement in every new jurisdiction. The endorsement process requires:
- Submitting an application
- Providing proof of education and passing the NCLEX-PN
- Undergoing a background check
- Paying state-specific fees
This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to two months, with application fees often ranging from $185 to over $230. Advanced planning is required to secure a license before a contract begins.
Salary Expectations and Career Path
LPN travel pay is competitive compared to local staff LPN wages, but it is lower than the rates commanded by travel RNs. The national average annual salary for a staff LPN is approximately $64,150, or $30.84 per hour. Travel LPNs often earn a higher weekly package that includes untaxed stipends for housing and meals. Travel LPN weekly pay averages around $1,449, though it can exceed $2,000 for specialties like Intensive Care Unit or Urgent Care roles.
The average annual salary for a travel RN, approximately $101,132, remains higher than the LPN travel rate due to the RN’s broader scope of practice and greater independence. Travel experience provides professional growth, exposing the LPN to diverse patient populations and facility protocols. Many LPNs use travel nursing as a financial and experiential stepping stone to enroll in an LPN-to-RN bridge program, accelerating the educational path to becoming a Registered Nurse with greater earning potential.