Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required. The role reports a median annual salary of $62,340 in the US and is showing modest growth of 3% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows low AI exposure (0.33 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Active Listening, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £42,300 a year for Other nursing professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £36,192 to £49,866 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2237). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (ANM) course, 2 years, examined by the Nursing Examination Board[1]
- 2 · Registration Registration as a Registered ANM (R.ANM)[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- Indian Nursing Council — Nursing Programs (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Therapy and Counseling
- Mathematics
A day in the life
You begin your shift in a care home, receiving handover from the night nurse and checking which residents had a difficult night. You go room to room measuring temperature, pulse and blood pressure, recording each reading and noting any changes. Next you give morning medicines, checking names, doses and times carefully, and start a drip for a resident who is dehydrated. Mid-morning you dress a pressure sore, help turn a bedbound patient and answer call bells. When one resident reacts badly to a new medicine, you report it immediately to the doctor. After lunch you supervise two care assistants, making sure everyone gets help with meals and movement. You also talk with a family visiting their father. The day ends with updating charts. The work is physically demanding and emotionally tiring, but being there for patients every day, and seeing them comfortable, gives it real purpose.
In India: In India the closest role is the auxiliary nurse midwife, who works mainly in rural health sub-centres and primary health centres, handling mother and child care, immunisation and basic treatment.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses do?
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
What does a typical day look like in Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
You begin your shift in a care home, receiving handover from the night nurse and checking which residents had a difficult night. You go room to room measuring temperature, pulse and blood pressure, recording each reading and noting any changes. Next you give morning medicines, checking names, doses and times carefully, and start a drip for a resident who is dehydrated. Mid-morning you dress a pressure sore, help turn a bedbound patient and answer call bells.
How much does Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn?
The median annual salary for Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the US is $62,340.
What is the job outlook for Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
The role is showing modest growth of 3% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 651,400 workers.
How do I become licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Active Listening, Monitoring, Speaking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
Our AI-durability model gives Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses a score of 0.33 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.