How To Become An Lvn In Texas

Texas strives to ensure that all nurses in the state are competent to practice safely, hoping to advance the profession through collaboration, innovation, and leadership. Individuals can apply for a vocational nursing license by exam after completing an approved program, or by endorsement from other states to meet an ever-growing demand for nurses in the state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 9% increase in licensed vocational nurse (LVN) jobs by 2029, making this a great time to pursue an education in this growing field. LVNs in Texas earn approximately $22.59 per hour, which equates to an average annual salary of $46,990. This is roughly $60 per year less than the national average.7730

Are you looking to become a licensed vocational nurse in Texas? The school you choose is important when it comes to getting your license. Approved programs in Texas are offered at community colleges, technical centers, and private career schools – we list 77 schools across the state. After careful review of NCLEX-PN exam first-time pass rates over the past several years, we have ranked the top 30 programs. For more information on our LVN program rankings, see our Methodology page.

To see all the top ranked LVN programs in Texas click here.

Details on Texas LVN Schools & Classes

Texas schools are home to a staggering 75+ vocational nursing programs. This means that students in just about any part of the state will be able to find a program that fits their needs. Most LVN programs are designed to be completed in roughly one year of full-time study, or two years of part-time study. Some schools offer programs in a daytime setting, while others host night or weekend schedules. The majority of LVN programs in Texas are found at junior colleges and technical schools. The LVN curriculum will contain basic nursing courses, some general education, labs, and hands-on clinical experiences. Typical course titles include:

• Vocational Nursing Concepts
• Essentials of Medication Administration
• Pharmacology
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Maternal Neonatal Nursing
• Pediatrics

Accreditation

Students are highly encouraged to choose an LVN program that is fully accredited. Associations such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) evaluate nursing programs to ensure that they meet stringent standards, and only then do they accredit them. These programs are generally trustworthy and hold more weight on a resume. In addition to this, students should check to ensure that their LVN program of choice is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Admission Requirements

Vocational nursing programs in Texas can be competitive, so students should ensure that they meet or exceed all entrance requirements before applying. In order to be admitted, students typically need to meet the following:

• Attend a program information session
• Be a high school graduate or GED certificate holder
• Submit TEAS test scores (minimum scores may apply)
• Submit proof of TSI status
• Submit criminal background check and pass a drug test

Tuition and Costs

Students can be apprehensive about paying for their vocational nursing education, but knowing what to expect can help. In general, students are responsible for covering the costs of tuition, additional school fees, and course materials. While these figures can vary between schools, students worried about affording these expenses can seek financial aid opportunities from their school of choice or from outside sources. To provide an example on cost, the LVN program at Lonestar College (with campuses across the state in Cyfair, Houston, Katy, and more) runs around $5,527 in totality for in-state students. This includes tuition and all mandatory fees.

For those interested in advancing their nursing career, see our Texas LVN to RN/BSN programs page.

Texas LVN Licensing Requirements

To become an LVN in Texas, educational requirements must be met by attending a program approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. Students must carry a “C” or above on all nursing courses. Once coursework is complete, the applicant must pass the NCLEX-PN. Only graduates of Board approved programs are eligible for testing. Along with the application for licensure, applicants living in the state of Texas must submit Livescan Fingerprinting, while applicants from out-of-state must submit a criminal background check. Texas LVN licenses must be renewed every 2 years, and the license holder is responsible for 20 hours of continued education each renewal period.

NCLEX Exam Information

The NCLEX-PN is the exam that students must pass upon completing their vocational nursing education. This test measures the student’s comprehension of nursing topics. For detailed information on the NCLEX-PN, take a look at our comprehensive guide here. We have also created an NCLEX-PN practice test to help students get a feel for the exam and to help them study.

LVN Reciprocity and NLC

Texas is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which means that nurses in compact states must register a primary state of residence, but can work in multiple compact states without additional licensure. LVNs in states outside of the compact area can apply for a Texas license by endorsement as long as their original licensing requirements are equivalent to those in Texas. Other requirements include:

• Pass the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or NCLEX-PN
• Currently employed as an LPN/LVN
• Submit a criminal background check

Foreign transfers must verify their education through a Credential Evaluation Services (CES) Full Education course-by-course report, pass an English Proficiency Exam, and submit a criminal background check and verification of licensure, as well as sit through and pass the NCLEX exam.

2021 TX NCLEX-PN Pass Rates and Statistics

• Total Number of State Approved LVN Schools: 77
• Total Number of Test Takers in 2020: 3,598
• 2020 Average Statewide Texas NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.8%

Top Ranked Texas LVN Programs

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Get information on nursing programs by entering your zip code and requesting enrollment information.Sponsored Search1

Alvin Community College

3110 Mustang Rd, Alvin, TX 77511 –  (281) 756-3500 – 

Alvin Community College (ACC) is located in Alvin, Texas, with an additional campus located in Pearland. ACC provides high-quality education through innovative instruction and hands-on experiences, training students to become compassionate caregivers through its one-year, 44 credit-hour vocational nursing program. With stellar first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates, ACC grads can rest assured that their educational investment will be worthwhile.Overall Score: 100.00 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools2

Lone Star College – CyFair

9191 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 –  (281) 290-3200 – 

Lone Star College System (LSCS) – CyFair, located in Cypress, Texas, with additional locations and campuses in Houston, Katy, Kingwood, New Caney, Conroe, Tomball, and The Woodlands, is the fastest growing community college in the nation. LSCS offers a full-time vocational nursing program that can be completed in one year and prepares students to provide patient care in a variety of settings.Overall Score: 100.00 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools3

South Plains College – Plainview

1920 W. 24th Street, Plainview, TX 79072 –  (806) 296-9611 – 

South Plains College (SPC) – Plainview extension center is located in Plainview, Texas, with additional locations in Levelland and Lubbock. SPC offers more than 100 programs of study at affordable rates, including a renowned 1-year vocational nursing program that weaves classroom and clinical learning throughout the curriculum.Overall Score: 100.00 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools4

St. Philip’s College – New Braunfels

2189 FM 758, New Braunfels, TX 78130 –  (210) 486-7402 – 

St. Philip’s College is located in New Braunfels, Texas, and is part of the Alamo Colleges District. SPC’s exceptional full-time LVN program is 12 months in length (3 semesters) and guides students through the fundamentals of vocational nursing. A certificate is awarded upon completion, and grads are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN.Overall Score: 100.00 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools5

Del Mar College

101 Baldwin Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78404 –  (361) 698-1200 – 

Del Mar College is located in Corpus Christi. The high-quality Vocational Nursing program at Del Mar fully prepares students to enter the profession of nursing and to impact the health and well-being of patients and people in the community. The curriculum includes courses such as Health Care Concepts and Professional Nursing Competencies.Overall Score: 99.13 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools6

Trinity Valley Community College – Palestine

2970 Texas 19, Palestine, TX 75801 –  (903) 723-6743 – 

Trinity Valley Community College’s Palestine campus provides students with a vocational nursing program pathway to help them reach their employment goals. TVCC’s 12-month certificate program boasts a hands-on Monday through Friday curriculum to immerse students in vocational nursing topics.Overall Score: 99.05 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools7

Texarkana College

2500 N. Robison Road, Texarkana, TX 75599 –  (903) 823-3456 – 

Texarkana College has been offering its exceptional vocational nursing program since 1956. Today, students enrolled in this 48 credit-hour program are taught the fundamentals of nursing by experienced and caring faculty. Graduates go on to find employment in long-term care facilities, hospitals, medical clinics, and more.Overall Score: 99.03 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools8

Baptist Health System School of Health Professions

3703 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201 –  (210) 785-4924 – 

The Baptist Health System School of Health Professions in San Antonio provides a vocational nursing program that aims to train knowledgeable and confident LVNs. Students get the advantage of practicing at clinical sites throughout the Baptist Health System to hone their skills in this 1-year program.Overall Score: 98.56 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools9

Frank Phillips College

1301 Roosevelt St, Borger, TX 79008 –  (806) 457-4200 – 

Borger’s Frank Phillips College has formed a consortium with Amarillo College and 5 hospital districts to make its exceptional LVN program available to more rural communities in the Texas Panhandle. Graduates of the one-year LVN certificate program complete courses such as Applied Nursing Skills, Pharmacology, Gerontology, and many others.Overall Score: 98.54 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools10

Howard College – Big Spring

1001 Birdwell Ln, Big Spring, TX 79720 –  (432) 264-5000 – 

Howard College (HC), located in Big Spring, Texas, is committed to excellence, helping students reach their maximum potential via an innovative vocational nursing program curriculum and integrated critical thinking, ensuring student success in the healthcare field. The program includes 48 total credit-hours of instruction.Overall Score: 98.40 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools11

Hill College – Hillsboro

112 Lamar Dr, Hillsboro, TX 76645 –  (254) 659-7500 – 

Hill College is located in Hillsboro, Texas, with additional locations in Cleburne, Burleson, Glen Rose, and Meridian. Hill College provides high-quality nursing programs, including its one-year vocational nursing certificate program which aims to admit top candidates for enrollment. Upon completion, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure.Overall Score: 98.29 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools12

Odessa College – Andrews

201 NW Ave. D , Andrews, TX 79714 –  (432) 524-4022 – 

The LVN program at Odessa College’s Andrews campus enrolls up to motivated 40 students at a time. The 3-semester, year-long program provides students with an affordable, quality vocational nursing education that fully prepares them to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination.Overall Score: 98.06 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools13

South Plains College – Reese Center

819 Gilbert Drive, Lubbock, TX 79416 –  (806) 885-3048 – 

South Plains College (SPC) – Reese Center is located in Lubbock, Texas, one of several campus locations including Levelland and Plainview. Those looking to become vocational nurses can enroll in SPC’s 12-month LVN program, which includes courses in Applied Nursing Skills, IV Therapy, Pediatrics, and more.Overall Score: 97.95 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools14

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

2101 Waterview Pkwy, Richardson, TX 75080 –  (469) 941-8380 – 

The College of Nursing and Advanced Health Professions at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (formerly Dallas Nursing Institute) is home to a comprehensive vocational nursing program. The program trains competent and professional vocational nurses in just 12 months of full-time study or 17 months of part-time study.Overall Score: 97.87 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools15

Trinity Valley Community College – Kaufman

800 Ed Hall Dr, Kaufman, TX 75142 –  (972) 932-4309 – 

Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) is located in Kaufman, Texas, with additional campuses located in Athens, Palestine, and Terrell. TVCC offers a vocational nursing program with clinical experiences, allowing students to become proficient health care providers with a willingness to excel.Overall Score: 97.70 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools16

Victoria College – Victoria

2200 E. Red River, Victoria, TX 77901 –  (877) 843-4369 – 

Victoria College, established in 1925, provides a vocational nursing program to introduce students to entry-level nursing concepts. Through classroom lectures and supervised clinical rotations, students gain the skills and knowledge needed to pass the NCLEX-PN and enter into rewarding careers as LVNs.Overall Score: 97.60 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools17

Blinn College – Brenham

902 College Ave, Brenham, TX 77833 –  (979) 830-4000 – 

Blinn College is a comprehensive two-year institution located at Brenham, Texas, with additional locations in Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. Blinn College offers a vocational nursing program that teaches students the fundamentals of nursing through classroom, lab, and clinical practice. Graduates are well-prepared for LVN employment in a variety of medical settings.Overall Score: 97.33 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools18

Brazosport College

500 College Dr, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 –  (979) 230-3000 – 

Brazosport Community College is located in Lake Jackson, Texas. Brazosport College creates a dynamic learning environment with the help of a committed faculty, providing a quality vocational nursing program that produces caring, patient-centered LVNs.Overall Score: 97.02 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools19

Odessa College – Monahans

806 South Dwight, Monahans, TX 79756 –  (432) 335-6390 – 

Odessa College offers an outstanding LVN program at its Monahans campus. The program prepares students for hands-on care in entry-level nursing positions under the supervision of physicians and RNs at medical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, and more.Overall Score: 96.72 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools20

CyberTex Institute of Technology

6300 La Calma Dr. Suite 350, Austin, TX 78752 –  (512) 454-6116 – 

Austin’s CyberTex Institute of Technology offers students a vocational nursing program with two distinct tracks: the traditional LVN program, and a Medical Assistant to LVN option. Enrolled students take nursing theory courses and engage in clinical experiences for a well-rounded nursing education.Overall Score: 96.13 – Compare Program to Nearby Schools

lvn in texas salary

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