Licensed vocational nurses provide much-needed patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. The position is an entry-level into the profession of nursing. Primary duties include bedside care and patient support, but LVNs also assist registered nurses with the development, implementation, and evaluation of ongoing patient care plans, evaluate patient needs and supervise nurse aides at long-term care facilities. Although the LPN/LVN workforce accounted for almost 700,000 nursing jobs in 2014, the majority of them worked in skilled nursing facilities and home health care. Employment opportunities for LVNs in hospitals are on the decline, but the long-term care needs of the rising elderly population provide lots of new opportunities in nursing care facilities and home health care.
Austin Community College
The vocational nursing program at Austin Community College prepares graduates for entry-level practice under the direction of a registered nurse or physician. Comprising of 43 semester credit hours of nursing coursework, students complete the program in 3 semesters and earn a Certificate in Vocational Nursing, which makes them eligible to take the NCLEX-PN. The course curriculum structure gives students one commitment-free day per week from the academically challenging program. It covers a total of 1,408 contact hours. Course modules include Intro to Anatomy and Physiology, Gerontology, Foundations of Nursing, Nutrition, Growth and Development, Basic Nursing Skills, Medical Surgical Nursing, Mental Health and Mental Illness, Pharmacology for Health Professions, Maternal Neonatal Nursing, Pediatrics, and Leadership and Professional Development. The program is open for admissions in the fall and spring semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to Austin Community College
- Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Meet the ACC Texas Success Initiative requirements
- Attend a program information session and submit verification of post-test
- Complete TEAS V Differentiated Skills Examination before applying to the program
- Complete a criminal background check
- Complete a 10-panel drug screen
- Obtain a satisfactory health status certified by a completed ACC Health Sciences Health Data/Physical Exam form signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner
- Complete all the immunization requirements
- Obtain a negative TB test
- Must have current CPR certification – must meet the standards of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider
The total program cost is $19,391 including tuition, criminal background check, drug screen, CPR certification, physical, flu vaccine, TB test, lab pack, stethoscope and equipment, uniforms, white shoes, textbooks, health insurance, course fees, and health insurance. The NCLEX, nursing pin, and BON licensure are also included in the cost.
- Website: http://www.austincc.edu/
- Address: 3401 Webberville Road, Austin, TX 78702
- Phone: 512-223-5700
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 91.38%
Cybertex Institute of Technology
Vocational nursing students at CyberTex Institute of Technology (CIT) thrive in the school’s friendly atmosphere. The school offers two tracks of study: the medical assistant to VN track or the traditional VN track. Medical assistants can apply to the program and receive credit for up to 150 hours of advanced placement. The program’s curriculum includes classroom instruction, lab, and clinical learning experiences. Course topics include basic and advanced nursing skills, health science, pediatrics, pharmacology, maternal-neonatal nursing, nursing in health and illness, essentials of medication administration, geriatrics, NCLEX-PN review, and clinical vocational nursing. The program offers 88 credit hours including 1,410 contact hours – 560 hours in the classroom, 370 in the skills lab, and 480 externship hours. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for state licensure to practice as safe and competent nurses.
Admission criteria:
- Be able to read at the basic eighth-grade level
- A high school diploma or GED or obtain 70% or above in reading on the TABE
- Must be 17 years or older
- Complete the Background Screening Questionnaire and sign Disqualifying Criteria/Program Dismissal Acknowledgement Statement
- Apply for eligibility background clearance from the Texas Board of Nursing
- Complete the Kaplan Nursing Admission Test (KNAT) with a score of 35% or greater
- Have current American Heart Association Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
- Provide documentation of up-to-date immunizations – Hepatitis B, MMR, DPT, Varicella, seasonal flu, and TB test or chest x-ray
- Complete a physical exam by a physician or another authorized provider using the Physical Examination form by CIT
- Obtain a negative Urine Drug Screen
- Submit a completed application and fee of $100
Tuition costs $27,995 plus fees, textbooks, and clinical supplies.
- Website: https://cybertex.edu/
- Address: 9001 IH-35N, Austin, TX 78753
- Phone: (512) 454-6116
- Fax: (512) 454-6336
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 64.29%
McLennan Community College
McLennan Community College’s Vocational Nursing Program provides a positive learning experience for students to develop knowledge and skills to provide professional nursing practice in various healthcare facilities. Principles such as integrity, honesty, safety in practice, competence in nursing, and punctuality will be emphasized throughout the program. The program will include theory as well as practical learning experiences. Prerequisite courses include Introductory Anatomy and Physiology, General Psychology, Speech, Medical Terminology, Integrated Reading and Writing, and Math. Course modules include Essential of Medication Administration, Basic Nursing Skills, VN Concepts, Clinical Practice, Neonatal Nursing, Pediatrics, Nursing in Health and Illness, and Professional Development. Graduates of the Texas Board of Nursing approved program will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to take the NCLEX for vocational nurse licensure.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to MCC
- Attend a General Information Session
- Make an appointment to take the pre-entrance exam – the cost of the exam is $40
- Attend a General Admission Session
- Apply for admission to the Vocational Nursing program and submit admission documents before the stipulated deadline
- Take and TSI or an approved alternative test
- Register with Identogo to complete a background check
- Take and pass a drug screen
- Submit documentation of CPR certification through the American Health Association (BLS)
- Provide documentation of immunization – 2 current TB skin tests, Tdap, MMR, Hepatitis B vaccine, Varicella, and Influenza
Tuition costs $106 per credit for resident students. Students must cover the cost of fees, books, and supplies.
- Website: https://www.mclennan.edu/index.html
- Address: 1400 College Drive Waco, Texas 76708
- Phone: (254) 299-8622
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 87.50%
Blinn College – Brenham Campus
The Blinn College Vocational Nursing Program is offered in traditional on-campus and online formats. Students will gain the education and training needed to practice as a vocational nurse in various health care settings. The curriculum includes theory in the classroom as well as practical experiences in a lab and clinical facility. Course modules include Health Science, Basic Nursing Skills, Gerontology, Growth and Development, Vocational Nursing Concepts, Mental Health and Mental Illness, Essentials of Medication Administration, Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Maternal-Neonatal Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Leadership and Professional Development, and Vocational Nursing Clinical. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible for licensure as a Vocational Nurse after successfully passing the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. Candidates for admission must first seek enrollment at Blinn College. New students are admitted in the Fall semester. Admission is limited to 30 students in each cycle. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Attend an online or face-to-face information session
- Complete the ATI TEAS with a minimum score of 33.3% on science and a minimum score of 50% on all other sections of the test
- Be accepted to Blinn College
- Obtain a TSI status of college-ready or exempt
- Submit a completed Allied Health Program Student Application
- Provide a high school transcript, college transcript or GED certificate with the application
- Provide documentation of up-to-date immunizations
- Must have good physical and mental health
- Complete a satisfactory drug screen and criminal background check
- Must have current CPR certification
The approximate cost of the program is $8,532 for in-district students. It includes tuition, general fee, nursing program fee, activity fee, liability insurance, and ATI testing fee.
- Website: https://www.blinn.edu
- Address: 902 College Avenue, Brenham, TX 77833
- Phone: 979-830-4000
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 93.33%
How Long is the LVN Program in Austin?
State-approved vocational nursing programs in Austin cover a minimum of 1,400 contact hours of theory and practical instruction to prepare students for the role of a vocational nursing. Graduates will earn 43 to 51 credit hours by the conclusion of the program. The completion time for the comprehensive program is 12 months full-time and 18 to 24 months part-time.
How Do I become an LVN in Texas?
A license issued by the Texas Board of Nursing is required to practice as a vocational nurse in Texas. You may submit your application for licensure by exam to the Board after you have completed an approved vocational nursing program. If you are licensed to practice as a practical nursing in another state, you may apply for licensure by endorsement. The steps for endorsement are separate from that of licensure by exam. The guidelines below detail the requirements for licensure by exam if you have never practiced as a vocational nursing in Texas or another state.
- Determine your eligibility for licensure by reviewing the Licensure Eligibility section on the Board’s website.
- If you need to answer “yes” to any of the eligibility questions, you cannot submit your application online. You must submit a paper application.
- Submit a paper application if you graduated from a vocational nursing program outside of the United States
- Submit a paper application if you do not have a United States social security number
- Submit an online examination application if you meet the eligibility criteria
- Complete a criminal background check through the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation based on a set of fingerprints provided to MorphoTrust. Your Texas residency will determine the steps you must take to complete the background check
- Register with Pearson Vue to take the NCLEX-PN exam 30 days prior to graduation from the vocational nursing program
- Take and pass the Texas nursing jurisprudence exam before the issue of the ATT for the NCLEX exam
- The Texas nursing school will submit an online affidavit of graduation. If you graduated outside the state of Texas, you must print the affidavit of graduate and request the school of nursing dean/directory to complete and mail directly to the Texas Board of Nursing
- Pay the initial registration fee of $75
- Take and pass the ATT exam after the Board approves
- Print your license from the Board of Nursing website after you pass the NCLEX exam.
Full details on obtaining an LVN license in Texas are available here: Texas LVN Licensure Requirements.
How Much Does The LVN Program Cost in Austin?
The vocational nursing program at Cybertex Institute of Technology is one of the most expensive in the Austin area. Blinn College District offers one of the most affordable for residents. The program at Austin Community College and McLennan Community College cost approximately $20,000 for tuition, fees, admission expenses, and supplies.
Can You Become An LVN Online in Austin?
Blinn College delivers a hybrid vocational nursing program that gives students the convenience of completing a portion of the theoretical coursework online. Due to the practical requirements which must be conducted under the supervision of a registered nurse instructor, the program cannot be completed fully online.
Free LVN Programs In Austin
There are no free LPN programs in Austin. There are some affordable programs offered at community colleges. The tuition is affordable for residents, and you can apply for financial aid to help alleviate your total cost.
Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.