LVN Programs in Texas | Find Top Schools on LPN.com for Free (2024)

Last Updated/Verified: September 15th, 2023

Texaspromises exciting employment growth in thehealthcaresector, with plenty ofentry-leveljobs for those interested in a career in nursing.

ALicensed Practical Nurse(LPN) program inTexas— often referred to as aLicensed Vocational Nurse(LVN) programin the “Lone Star State” — can take as little as nine months, making it a quicker alternative to becoming aregistered nurse(RN). After graduation,LVNscan start their new career at a hospital, doctor’s office, or anotherhealthcareprovider inTexas.

LVNsinTexas: Quick Facts

• • LVNprogramstake 9-12 months to complete so students can enter the workforce quicker than those studying for a four-year nursing degree.
  • The average base salary for anLVN inTexasis$28.36 per hour, according to research from Indeed.com. That’s $50,911 a year.
  • The average overtime salary for anLVMinTexasis$8,000 a year.
  • The most common benefits forLVNsinTexasare 401(k)s, paid-time-off, referral programs, tuition reimbursem*nt, and license reimbursem*nt.
  • The LPN/LVN job outlook is bright with a 10.7% increase by 2028, according to Projections Central.

There areentry-levelpositions available forLVN/LPNprogramgraduates acrossTexas. However, the cities ofHouston,Dallas,Austin, andSan Antonioprovide the greatest employment opportunities.

Overview ofLPN/LVNSchools inTexas

As of June 2021, theTexasBoard of Nursing, the organization responsible for regulating nursing within theState ofTexas, has approved91LPN/LVNprograms. These programs share a similar curriculum that comprises anatomy, physiology,patient care, basic nutrition, infection control,home health, human growth and development, and othernursing care. Specialist courses cover training inpediatrics, geriatric care, maternity care, and other disciplines.

LVNstudents learn many of the same elements as those studying for a four-year nursing degree. However,LVNprogramstake place over a shorter period and are therefore more time-intensive.

Accreditation

Two organizations recognize LVNprogramsinTexas:

• TheSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges(SACSCOC), the regional accrediting agency for allnursing programsin the Southern United States.
• TheAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the national accrediting agency fornursing programsat the associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate levels in the U.S.

TheTexasBoard of Nursingalso approvesnursing programsin theState ofTexas.

LPN/LVNAdmissions Requirements

MostTexasLPN/LVNprogramsrequire:

• Ahigh school diplomaor GED, or equivalent certificate
• The completion of prerequisite courses for the program with a C+ average
• A GPA of 2.75+
• A proficient score on the ATI TEAS examination
• The applicant to pass a drug test andbackground check
• The applicant to live inTexas

Prospective students should contact learning providers for specific requirements forLPNprograms.

Tuition & Costs

LPNstudents inTexastypically pay for tuition, program supplies, accommodation, and general living expenses.

Total costs vary depending on whether:

• The learning provider is a public or private institution. (Public institutions charge lower tuition fees than private ones.)
• The student is living on campus or not.

Frankly, an organization that helps students apply for financial aid, estimates it costs$5,000-25,000to study anLPNat a public school and $20,000-40,000 to study at a private school inTexas.

Students can reduce these costs in two ways:

1. Some programs offer eligibleLPNstudents grants or financial aid.
2. Somehealthcareproviders reimburse tuition costs and other expenses if anLPNstudent works for their organization after graduation.

LPNLicensing Requirements inTexas

Earning anLPNdiploma is thefastest wayto become a nurse. It typically takes 9-12 months to get anLPNdiploma, compared to four years for a nursing degree.

Checklist to become aTexasLPN

1. Get anLPNdiploma.
2. Apply for a license from theTexasBoard of Nursing.
3. Complete a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course at a local test center and obtain a CPR card.
4. Pass theNCLEX-PNexamination.

NCLEX-PNExam

The National CouncilLicensureExamination for Practice Nurses (NCLEX-PN) — sometimes called the “boards” or “state boards” — is an exam administered by theNational Council ofState Boardsof Nursing(NCSBN) inTexasvia theTexasBoard of Nursing. It tests the competence of graduate nurses and covers four categories:

1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity

Most nurses take this exam at theirLPNschool or a local test center around 45 days after graduating from anLPNprogram. Nurses must pass the exam before working for ahealthcareprovider inTexas.

LPNReciprocity

• LPNsfrom other states achieve certification inTexasthrough endorsem*nt, where nurses prove they have a license from a recognized learning provider.
• LPNsfrom other countries achieve certification in the U.S. by passing an evaluation from theCommission of Graduates of ForeignNursing Schools(CGFNS) and completing theNCLEX-PNexam.

LPNSalaries inTexas

LPNsinTexasearn, on average, abase salary of $28.36 per hour or $50,911 a year, according to Indeed. Entry-levelLPNsearn, on average,$47,864; those with 3-5 years of experience earn $52,566, and those with over ten years of experience earn $54,669.

Here are the biggest metropolitan areas in Texas with the highest-paying LPN/LVN salaries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

1. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($52,230 per year)
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ($49,800)
3. Austin-Round Rock ($49,570)
4. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land($48,960)
5. San Antonio-New Braunfels($47,090)

LPNswith additional certifications typically earn more than those who don’t. AnLPNwith a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) license inTexas, for example, earns 53 percent more than anLPNinTexaswithout this license.

Job Outlook for LPN/LVNs in Texas

Employment opportunities are abundant forLPNsin the “Lone Star State.” That’s becauseTexaswill face ashortage of nursesby the year 2030, according to research from theTexasDepartment of State Health Services. The study also estimates that demand forLPNswill exceed supply by 2029, based on current trends. As a result,healthcareproviders are enticingLPNswith benefits like 401Ks, referral programs, and reimbursed tuition.

Top LPN/LVN Schools in Texas

San Jacinto College
North Campus
5800 Uvalde
Houston, TX 77049-4599
281-998-6150 x3592
South Campus
13735 Beamer Rd
Houston, TX 77089
281-998-6350 x7128

San Jacinto College’sfull-timevocationalnursingprogramattracts students from acrossTexasto one of its two campuses inHouston. Approved by theTexasBoard of NursingandTexasEducation Agency, the school has a highNCLEX-PNpass rate, combining academic learning with hands-on nursing experience. The course comprises 560 classroom hours and 864 clinical hours.

Bell Tech Career Institute
12000 Richmond Ave, Suite 130
Houston, TX 77082
(713) 636-2659

For almost 20 years, Bell Tech Career Institute has welcomed nursing students to itsHoustoncampus, and itsLPN/LVNgraduates have had successful careers in varioushealthcaredisciplines. Students, who learn from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a contemporary classroom environment, can earn theirLPNin just one year and then providelong-term careto patients.

Howard College at San Angelo
St. John’s Campus of Shannon Medical Center
3501 N. US Hwy 67
San Angelo, TX 76905
(325) 481-8300

A popular 12-month vocational program that offers college credit and prepares students for a rewarding career in nursing. Approved by theTexasBoard of Nursingand theTexasHigher Education Coordinating Board(THECB), this school has provided nursing training for over 50 years.

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

Renownednursing programwith a 92 percent NCLEXpass rateand a 93 percent job placement/transfer rate. Located in San Angelo, this school provides nurses-to-be with a wealth of classroom training and hands-on experience.

South Plains College – Levelland
202 Clubview Drive
Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-9611

South Plains College’s Levelland campus has an intensivenursing programthat nurtures students for an excitinghealthcarecareer. Students garner experience through one of the college’s many affiliations with localhealthcareproviders.

Odessa College Nursing Program
201 NW Avenue D
Andrews, TX 79714
(432) 524-4022

Odessa College prepares nurses for future careers in healthcare with a one-year certificate program that’s approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Collin College
2200 West University Drive
McKinney, TX 75071
(972) 548.6790

A new vocational nursing program that started in January 2021. Collin College nursing students will learn a broad range of skills and could become an LPN in just 12 months.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Dallas Campus)
2101 Waterview Pkwy
Richardson, TX 75080
(800) 721-8072

Part-time and full-time LPN courses that help students kick-start their nursing careers. Graduates now work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, rehab centers, specialty hospitals, and other healthcare settings,

Schreiner University
2100 Memorial Blvd, CMB 6226
Kerrville, TX 78028-5697
(830) 792-7217

A one-year program that takes place from January through December with an 85 percent rate.

Institute of Allied Healthcare
7434 Louis Pasteur Dr #15
San Antonio, TX 78229
(615) 396-8733

A practical nursing program that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN. Students learn the skills required to work in a healthcare setting, including nutrition, medical terminology, and medical administration.

Additional Resources

Learn more about becoming anLPNinTexas:

TexasBoard of Nursing: An organization that has regulatednursing programsinTexasfor over 110 years. Responsible for administering theNCLEX-PNinTexas.
333 Guadalupe #3-460
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 305-7400

TexasEducation Agency: The state agency that supervises all primary and secondary public education inTexas.
William B. Travis Bldg
1701 N Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701-0000
(512) 463-9734

National Council ofState Boardsof Nursing(NCSBN): The parent agency of theTexasBoard of Nursingand other state nursing boards. Responsible for developing theNCLEX-PNand other exams for nurses andhealthcareprofessionals.
111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL
60601-4277