There are always opportunities to advance your career in the field of nursing. Moving from the position of a certified nursing assistant to a licensed vocational nurse is a step in the right direction if you want a more active role in patient care.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for certified nursing assistants was $30,310 in May 2021. On the other hand, licensed vocational nurses earned a median annual wage of $48,070 in that same year. While there are more job openings for CNAs than LVNs/LPNs, there is no lack of opportunities for professionals who are actively working in the field. For instance, your current employer may already have a position for you after you complete the educational and licensure requirements to become a vocational nurse.
Vocational nursing programs provide special allowances for currently certified nurse aides to receive credit or special ranking in the competitive admissions process. Upon admission to the program, you will acquire the knowledge and skills to assume the role and function of a vocational nurse and increase your earnings, respect, and opportunities in the field.
Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus
The CNA to VN option offered at Tarrant County College is open to certified nursing assistants who hold current certification as a CNA. Nursing assistants will earn credit by examination for the module – Clinical-Licensed Vocational Nurse Training offered in the first semester. Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture and Lab) and General Psychology must be completed before admission to the program. The Level II certificate requires completion of 45 credit hours. Course modules include foundations of nursing, basic nursing skills, medical surgical nursing, pharmacology, mental health and mental illness, pediatrics, maternal neonatal nursing, and leadership and professional development. Courses are offered in sequential format and a grade C is required for progression. Graduates are eligible to sit the NCLEX-PN for licensure as a Vocational Nurse. Classes meet Monday through Thursday between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The clinical hours vary but generally commence at 6:00 am – evening and afternoon shifts may also be required. The duration of the program is three semesters – 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Complete the prerequisite courses before applying for admission to the program – anatomy and physiology and general psychology with a grade C or higher
- Complete TOEFL with a passing score of 83 of IELTS with a core of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6 in all areas if first language is not English
- Must meet the TSI requirement and be compliant to register for VNSG classes
- Complete the HESI A2 with a score of 75% or better on Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Math, Anatomy, and Physiology
- Apply for admission to the Tarrant County College before applying to the VN program
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Complete a satisfactory background check
- Must have current certification as a CNA
- Must have at least six months of employment in an acute/chronic care setting
- Obtain a grade C or better in Skills performance check-off for CNA to VN transition
- Provide proof of medical insurance
- Must have current healthcare provider CPR certification – approved by the American Heart Association
- A valid social security card
- Attend the mandatory VN program orientation
- Maintain current immunization for the program’s duration
Tuition costs $64 per credit hour for legal Tarrant County residents. Students will incur additional costs for fees, books, and supplies.
- Website: https://www.tccd.edu/
- Address: 245 East Belknap, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-515-8223 - NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 71.88%
Concorde Career College
Certified nursing assistants may apply for credit in the vocational nursing program offered at Concorde Career College. Theory and practical experiences will build on the nurse aide’s existing skills to prepare them for the role of a vocational nurse. Students will complete 677 hours of theory, 152 hours in the lab, and 490 hours of clinical practice. The diploma requires completion of 52 credit hours that are transferable to a registered nursing program. Theory and practical instruction will cover fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, college mathematics, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, clinical practice, family health nursing, and transition to practice. Graduates will be eligible to sit the NCLEX for licensure as a Vocational Nurse. Full-time and part-time schedules are available. The full-time schedule may be completed in 12 months. The part-time schedule is designed to be completed in 20 months.
Admission criteria:
- Complete a personal interview and campus tour
- Take and pass an entrance exam – Wonderlic SLE (17) or HESI (70)
- Apply for admission to the program and sign the enrollment agreement
- Must have completed high school or GED
- Must provide documentation demonstrating US citizenship or residency
- Must be at least 18 years of age upon admission to the program – proof of age required
- Must have current certification as a Certified Nurse Aide
- Must complete the health requirements including a physical exam and up-to-date immunizations
- Must be able to speak, read, and write in English
- Complete a satisfactory criminal background check
The program cost of $33,192 includes tuition and textbooks.
- Website: https://www.concorde.edu/
- Address: 3015 West Interstate 20, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
- Phone: 469-348-2500
- Fax: 469-348-2580
- Toll-free: 1-800-693-7010
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 60.22%
Navarro College
Certified nursing assistants will receive additional ranking points in the selection process of the Vocational Nursing Certificate program at Navarro College. They will receive points for current health care certification and experience. The program leads to a Certificate of Completion that qualifies CNAs to take the NCLEX for licensure as a Vocational Nurse. The Texas Board of Nursing approved curriculum includes theory and lab skills on campus as well as clinical experiences at various health care facilities. The curriculum covers 50 credit hours. Course topics include Health Science, Basic Nursing Skills, Pharmacology, Essentials of Medication Administration, Vocational Nursing Concepts, Growth and Development, Medical Surgical Nursing, Pediatrics, Maternal Neonatal Nursing, Advanced Nursing Skills, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Professional Development, Special Topics in Practical Nursing, and Clinical. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to Navarro College – admission to Navarro College does not guarantee admission to the LVN program
- Take the TSI exam – not required but increases ranking points
- View all modules of the Virtual Information Session
- Take and pass the TEAS test with a minimum score of 58 to be eligible for admission
- Submit the Navarro College UNOFFICIAL transcript -even if you have not attended classes at Navarro College
- Provide proof of GED, high school diploma, or college transcript
- Complete an application to the nursing program after viewing the video presentation
- Submit application and all required documents as instructed in CANVAS
- Provide documentation of CNA certification – must indicate the expiration date
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better
- Submit immunization documents including TB, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Varicella, COVID-19
- Must have current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR (BLS)
- Complete a mandatory urine drug screen
- Sign a release giving permission to disclose criminal history check to the clinical sites
- Must have current health insurance
- Provide letters of recommendation
In-state tuition and fees cost $8,005. Books and supplies cost an additional $2,322.
- Website: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/
- Address: 3200 West 7th Avenue, Corsicana, TX 75110
- Toll-Free: 1-800-NAVARRO
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.89%
Arlington Career Institute
Certified nursing assistants may apply to the Vocational Nursing Program at Arlington Career Institute and acquire the skills LVNs need to succeed in the field. Emphasis will be on the development of key skills like pharmacology and medication administration, anatomy and physiology, and nursing leadership skills. Areas of study include vocational adjustment, anatomy and physiology, foundations of nursing and clinical, essentials of mediation administration, pharmacology, geriatric nursing, medical surgical nursing, mental health nursing, maternal-child nursing, vocational nursing leadership, and vocational nursing capstone. Apart from training in the classroom, students will complete 720 hours of hands-on patient care at various health care facilities to apply the principles learned in the classroom. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN to become a licensed vocational nurse. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Submit high school transcripts or GED certificate
- Provide proof of US citizenship, alien status, or legal resident
- Must be at least 17 years of age at the time of admission
- Submit transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended – if applicable
- Provide proof of immunity to certain diseases through immunization or titers – MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Tdap, Meningitis, Influenza
- Provide evidence of personal health insurance coverage or other proof of medical benefits
- Submit the required physical form completed by a health care provider
- Take and pass the TEAS exam with a minimum total score of 57%
- Must have current American Heart Association CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card
- Complete a background check after the start of class
Tuition for the program is $21,010. Expenses for books and supplies must be added to the cost.
- Website: https://www.arlingtoncareerinstitute.edu/
- Address: 901 E. Avenue K, Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
- Phone: 972-284-0881
- Fax: 972-647-4044
- Email: admissions@arlingtoncareerinstitute.edu
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: N/A
El Centro College
The vocational nursing program at El Centro College is open to persons who hold current certification as a nurse aide in Texas. The Vocational Nursing Certificate program prepares students to provide direct care to acute and chronically ill patients in various health care facilities. Students will complete classroom and laboratory work on campus followed by clinical experiences at local health care facilities. Certified nurse aide will be given preference in the selection process due to their completion of support courses in the nurse aide program and experience in the health care field. Areas of study Basic Nursing Skills, Nursing in Health and Illness II, Foundations of Nursing, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Pharmacology for Health Professions, Maternal/Neonatal Nursing, Pediatrics, and Clinical for Licensed Vocational Nurses. Students will become eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for Texas licensure upon completion of the program requirements (43 credit hours). The duration of the program is 12 months, which includes two academic semesters (16 weeks for each) and two summer semesters (5 weeks each). All prerequisite courses must be completed before applying to the program.
Admission criteria:
- Must attend a program information session
- Take and pass the HESI A2 test with a minimum score of 80 on the five sections. Test scores are valid for two years
- Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on the three program prerequisite courses – Human Anatomy and Physiology, Composition I, and General Psychology
- Apply for admission to El Centro College before applying for admission to the VN program
- Complete the Texas Success Initiative requirements
- Submit a completed application for admission by May 31 for the Fall semester
- Provide documentation of graduating from high school or GED
- Submit documentation of a current physical exam, negative TB test, and immunization
- Must have current CPR certification
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended
- Provide proof of current, unencumbered nurse aide certification
- Proof of current personal healthcare insurance coverage
- Pass a criminal background check and drug screen
The program cost of $3,397 includes required learning materials, books, and software for Dallas County residents.
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/
- Address: 801 Main St, Dallas, TX 75202, United States
- Phone: (214) 860-2000
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 75.00%
Crystal G
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.