CNA to LVN Programs Fort Worth, TX

Your job as a CNA may be rewarding, but the limitations of your role and responsibility may cause you to consider another aspect of healthcare. Becoming a licensed vocational nurse might be a worthwhile step on the career ladder of nursing. Enrolling in a CNA to LVN program will help you to boost your patient care skills to increase your earning potential and advance in the field. If you’re employed as a nursing assistant, you might qualify for a scholarship or tuition assistance from your employer as you seek to bolster your position. Although full-time employment is not recommended while you study nursing, you can work part-time to help fund your educational needs. Completing the program and passing the NCLEX-PN will be challenging but definitely worthwhile both personally and professionally.

Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus

The Vocational Nursing program at Tarrant County College features a CNA/PCT/CMA to VN track that gives certified nursing assistants, patient care technicians, or certified medical assistants advanced placement in the program. The Certificate Level II program prepares students for entry-level employment as a licensed vocational nurse. They will learn how to administer and record prescribed medications, fluids and feedings, observe patients and report changes in their conditions, monitor and record vital signs, and answer patients’ calls. The curriculum requires the completion of 1408 contact hours of theory and hands-on instruction. Course modules include anatomy and physiology, general psychology, foundations of nursing, basic nursing skills, vocational nurse training clinical, medical surgical nursing, pharmacology, mental health and mental illness, pediatrics, maternal neonatal nursing, and leadership and professional development. After completion of the required 45 credit hours with a minimum grade of C or better, students will receive a Vocational Nursing Certificate and be 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 program can be completed in three semesters. The program is a selective admission program.

Admission criteria:

  • Apply to TCC and obtain a Student ID number – required for the VN application
  • Must meet the TSI requirements
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Complete the prerequisite science courses before applying to the program – BIOL 2401 and general psychology with a grade C
  • 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
  • Complete HESI A2 with a minimum score of 75% in each of the five sections – Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Math, Anatomy and Physiology
  • Apply for admission to the Vocational Nursing program and provide supporting documentation
  • Obtain a negative drug screen
  • Complete a satisfactory criminal background check
  • Must have a current CNA state certificate
  • CNA applicants must obtain a grade C or above on the Skills Performance Check-Off
  • Must have at least six months of employment in an acute/chronic care setting
  • Must have current medical insurance
  • Have current healthcare provider CPR certification
  • A valid social security card
  • Participate in the LVN program orientation
  • Maintain current immunization for the program’s duration – Hepatitis A and B, Tdap, MMR, Varicella, and Influenza
  • Complete a TB skin test or chest x-ray prior to application

The program costs approximately $5,800 to $6,000 and includes books, immunizations, and prerequisites. The National Licensure Exam costs $200.

  • Website: https://www.tccd.edu/
  • Address: 245 East Belknap, Fort Worth, TX 76102
    Phone: 817-515-8223
  • NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 93.75%

Concorde Career College

Certified Nursing Assistants may enroll in the vocational nursing program at Concorde Career College to prepare for practice as a vocational nursing in acute and long-term care facilities. The comprehensive curriculum is designed to produce high-caliber, professionally competent vocational nurses who are capable and productive practitioners of care. It will include 1319 hours of instruction: 677 hours of theory, 152 hours in the lab, and 490 hours of clinical practice. Didactic and clinical components integrate key concepts such as the individual’s uniqueness affecting his or her health status, the exchange of information to create change of behavior in students, needs prioritized according to Maslow’s hierarchy, the diagnosis and treatment of an individual’s response to potential health problems or deficits, and vocational nursing score of practice. Course topics include fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, college mathematics, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, clinical practice, family health nursing, and transition to practice. Upon completion of the 52 semester credit hours with a grade C or better, students will receive a Diploma in Vocational Nursing and 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 50 weeks. The part-time schedule is designed to be completed in 80 weeks.

Admission criteria:

  • Review the course catalog
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Attend a personal interview and campus tour
  • Submit an application to the Vocational Nursing Program
  • Sign the enrollment agreement
  • Take and pass an entrance exam – Wonderlic SLE (17) or HESI (70)
  • Must present a valid high school diploma, high school transcript, or GED
  • Meet be a citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen of the United States
  • Submit a copy of physical exam and current immunization records to include Hepatitis B, varicella, Tdap, influenza, MMR, and TB test
  • Must be able to speak, read, and write in English
  • Pass a criminal background check and drug screen

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: 81.35%

Arlington Career Institute

The Vocational Nursing Program at Arlington Career Institute is open to certified nursing assistants who want to prepare for a career as a vocational nurse. The curriculum includes 660 hours of instruction in the classroom and lab and 720 hours for the clinical rotations for a total of 1380 hours. Course modules are 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.  Students who successfully complete all the program requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and to take the NCLEX-PN. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Admission criteria:

  • View the Virtual Information Session
  • Complete and submit the pre-admission form
  • Take and pass the TEAS exam with a minimum total score of 58.7. The cost of the assessment is $115. A maximum of three attempts are permitted in a 12-month period
  • Submit proof of GED, high school diploma or transcript or college transcript – send only copies to the LVN program
  • Submit a completed physical and proof of immunity to titers – MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Tdap, Meningitis, Influenza
  • Must have current American Heart Association CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card
  • Complete a background check after the start of class – the cost of $39.75
  • Must have criminal background clearance from the Texas Board of Nursing

The total program cost of $16,610 includes registration fee, tuition, books, and lab fees.

Navarro College

Nursing assistants may receive extra points in the selection program when applying for admission to the Vocational Nursing program at Navarro College. The program leads to a Certificate of Completion that will prepare students to take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. Students will learn how to provide bedside care, administer medications, and conduct other procedures that require the technical skills of the Vocational Nurse. The curriculum covers a total of 50 credits – some of which may be transferable to a registered nursing program. 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 be admitted to Navarro College before applying for admission to the Vocational Nursing program which is a separate process
  • Complete Texas State TSI requirements
  • Complete the required Virtual Information Session
  • Complete the TEAS testing requirements and score a minimum of 59.9 to be eligible for admission
  • Submit official high school transcript, high school diploma, GED certificate, or college transcripts
  • Apply for admission to the Vocational Nursing program after viewing the video presentation
  • Provide copy of CNA certification indicating expiry date
  • Submit transcripts of prerequisites courses indicating a minimum grade of C and completed within 5 years of the program application date
  • Submit immunization documents including TB, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Varicella
  • 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
  • Provide letters of recommendation

In-state tuition and fees cost $8,005. Books and supplies cost an additional $2,322 and include textbooks, uniforms, lab kit, background check, drug screen, and CPR.

El Centro College

Certified Nursing Assistants receive extra points in the selection process of the vocational nursing program at El Centro College. The VN Certificate program includes theory and clinical instruction according to the guidelines of the Texas Board of Nursing. Students must plan to attend all clinical rotations conducted at Brentwood Health Care Skills Nursing & Rehabilitation, Kindred Healthcare, Methodist Health System, or Dallas Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. Students must be physically able to care for sick patients, and will require that they lift, move, bathe, or transfer patients into and out of bed. Rotations may be scheduled in the evening or during the weekend. Courses covered in the classroom and clinical sessions include Basic Nursing Skills, Nursing in Health and Illness II, Foundations of Nursing, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Pharmacology for Health Professions, Maternal/Neonatal Nursing, Pediatric, Clinical. Upon successful completion of the requirements, students will receive a Certificate of Completion to be eligible to take the NCLEX for Licensure as a Vocational Nurse. The program will cover two 16-week academic semesters and two 5-week summer semesters. Admission to the program is selective and requires completion of all the stated prerequisites. The class is limited to 30 persons for each cohort.

Admission criteria:

  • Attend an information session – online or in-person
  • Take and pass the HESI with a minimum score of 80 on the five sections. Test scores are valid for two years
  • Complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0 before applying to the program – Human Anatomy and Physiology, Composition I, and General Psychology
  • Must have current CNA certification – pointed will be awarded
  • Must be admitted as a student of El Centro College
  • Complete the Texas Success Initiative requirements
  • Submit a completed application for admission to the Vocational Nursing program
  • Must have a high school diploma, high school transcript, or GED
  • Submit documentation of a current physical exam, negative TB test, and immunization
  • Must have current CPR for Healthcare Providers certification
  • Submit official transcripts of all post-secondary coursework completed
  • Must have personal healthcare insurance
  • Complete a successful criminal background check and drug screen

Tuition costs $948 for half-time enrollment for in-district students. Expenses for books, uniforms, supplies, and fees must be factored in when planning to enroll.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Dallas

Certified nurse aides can take their profession to the next level by enrolling in a vocational nursing program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. They will gain a competitive advantage in the competitive admission process. The curriculum is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and includes instruction in the classroom, lab, and clinical rotations at established health care facilities in the community. Course topics include proper patient care, medical terminology, body systems, body growth and development, patient care assessment, nursing procedures, and medication administration. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the NCLEX for Practical Nurses to work as competent healthcare professionals in acute and long-term care settings.

Admission criteria:

  • Must have a high school diploma, official GED or recognized equivalent
  • Must be 17 years or older
  • Complete the Standardized Test Requirements for Admission – ACT score with a composite score of 19 or above or SAT score of 990 or above
  • Pass the Nursing School Admissions Test
  • Submit a written essay to be scored by the Vice President, Nursing Program Development, and Chief Nursing Officer or designee
  • Pass a urine drug screen
  • Complete the required background check according to the Texas Board of Nursing guidelines for Licensure of Person with Criminal Offenses
  • Must be a US citizen or a permanent resident
  • Submit a completed application and application fee of $100
  • Submit official transcripts of any college coursework completed

Tuition costs $12,524 for two semesters. It includes fees but does not include the cost for textbooks and uniforms.

North Central Technical College

The Vocational Nursing program at North Central Technical College is open to certified nursing assistants as well as those without any former education or experience in healthcare. The program operates with the approval of the Texas Board of Nursing and leads to a Certificate of Completion. Didactic and hands-on activities prepare students to function as entry-level practitioners to provide direct care to patients of all age groups under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician. Experienced faculty will emphasize the development of sound judgments based on scientific principles and the utilization of technical skills in a variety of settings. Course topics include nursing in health and illness, pharmacology, clinical, anatomy and physiology for allied health, basic nursing skills, essentials in medication administration, professional development, maternal neonatal nursing, and pediatrics. Graduates will be eligible to submit an application to write the National Council Licensing Examination – Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). New students are admitted in the Fall semester. The duration of the program is 12 months.

Admission criteria:

  • Apply and be accepted for admission to North Central Texas College
  • Meet with VN faculty to learn the special admission requirements for the VN program
  • Attend an information session
  • Complete an application for admission to the Vocational Nursing program
  • Submit an official high school transcript or documented proof of GED certification
  • Take an entrance exam and obtain satisfactory scores
  • Complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a urine drug screen at the start of the initial semester
  • Provide proof of immunizations – Tdap, MMR, hepatitis, varicella, influenza

The approximate cost of the Vocational Nursing Program is $6,800 to $9,500 including the cost of textbooks.

  • Website: https://www.nctc.edu/
  • Address: 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240
  • Phone: (940) 668-7731
  • NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 81.35%

 

 

 

 

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.