For those who wish to find a quick entry into the nursing or health care field, becoming an LPN – a Licensed Practical Nurse (or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)) is a great pathway as it can be accomplished in about a year if studying full-time. And for those students who wish to complete one of the LPN programs in Houston Texas, faster, there are accelerated options from which to choose, as well as part-time options.
Preliminarily, it is essential to note that the terms Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)are really, for all intents & purposes, distinct titles for the same occupation. Both LVNs and LPNs work under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Physician. The difference? California and Texas primarily refer to this entry-level nursing license as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, whereas the rest of the country uses the Licensed Practical Nurse title.
Top 5 LPN Programs in Houston Texas
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jacinto College (SJC – South, and North) | Pasadena, Texas |
| 2 | Lone Star College | Houston, Texas |
| 3 | Houston Community College | Houston, Texas |
| 4 | Bell Tech Career Institute | Houston, Texas |
| 5 | The Vocational Nursing Institute | Harris County, Texas |
LVN or LPN programs in Houston Texas will prepare students to sit for the national NCLEX –PN exam. For simplicity, the narrative that follows refers to Licensed Practical Nurses; however, this information is valid for Licensed Vocational Nurses as well.
Nursing students interested in enrolling in LPN programs in Houston Texas will find a variety of LPN diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree programs that open up entry-level job opportunities. These LPN programs in Houston Texas will also provide a great springboard to future opportunities that may lead to more job responsibilities and higher salaries.
For students aspiring to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Texas, the first step is completing a Texas Board of Nursing (TBON)-approved training degree/diploma or certificate program. Classes for these LPN programs in Houston Texas include the following a combination of classroom work, labs & simulations, and formal, onsite clinical practicum –
- The Fundamentals of Nursing.
- Human Anatomy & Physiology.
- Psychosocial Concepts.
- Surgical Nursing.
- Pharmacology.
- Mental Health for LVNs.
- Maternity, Pediatrics, & Supervision
Once a student completes one of the state-approved LPN programs in Houston Texas, they then must obtain a CPR card and pass the NCLEX-PN exam.
Licensed LPNs and LVNs are offered career advancement opportunities, which include furthering one’s education to become a registered nurse (RN). In addition, LPNs are encouraged to complete a baccalaureate-level degree as most employers now prefer to hire nurses with that credential.
According to the Texas State Board of Nursing, these are the relevant NCLEX – PN Pass Rates –
The 2019 Texas LVN Program NCLEX-PN Pass Rates
- The Total number of NCLEX-PN Students Taking the Exam = 4,255
- The Total number of NCLEX-PN Students who Passed the Exam = 3,789
- The Overall NCLEX-PN Pass Rate for the State of Texas = 89.05%
Note that the 2019 National Average for LVN/LPN Candidates who have passed the NCLEX -PN on their first attempt – 85.63%
Students can confirm the accreditation status of LPN programs in Houston Texas can be verified at the Texas Board of Nursing Website. Typically LPN Programs in Houston Texas will be accredited by one, two, or both of the national accrediting agencies, in addition to any specialization agencies.
Best 7 LPN Programs in Houston Texas
San Jacinto College (SJC – South, and North)
San Jacinto College offers a one-year Level- 2 practical nursing certificate program that is available on each campus of San Jacinto College. Students enrolled in one of San Jacinto College’s LPN programs in Houston Texas will complete 864 hours in clinical rotations and labs plus 560 classroom hours. Classes for this degree include pharmacology, pediatrics, anatomy & physiology, and essentials of medication administration, to name a few
School Overview
Lone Star College
Lone Star College offers a one-year state-approved vocational/practical nursing program that is available on four campuses throughout the greater Houston metro area. The campuses include CyFair, Tomball, Montgomery, and Kingwood. Students are required to complete 48 credit units in classes that include gerontology, pediatrics, nursing in health/illness, mental illness, and nutrition, to name a few.
School Overview
Houston Community College
Houston Community College offers two LPN programs in Houston Texas, with its Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Vocational Nursing degree or a Level-1 Certificate in vocational nursing. Houston Community College’s LPN programs have been approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. Houston Community College’s AAS in vocational nursing requires the completion of 60-semester credits, compared to the certificate program that requires 44-semester credits.
School Overview
Bell Tech Career Institute
Bell Tech Career Institute offers a full-time Licensed Practical Nursing program that can be completed in only one year. For twenty years, Bell Tech Career Institute has offered one of the Texas Workforce Commission LPN programs in Houston Texas.
School Overview
The Vocational Nursing Institute
The Vocational Nursing Institute offers two LPN programs in Houston Texas, with its vocational training day and vocational training evening programs. The day program encompasses 61 weeks and the evening program covers about 80 weeks of classes. Each of these LPN programs in Houston Texas covers classes in nursing concepts, medication, practical clinical training, mental health nursing, medical/surgical, and pediatrics, to name a few.
Texas Health School
Texas Health School offers a state and COE-approved vocational/practical nurse program that meets several nights and week and one weekend day to prepare nursing students for the NCLEX – PN exam. This 48-week class is equivalent to 1,440 clock hours or 55-semester credits. Classes for one of the best LPN programs in Houston Texas include vocational nursing concepts, nutrition, and basic and advanced nursing skills, to name a few.
School Overview
The College of Health Care Professions
The College of Health Care Professions offers a vocational nursing certificate that is 48 weeks long. These LPN programs in Houston Texas are organized into three modules, with classes that include medical terminology, pharmacology, basic nursing skills, and mental health nursing, plus a capstone project and NCLEX –PN preparation, among others.
School Overview
Our Ranking Methodology for these LPN Programs in Houston Texas
In developing this LPN program analysis, we evaluated the available LPN Programs in Houston Texas and ranked the programs according to the school or university’s affordability factors and overall merit/reputation. Note that the most cost-effective LPN programs available in the greater Houston area are listed first.
The tuition costs for each program that were used in our analysis represent the tuition expenses for the school year 2020/2021 or 2019/2020 – whichever year was the most current disclosed amount). These tuition fees were gathered from the school or university’s catalog or program website, ] the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
In addition to analyzing the current tuition costs for these LPN Programs in Houston Texas, the above-noted analysis discloses the NCLEX-PN (Practical Nurse) pass rates for those students who successfully pass the national exam on their first attempt.
As a reminder, the Texas Board of Nursing discloses these relevant statistics about students taking the NCLEX -PN exam for 2019 through one of the TBON’s approved PN educational programs, as follows –
- The Total number of NCLEX-PN Students Taking the Exam = 4,255
- The Total number of NCLEX-PN Students who Passed the Exam = 3,789
- The Overall NCLEX-PN Pass Rate for the State of Texas = 89.05%
Note that the 2019 National Average for LVN/LPN Candidates who have passed the NCLEX -PN on their first attempt – 85.63%
NCLEX-PN pass rate statistics represent a student’s success after completing an LPN program. The greater the success on the NCLEX- PN, the greater likelihood that a potential student will also pass this national nursing entry-level exam for that particular program.
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