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LVN Additional Information

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​Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Program Information

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Courses are completed in two 16-week academic semesters and two five-week summer semesters.

The program includes classroom and laboratory work on campus as well as clinical experience at various area health care facilities.

Students will need to plan two to three hours of studying and preparation time weekly for each class and/or clinical experience.

The demands of nursing courses are such that students may not be able to work full time while enrolled in these courses. Courses are offered during daytime hours only.

The program’s clinical experience requires that students be physically able to care for sick patients. This involves lifting, moving, bathing and transferring patients into and out of bed. Students will be exposed to patients with infectious diseases.

Clinical rotations may take place at:

Acceptance to the Vocational Nursing program is via a competitive selection process based on grade point average of prerequisite courses.

Students who complete the program receive a Vocational Nursing certificate and are eligible to take the Licensing Examination for Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) in order to become licensed vocational nurse (LVN) within the guidelines set by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Find out more about information sessions and packets.

Information Packet and Information Sessions

Drug Testing and Criminal Background Check

All students enrolled in allied health programs are required by Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council member facilities to undergo drug testing and a criminal background check after admission to the program.

Class Locations for El Centro Allied Health Programs

Classes for the Medical Laboratory Technology and Paramedic programs are held at the El Centro Downtown Campus, 801 Main St.

Classes in Dental Hygiene are held at the Paramount Building, 301 N. Market St, Dallas.

All other allied health programs at El Centro hold classes in the Downtown Health Sciences Center (formerly El Centro Center for Allied Health and Nursing), 301 N. Market St. in the West End District of downtown Dallas, one block north of the El Centro Downtown Campus.

The Vocational Nursing program is approved by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460; Austin, Tx. 78701; phone: 512-305-7400; fax: 512-305-7401), and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400​; Atlanta, Ga. 30326; phone: 404-975-5000; fax: 404-975-5020). Students are awarded a certificate upon program completion and may write the Licensing Examination for Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) in order to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in Texas.

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Frequently Asked Questions


How do I get started in the LVN program?

The best place for you to start is to email the Health Occupations Admissions Office or call 972-860-5000 ​to receive an information packet and information session details.

Attend an information session. Get upcoming session dates:

  • In person at the Health Occupations Admission Office on the first floor of the Center for Allied Health and Nursing in the Paramount Building, located in the West End of Downtown Dallas at 301 North Market Stree​t. Please note that this building is located one block northwest of the main El Centro campus.
  • By calling 972-860-5000

What are the sections required on the HESI test?

We require a minimum score of 80 on the five sections of the HESI A2 entrance exam.

What about IV certification?

Our program does not currently have a stand-alone IV certification class; it is taught in the nursing programs.

What about VN refresher courses?

VN refresher courses are not included in our credit program. Check each semester’s Continuing Education schedule, or call the Continuing Education division at El Centro at 214-860-2147 to see if one is offered in the semester you are looking for.

What are expected hours? Are night classes and weekend clinicals available?

Our clinicals at present are on weekdays during daytime hours, and do not include night and weekend hours. Some of the institutions which offer these additional hours are much more costly than ours.

What about transferring other college credit into the VN program?

Please check with an allied health advisor. Any educational experience you have had would need to be evaluated by our district education specialists; they will request the course numbers and catalog descriptions of the courses you wish to transfer.

This may be easier done in person. You can reach our education specialist at 972-860-5003. Please note that in many cases, students have to complete our entire curriculum of classes due to the vast difference from other curriculums.

Can I complete prerequisites in summer and still apply for Fall?

No. The deadline for applying to our program with complete qualified applications is May 31 each year before the coming fall semester. You must have prerequisites completed with a 3.0 GPA before applying to the program.

What if I’ve been out of nursing practice for many years or am coming from another state?

It may be as simple as a refresher with appropriate documentation of your completed program and transcript or perhaps taking a full program and the board exam for Texas. Please check with an allied health advisor.

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