El Centro College’s Vocational Nursing program features a 12-month, 54-credit-hour curriculum leading to a certificate of completion. 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.
Clinical rotations may take place at:
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.
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.
How to Get Started
If you are not already enrolled at DCCCD, you’ll need to complete the regular DCCCD admission process at El Centro College before you can apply for admission to the Vocational Nursing program. If you haven’t finished high school yet, you must also have earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate before applying for admission to the Vocational Nursing program.
Acceptance to the Vocational Nursing program is via a competitive selection process based on grade point average of prerequisite courses.
- Learn about the application process: By submitting complete application materials, you will be expected to be familiar with the application requirements and process. Check out admission requirements in the Vocational Nursing information packet. You must meet all of the assessment testing and application requirements before you may submit an application packet for admission to the program.
- When to apply: The application filing period for Vocational Nursing is Jan. 1-May 31 for fall admission (August). Students will be notified of acceptance by June 15.
- How to apply: Applicants to the Vocational Nursing program must compile all required materials and submit the materials in a 9" x 12" envelope to the Health Occupations Admissions Office at El Centro College on or before the application filing deadline. Incomplete packets will be returned to the applicant. Application requirements are detailed in the information packet.
- Criminal background check/drug testing: All students enrolled in Health Occupations programs are required by the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council member facilities to undergo a criminal background check and drug testing prior to beginning their clinical experience. This procedure is conducted after students have been accepted to their respective program and costs approximately $85. For more information on the criminal background check and drug screening, see the Vocational Nursing information packet, page 11.
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Accreditation
The Vocational Nursing program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC, 61 Broadway - 33rd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10006, 800-669-1656, ext. 153).
Tuition
Dallas County residents pay $117 per three-hour class — that’s $39 per credit hour, or less than $500 for a full semester load of 12 credit hours.
Compare that to what you’d pay elsewhere! See DCCCD tuition rates for tuition according to your place of residency.
Courses Offered (Curriculum)
Our catalog provides detailed information about the courses we offer and the courses required for our certificate:
Transferring From DCCCD
Degrees and certificates in our Nursing programs are designed for direct entry into the workforce. However, if you are interested in earning a degree at a four-year institution, please visit the Transfer Services Web site for guidance on the transfer process.
DCCCD has signed a concurrent enrollment agreement with the University of North Texas System Center in Dallas. This enables DCCCD students who meet the UNT admission requirements or complete the Associate in Applied Sciences degree to be automatically admitted to the University of North Texas.
A student may apply for concurrent admission status at the time of first enrollment in DCCCD courses or at any later time during DCCCD enrollment by completing a UNT concurrent admissions application. For more information, call DCCCD Transfer Services at 214-860-2185 or contact the UNT System Center at 972-780-3635.
Related Programs at DCCCD
You may also want to explore some other health-related programs DCCCD offers, such as Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Sciences or Respiratory Care.
Faculty Profiles
Our Vocational Nursing faculty have not only degrees and certifications in their field but also on-the-job experience, making them able to relate to the challenges you’ll face in the workplace. Our faculty members work closely with you one-on-one, encouraging you and helping you to prepare for your career in nursing.
See profiles of some of our Vocational Nursing faculty.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our Vocational Nursing program that aren’t answered on our Web site, please feel free to contact us.