Are you looking to jumpstart your healthcare career by becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse? With Houston’s thriving medical community facing shortages of over 14,000 nurses by 2030, highly skilled LPNs are in high demand. Read on to explore the ins and outs of Houston’s top LPN programs and gain insights to inform your education decisions.
An Overview of Practical Nursing Careers
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) offer essential bedside care to patients across the healthcare continuum—providing comfort, administering treatments, monitoring needs, and assisting with activities of daily living.
Under the guidance of registered nurses and physicians, common responsibilities of LPNs involve:
- Recording vital signs
- Coordinating care services
- Operating medical equipment
- Observing and reporting symptoms
- Administering oral medicines, injections, wound treatment
- Educating patients on self-care
Most LPNs work full-time in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing care facilities and private homes. With over 5,500 current job listings for LPNs in Houston and its surrounding cities, favorable employment opportunities exist.
Local salary ranges fall right in line with national trends:
Average Annual LPN Salaries in Houston Metro
| Setting | Average Wage |
|---|---|
| Hospitals | $48,000 |
| Physicians‘ Offices | $42,500 |
| Nursing Care Facilities | $43,000 |
| Home Health Services | $44,000 |
LPNs can also pursue higher pay and advance their careers over time through additional certifications, specializations, and even transitioning into RN roles.
Top-Ranked LPN Programs in Houston
To launch your practical nursing career, enrolling in a respected LPN program constitutes a vital first step. Here are the top accredited schools near Houston training tomorrow’s LPNs:
Edwin’s Healthcare Institute
Edwin’s Healthcare Institute empowers LPN students through a rigorous curriculum fusing textbook lessons with simulation exercises and clinical rotations. The year-long diploma program admit students Spring, Summer and Fall.
Director Denise Watson shed light on their approach: “At Edwin‘s, we interweave interactive resources like virtual clinicals with traditional lectures and skills labs. This benefits students by boosting critical thinking and ability to translate knowledge into competent care.”
Current student Jasmine Taylor also appreciates Edwin‘s cutting-edge facilities and faculty support: “Having access to high-fidelity mannequins and other advanced simulation tech will give me a leg up. And the instructors really invest in your growth.”
Program Details
- 1,600 hour full-time diploma
- Clinical Rotations: Method, Ben Taub, MD Anderson
- 87% NCLEX Pass Rate
- VA/GI Bill Approved
Admissions Requirements:
- High School Diploma/GED
- Clear criminal history check
- Immunization records
- Current CPR certification
Cost: $13,475
Start Dates: March 12, July 16, October 7
Altierus Career College
Offering evening/weekend schedules, Altierus Career College’s 11-month Diploma in Practical Nursing program allows flexibility for working students.
A current Altierus LPN student explained the draw, “I appreciated that they understand people have other commitments yet still want to break into healthcare. The blended simulation learning also makes juggling school and parenthood possible.”
Program Details:
- Digital textbooks and simulation bundled
- Externships and clinicals included
- 89% first-time NCLEX pass rate
- Financial aid available
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma
- Passing ATI TEAS entrance exam score
- Immunizations
- Drug screening/background check
Cost: $17,778
Start Dates: January 30, April 10, June 19
Texas Health School
Dedicated LPN faculty lead students through mastery of nursing arts and sciences at Texas Health School. Simulation mannequins mimic human responses to interventions performed in their cutting-edge lab, boosting realism.
As nursing instructor Amanda Thompson explains, “We shape competent, caring LPNs ready to fill healthcare workforce needs through a challenging curriculum integrating simulation. Our graduates excel at clinical reasoning and person-centered care.”
Program Details:
- 1,558 hour full-time diploma
- Day and evening schedules
- Hospital/long-term care clinicals
- 92% NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma/GED
- 58% on ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills
- Clear background check
- Immunizations
Cost: $13,950
Start Dates: January 9, March 13, May 15
Key Indicators of Quality LPN Training
All accredited LPN programs cover core curriculum topics like anatomy, physiology, nutrition, pharmacology, clinical nursing skills and more. However, components like instructional approaches, facilities and graduate outcomes offer telltale signs of an LPN program’s quality.
Here are key indicators to look for:
- Cutting-Edge Simulation – The most effective programs feature advanced simulation environments mirroring real healthcare settings to hone clinical decision-making.
- Experienced Faculty – Look for seasoned nurses and instructors holding Master’s or Doctoral credentials. Such depth of knowledge and insight proves invaluable.
- Strong Pass Rates – Quality LPN programs adequately prep students to pass the NCLEX-PN licensing exam on their first try through rigorous training. Top schools post pass rates exceeding 85%.
- Career Placement – Priority programs offer job search guidance and placement partnerships with area healthcare employers to ease hiring.
Mitchell Thompson, Clinical Education Director at Houston Methodist Hospital, also advocates students asking, “Are completion rates high? How many graduates secure LPN roles within six months?” These oft-overlooked questions provide crucial program assessments.
The Outlook for LPNs in Houston
Projections show Houston facing a deficit of over 14,000 nurses by 2030. As hospitals and clinics scramble to meet growing patient demand, hiring incentives for LPNs continue rising.
Because employers want new nurses well-versed in emerging technologies, graduates of high-caliber, simulation-heavy LPN training programs enjoy a clear advantage landing jobs.
Institutions like Houston Methodist Hospital, CHI St. Luke’s Health, Memorial Hermann and Harris Health System all currently seek to fill dozens of LPN staff positions across the metro. National senior care providers such as Avenida Houston and Brookdale Senior Living also continue expanding—creating openings for geriatric LPNs.
Beyond bedside nursing roles, options for experienced LPNs to specialize through additional credentialing now abound locally—in fields like hematology/oncology, IV therapy, emergency department nursing, case management and more.
Affording Your LPN Program
Investing in career-focused education yields dividends through years of meaningful work. Still, diving into nursing school poses a financial challenge for many prospective students.
Here are some key ways to ease the tuition burden of LPN programs:
- Employer Tuition Assistance – If employed, explore whether your workplace offers education benefits or tuition reimbursement to cover a portion of program costs.
- Scholarships – Schools and nursing associations administer scholarships and grants averaging $1,000 for practical nursing students meeting various criteria.
- Support Programs – Federal/state workforce training initiatives like WIOA often sponsor LPN program costs for qualifying students.
- Student Loans – Utilizing Federal Student Aid via the FAFSA application enables borrowing at lower interest rates through options like subsidized/unsubsidized Direct Loans and Parent PLUS loans. Schools can explain available vehicles.
- VA Education Benefits – For eligible veterans and family members, significant LPN program coverage comes through the GI Bill and other VA tools.
Bottom line, financial aid makes embarking on an LPN program very feasible.
Next Steps for Aspiring Houston LPNs
As you mull pursuing this rewarding nursing career pathway, Houston houses numerous quality LPN programs ready to welcome you.
- Compare – Weigh factors like cost, curriculum and outcomes across schools of interest before applying. Campus visits also prove invaluable.
- Prepare – Develop familiarity with the NCLEX-PN exam content and build math, science and reading comprehension skills through prep materials.
- Get Organized – Make a checklist of items needed for a complete application, like transcript copies and vaccine records.
- Apply Early – Program seats fill quickly! Send completed applications 6-12 months pre-enrollment to boost admission chances.
- Secure Funding – Apply immediately for financial aid through channels like FAFSA and tap into other assistance programs.
Embarking on LPN education marks an investment sure to pay dividends throughout your nursing career in Houston’s high-demand healthcare sector. With sound planning and choosing the program best fitting your needs, you’ll gain the skills and support network needed to excel as an LPN improving lives across the metro.