VN Program Admission Requirements

The Vocational Nursing Program is a competency-based program designed to prepare Lamar State College Orange graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN/VN®) to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). An LVN functions under the direction of a registered nurse and/or licensed physician to provide nursing care to people who are in need of medical diagnostic evaluation and who are experiencing acute or chronic illness. Graduates of the LSCO VN Program are currently employed in hospitals, physicians' offices, outpatient medical centers, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies.

The VN Program is the foundation on which the Associate of Applied Science Registered Nursing Transition Program is built. The Registered Nursing Transition Program is a competency-based program whose graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) to be registered nurses (RN).

To be considered for admission to the Vocational Nursing Program at LSCO, a student must:

• be accepted as a student at Lamar State College Orange;
• submit a Vocational Nursing Program application online from the LSCO website by the application deadline;
• submit unofficial transcripts of all college work to the Vocational Nursing Program;
• satisfy the ATI TEAS requirements within 2 years of application deadline or satisfy the HESI requirements within 1 year of application deadline;
• have a grade of “C” or better in BIOL 2301/1301 and BIOL 2302/1302-Anatomy and Physiology. Although completion of BIOL 1322-Principles of Nutrition and PSYC 2314-Lifespan Growth and Development is not required for admission to the VN Program, the classes must be completed with a grade of “C” or better before graduating from the VN program. However, if taken before the application deadline, those grades will add points on the admission rating scale;
• provide proof of a minimum grade of “C” or better in VNSG 1323-Basic Nursing Skills and a satisfactory “S” grade in VNSG 1160-Clinical I Practical Nurse or NURA 1311 or NURA 1160 or proof of CNA Certificate or proof of active PCT Certificate.;
• show proof of good mental and physical health;
• show proof of completion of Hepatitis B immunization; and,
• show proof of a clear criminal background check from the Texas Board of Nursing or have obtained a completed Declaratory Order from the Texas Board of Nursing (see program director for details).
• Students MUST maintain “C” or better grades in ALL courses on the degree plan and overall 2.0 grade point averages (GPAs) to graduate from the LSCO VN Program. 

Complete information about the Vocational Nursing Program, including admission requirements, application deadlines and current application forms, is available from the Nursing Administrative Assistant located in the Stark Nursing Classroom Building. Completion of the VN Program does NOT guarantee that a graduate may take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN®).

The Texas Board of Nursing may disqualify an applicant from obtaining licensure who has:

• been convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, plead guilty, no contest, or nolo contendere to any crime in any state, territory, or country, whether or not a sentence was imposed, including any pending criminal charges or unresolved arrests (excluding minor traffic violations). This includes expunged offenses and deferred adjudications with or without prejudice of guilt. Please note that DUI’s, DWI’s, and PI’s must be reported and are not considered minor traffic violations. One-time minor in possession (MIP) or minor in consumption (MIC) does not need to be disclosed. If you have two or more MIPs or MICs you must report these to the board;
• any criminal charges pending, including unresolved arrests;
• been refused a license by any licensing authority or ever had a license revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license or certificate held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded, or otherwise disciplined you;
• within the last five years, been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug; or
• within the last five years, been diagnosed with, treated or hospitalized for schizophrenia, and/or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder. If you must answer “yes” to any of these statements, you have to undergo investigation by the Board of Vocational Nursing before you will be accepted into the Nursing Program. Answering “yes” will not necessarily keep you from acceptance into the program. Failure to answer truthfully may result in disciplinary action by the Board.

If you must answer “yes” to any of the above statements, you have to undergo investigation by the Board of Vocational Nursing before you will be accepted into the Nursing Program. Answering “yes” will not necessarily keep you from acceptance into the program. Failure to answer truthfully may result in disciplinary action by the Board.

Upon acceptance into the VN Program, all students will be subject to a criminal background check.