Best LVN Programs in Corpus Christi 2026
Explore Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in Corpus Christi, Texas with details on schools, classes, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Corpus Christi area.
2026 Best LVN Programs in Corpus Christi, TX
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX - Public 4-Year - delmar.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nurse Education Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Del Mar College's Vocational Nurse Education Certificate program in Corpus Christi provides a direct path into nursing through campus-based training. Admission is competitive, requiring a minimum 2.5 PGPA in prerequisites, passing the ATI TEAS exam, and meeting immunization standards including annual flu vaccination. Students must complete CPR certification and a criminal background check. The curriculum emphasizes practical nursing skills, supported by the Weaver Reading Program to enhance academic success. This program is military-friendly and prepares graduates for immediate entry into the nursing workforce with a strong foundation in hands-on patient care.
- Campus-based program
- Requires ATI TEAS exam
- Minimum PGPA of 2.5
- Immunization standards required
- CPR certification needed
- Criminal background check
- Weaver Reading Program
- Annual flu vaccination
- Competitive admission
- Focus on practical skills
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX - Public 2-Year - lsco.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Certificate
Campus Based - Visit Website
Lamar State College-Orange offers a Vocational Nursing Certificate program on campus, designed to equip students with essential skills for entry-level nursing roles. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on practical experience, covering core nursing practices to ensure readiness for the healthcare field. Financial aid is accessible to eligible students, and admissions involve meeting specific academic criteria. This program focuses on building a strong foundation in vocational nursing without a specialized concentration, preparing graduates for immediate employment in various healthcare settings.
- Campus-based program
- Prepares for entry-level nursing
- Financial aid available
- Practical experience focused
- Specific admissions criteria
Corpus Christi LVN Program Overview
Licensed Vocational Nurses play a frontline role in Corpus Christi by delivering hands-on bedside care, monitoring patients, administering medications, and supporting care teams across hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and home health. In a regional hub that serves Nueces County and the Coastal Bend, LVNs help expand access to essential nursing services and maintain continuity of care for adults, seniors, and pediatric patients.
The city’s healthcare landscape includes major acute care centers such as CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital South, Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area and The Heart Hospital, as well as Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Numerous skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies operate throughout the metro, creating steady opportunities for entry-level nurses. Federal labor data indicate strong employment for LVNs in Texas, with long-term care and home health among the largest employers, and the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies has reported ongoing statewide demand for LVNs, especially in post-acute and community-based settings.
LVN programs in Corpus Christi typically offer a full-time option of about 12 months that integrates classroom instruction, skills lab, and supervised clinical rotations at local hospitals and long-term care sites. Some colleges provide part-time or evening and weekend schedules that extend the timeline to approximately 18 to 24 months, allowing working adults to progress toward eligibility for licensure while balancing employment and family commitments.
Programs are designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN and entry into practice. In Texas, the Texas Board of Nursing approves LVN programs, sets education and clinical standards, and oversees licensure. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-PN, complete a criminal background check, and satisfy the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam requirement before the Board can issue an LVN license. The Board also monitors program outcomes, including NCLEX pass rates, which helps applicants assess program quality in the Corpus Christi area.
Employment Opportunities for LVNs in Corpus Christi
The healthcare sector in Corpus Christi, Texas, offers a steady and diverse range of employment opportunities for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). The demand for vocational nurses is influenced by national trends, which project about a 5 percent growth from 2022 to 2032, translating to approximately 57,700 annual openings nationwide. In Corpus Christi, a May 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report identified 960 vocational nurses, representing a significant portion of the city’s nursing professionals, with demand expected to increase further due to greater human longevity.
As of May 2023, the average annual salary for an LVN in Corpus Christi is $55,900, equating to an hourly rate of $26.87. When adjusted for the cost of living in Corpus Christi, which is approximately 19% lower than the national average. This means an LVN’s salary of $55,900 in Corpus Christi has a purchasing power equivalent to approximately $69,100 in a location with the national average cost of living. Compensation can vary with experience, with more experienced LVNs often earning higher wages.
LVNs in Corpus Christi are employed in various healthcare settings, providing essential basic medical care under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians. These facilities include:
- Hospitals:LVNs provide direct patient care within large hospital systems.
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities:These are significant employers for vocational nurses, particularly in long-term care for the senior community.
- Private Practices and Clinics:LVNs support physicians and registered nurses in general and specialty clinic settings, including urgent care centers.
- Rehabilitation Centers/Hospitals:Opportunities are available in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, often with specialized roles such as wound care.
- Senior Living Facilities:Assisted living and other senior living communities regularly hire LVNs to monitor residents’ health, administer medications, and maintain health records.
- Home Health Agencies:Many LVN roles involve providing direct patient care in patients’ homes, covering a range of needs from pediatric to hospice care.
- Hospice Care:LVNs are crucial in providing compassionate care to patients nearing the end of life, often in home-based settings.
- Community Living and Group Homes:These facilities hire LVNs to care for individuals with disabilities or specific long-term care needs.
- Other Settings:Additional employment opportunities can be found in plasma donation centers, school systems, correctional facilities, and mental health centers.
Several prominent healthcare organizations and local networks in Corpus Christi are known for hiring LVNs:
- Major Employers:
- Christus Health
- PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Corpus Christi and PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Westminster
- WellMed (part of Optum, UnitedHealth Group)
- Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.
- Fresenius Medical Care
- Aveanna Healthcare
- Children’s Home Healthcare and Connect Pediatrics
- Driscoll Children’s Hospital
- Nurses on Wheels
- ResCare Community Living and BrightSpring Health Services
- Smaller Facilities and Networks:
- Angel Bright Home Health
- Alameda Oaks Nursing Center
- Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
- Armor Health
- Kids First Pediatric Homecare
- Enhanced Health Solutions
- Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation
- Touchstone Communities
- Nurseio
- Care Options for Kids
- Coastal Palms Nursing and Rehab and River Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center
- Harbor Healthcare System
- LHC Group and Heart of Hospice
- Choice Health at Home
- Grifols
- Corpus Christi Independent School District and Education Service Center 2 Consortium
List of LVN Programs in Corpus Christi, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Del Mar College
- Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nurse Education Certificate
Campus Based - Website
- Campus-based program
- Requires ATI TEAS exam
- Minimum PGPA of 2.5
- Immunization standards required
- CPR certification needed
- Criminal background check
- Weaver Reading Program
- Annual flu vaccination