Best LVN Programs in Lubbock 2026
Discover Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in Lubbock, Texas with details on schools, curriculum, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Lubbock area.
Other Cities in Texas LVN Programs
2026 Best LVN Programs in Lubbock, TX
South Plains College
Levelland, TX - Public 2-Year - southplainscollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
South Plains College's Vocational Nursing Program delivers a 12-month, intensive curriculum that prepares students for direct patient care as licensed vocational nurses. Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, the program combines rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training across multiple campus locations like Levelland and Reese Center. Graduates earn a Certificate of Proficiency and are well-prepared for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and TSI compliance, with no entrance exam needed. This program emphasizes practical skills and real-world experience to ensure readiness for the nursing field.
- 12-month intensive nursing curriculum
- Multiple campus location options
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Texas Board of Nursing approved
- Minimum 2.0 GPA required
- Clinical training included
- Certificate of Proficiency awarded
Lubbock LVN Program Overview
Lubbock’s Licensed Vocational Nurses play a vital role across the city’s care settings by providing direct patient care, administering medications within scope, monitoring and documenting patient status, and supporting care teams led by registered nurses and physicians. LVNs are especially important for access to care in West Texas, where Lubbock functions as a medical hub serving urban and surrounding rural communities.
The local healthcare landscape includes major hospital systems such as University Medical Center and Covenant Health, specialty and pediatric services, numerous skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics. Consistent with national labor data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for LVNs is projected to grow in the coming decade, with strong demand in long-term care, home health, and ambulatory settings driven by an aging population and chronic care needs.
LVN programs in Lubbock typically offer an accelerated full-time track of about 12 months that combines classroom instruction, skills lab, and supervised clinical rotations at local facilities. Some colleges may provide part-time or evening options that extend completion to approximately 18 to 24 months, allowing working adults to progress toward licensure while balancing employment and family obligations.
Program curricula are designed to prepare graduates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). In Texas, vocational nursing education programs and LVN licensure are regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing, which approves programs, sets educational standards, and oversees the application and eligibility process for the NCLEX-PN.
Employment Opportunities for LVNs in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas, serves as a significant healthcare hub, providing services to a broad population across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, encompassing over 1.2 million people. This makes the medical industry a primary employer within the city. The demand for quality healthcare services in Lubbock is projected to increase, driven by an aging population, which ensures a stable employment outlook for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) through the 2020s and beyond. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2023, there were 1,320 vocational nurses in Lubbock, representing approximately 21% of the city’s total nursing workforce. The average hourly pay for an LVN in Lubbock was $27.05, with salaries generally ranging from $21.57 to $32.49 per hour.
LVNs in Lubbock find employment across a diverse range of healthcare settings, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the city’s medical infrastructure. These settings include:
- Hospitals:Major hospital systems consistently hire LVNs for various roles. Noteworthy employers include Covenant Health, UMC Health System, and Lubbock Heart Hospital, where LVNs may fulfill positions in areas such as chemotherapy and quality analysis.
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities:There is a consistent demand for LVNs in these environments. Examples of facilities include Carillon Senior Living – Skilled Nursing, Windmill Nursing & Rehab Center, Crown Point Health Suites, Bender Terrace of Lubbock, The Plaza at Lubbock, Southern Specialty Rehab & Nursing, Whisperwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Heritage Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lakeside Rehabilitation and Care Center, and Lubbock Health Care Center. The Lubbock State Supported Living Center is also a significant employer in this sector.
- Home Health Agencies:A substantial number of opportunities exist in home health care. Agencies such as American Star Home Health Care Inc., Beyondfaith Homecare & Rehab Llc, Encompass Home Health of Lubbock, Interim Healthcare of West Texas Llc, Direct Health Care Inc., Calvert Home Health Care Ltd., UMC Home Health, Cuidado Casero Home Health Lubbock, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, Children’s Home Healthcare, Connect Pediatrics, BrightStar Care Lubbock, and Aveanna Healthcare actively recruit LVNs for in-home patient care, including specialized pediatric home health services.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities focusing on rehabilitative services, such as Trustpoint Rehab Hospital of Lubbock, offer employment opportunities for LVNs.
- Senior Living Facilities:Assisted living communities, including Carillon Senior Living, also seek LVNs to support their residents.
- Private Practices and Clinics:While varied, job postings indicate roles in specialized medical offices and clinics, such as cardiology and student health services at Texas Tech University. KEDPLASMA LLC, a plasma donation center, also hires licensed nurses.
- Correctional Healthcare:The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Managed Care provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients within facilities of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice across West Texas, offering LVN positions.
Key Healthcare Employers for LVNs in Lubbock:
- Covenant Health:This is the region’s largest health system, employing over 5,000 individuals and operating 1,326 licensed beds, offering a full spectrum of care. LVNs are hired for various departments, including chemotherapy and adult hematology oncology.
- UMC Health System (University Medical Center):A Level I Trauma Center, UMC serves as the primary teaching hospital for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)::A top-ranked medical program that also encompasses schools of nursing and allied health. TTUHSC hires LVNs for direct patient care, mental health, and dental services within its managed care operations for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Texas Tech University’s Student Health Services also employs LVNs.
- Lubbock State Supported Living Center:This facility regularly posts full-time LVN positions.
- Carillon Senior Living:This community is known to recruit LVNs for its assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
- KEDPLASMA LLC:A plasma donation center that hires licensed nurses, including LVNs.
Smaller Facilities and Networks:
Beyond the major systems, several smaller facilities and networks significantly contribute to LVN employment opportunities in Lubbock:
- StarCare Specialty Health System:Provides mental health and intellectual disability services.
- US Renal Care and Fresenius Medical Care:These are dialysis centers offering specialized nursing roles.
- Encompass Health:A provider of rehabilitation and home health services.
- Staffing Agencies:Hopewell Staffing and Professional Case Management connect LVNs with various healthcare settings.
- Pediatric Home Health Agencies:Care Options for Kids, Connect Pediatrics, Children’s Home Healthcare, BrightStar Care Lubbock, and Aveanna Healthcare specialize in pediatric home health care.
- Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facilities:Lubbock Health Care Center and The Plaza at Lubbock offer opportunities in these settings.
- ResCare Community Living:Provides support to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disabilities, hiring LVNs for community living services.