LVN Programs in Plano, Texas 2027

LVN Programs in Plano, Texas 2027

Plano sits inside one of the strongest LVN job markets in Texas, with roughly 12,590 licensed vocational nurses employed across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and demand still rising as Collin County adds residents faster than almost any county in the state.

Licensed vocational nurse and licensed practical nurse are the same credential; Texas uses the LVN title for the role. Program choices near Plano , including LVN Programs in Garland , vary sharply in cost, admissions testing, clinical placement, and schedule flexibility, so the right pick depends on more than geography. Compare local LPN/LVN salary, NCLEX-PN pass rates, and total cost before committing.

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LVN Employment Outlook and Salaries in the Plano Metro

Understanding what LVNs earn in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro gives you a concrete benchmark for evaluating tuition costs discussed later in this article. The DFW area employs roughly 12,590 LVNs, and demand continues to climb. Texas workforce projections call for 13% job growth for LVNs statewide between 2022 and 2032, fueled in part by major Plano-area employers such as Medical City Plano (which recently completed a $108 million expansion and now staffs more than 2,400 employees), Texas Health Plano, Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital Plano, and Children's Medical Center Plano. Each of these systems actively recruits licensed vocational nurses for inpatient floors, specialty clinics, and outpatient settings across Collin County.

What It Takes to Get Into an LVN Program in Texas

Collin College, the primary public LVN option within about 40 miles of Plano and one of the area's Community College Nursing Programs, sets TEAS section minimums of 60% in Reading, 60% in Math, and 50% in English Language for applicants to be considered. The program does not publish a single composite cutoff, but Texas LVN programs often look for composite scores in the 58 to 65 range depending on school and applicant pool.

Standard Texas BON Gateways

Every Texas Board of Nursing approved program starts with the same core file for LPN/LVN Program Admissions: high school diploma or GED, minimum age 16, and a clean-enough background to receive approval for clinical training. Collin requires an FBI criminal background check and, when indicated, a declaratory order review. Immunization records must document blood titers for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B. Collin also expects current influenza and COVID-19 vaccination when available, negative TB testing, an annual physical, and Tdap within the last 10 years. CPR certification must be the American Heart Association Professional Rescuer level, and health insurance must be maintained for the entire clinical period. Random drug screening applies at admission and throughout the program.

TEAS and Academic Expectations

Collin weights TEAS heavily: below the LPN/LVN Program Entrance Exam section minimums, an application is ineligible. Students who take prerequisites at another school cannot simply transfer into the VN program; Collin does not accept transfer students into this pathway. Prerequisite coursework includes BIOL 2404, or both BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402, which means anatomy and physiology must be in progress or complete before applying. Some Texas programs also require medical terminology before admission, but Collin does not list it as a standalone VN prerequisite; allied health certification can be submitted as supporting material but is not required.

GPA requirements vary. Many Texas LVN programs use a 2.0 to 2.5 cumulative floor, though Collin's VN materials do not state a single published cutoff. Pre-admission interviews and essays are not the dominant filter in this region. Collin requires a VN information session before the online application but does not describe a scored interview or essay as part of VN selection.

2026-2027 Application Timing

Deadline data for the 2026-2027 VN enrollment cycle was not fully published at the time of this review. Treat dates as program-specific. Collin uses selective admission and an online application that requires the TEAS score, transcript, and optional military or allied health documentation. Because college admission does not guarantee VN program admission, students should complete the college application and the VN information session first, then monitor the nursing program's own deadlines rather than relying on a general college calendar. Rolling admissions should not be assumed. Other programs within 40 miles of Plano, including schools in Dallas, Richardson, and McKinney, may follow similar Texas Board of Nursing gateways but can set their own TEAS composites, prerequisite lists, and deadlines.

LVN Admissions Checklist

Use this checklist to stay organized as you prepare your LVN program application in the Plano area. Requirements vary by school, so confirm specifics with each admissions office.

• High school diploma or GED

  Obtain an official copy of your diploma or GED certificate. Some programs accept foreign equivalents evaluated by an approved credentialing agency.
• Register for and pass the TEAS exam

  Sign up for the ATI TEAS through the testing vendor or your chosen school. Most Texas LVN programs require a minimum composite score, often in the 58–62 range, though competitive programs may expect higher.
• Complete prerequisite courses

  Finish any required prerequisites such as Anatomy & Physiology or basic math. Check whether your target program requires a minimum GPA in these courses.
• Obtain CPR/BLS certification

  Earn a current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card from the American Heart Association or an equivalent approved provider.
• Gather immunization records

  Compile documentation of required vaccinations, including Hepatitis B series, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and a current TB screening. Some schools also require a flu shot.
• Clear a background check and drug screen

  Authorize a criminal background check and submit to a drug screening. Texas Board of Nursing eligibility rules apply, so disclose any prior history upfront.
• Submit your completed application with official transcripts

  Request official transcripts from all previously attended high schools and colleges. Bundle them with the finished application before the posted deadline.
• Pay the application fee

  Fees typically range from $25 to $75 depending on the institution. Confirm accepted payment methods and whether fee waivers are available.

LVN Program Length, Schedules, and Format Options Near Plano

How long does it take to finish one of the Best LVN Programs in Texas near Plano, and can you do it while keeping a day job?

The short answer: plan for roughly 12 to 14 months in a standard full-time daytime track. If you need nights or weekends, expect closer to 14 to 20 months. The Texas Board of Nursing requires a minimum of approximately 558 supervised clinical hours for vocational nursing licensure, and those hours cannot be compressed indefinitely, so the schedule you choose directly shapes your total time to completion.

Full-Time Daytime Tracks

Most programs in the DFW area run full-time during weekday hours and graduate students in about 12 to 13 months, a timeline you can compare with the Fastest LPN/LVN Programs of 2026 list. Dallas College offers a 12-month Vocational Nursing Certificate with daytime-only classes and explicitly warns students that maintaining full-time outside employment may not be realistic.¹ CTK Healthcare in Irving follows a similar 12-month, morning-and-day in-person structure. Concorde's Dallas campus runs a daytime Vocational Nursing Diploma that can be completed in as few as 13 months. Arlington Career Institute's day program also wraps up in 12 months.

Evening and Night Options

For students who work during the day, two documented options stand out. Concorde's Grand Prairie campus offers an evening and weekend track that extends the program to approximately 20 months, covering the same curriculum and clinical requirements as the daytime cohort. Arlington Career Institute runs a night vocational nursing program, accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing, with a 14-month timeline. Both tracks let you hold daytime employment, though clinical rotations may occasionally require flexibility with your work schedule.

Hybrid and Online Formats

Fully online LVN programs are not available in this area, and for good reason: the clinical hour requirements make a completely remote format impossible. Some programs incorporate online or hybrid didactic coursework, but detailed Hybrid LPN Programs offerings at specific DFW-area schools are not widely published for the current cycle. All programs require in-person attendance for skills labs and clinical rotations regardless of how lecture content is delivered.

Choosing the Right Fit

Working adults should weigh three factors: total months to completion, weekly time commitment, and commute distance. An evening or weekend track adds months to your timeline, but it preserves daytime income, which can offset the extended schedule financially. Confirm clinical scheduling with any program you are considering, because clinical shifts (often 8 to 12 hours) may fall outside your chosen track's usual time slot.

LVN Schedule Options at a Glance

Plano-area LVN programs typically offer more than one scheduling track so students can fit coursework around jobs and family obligations. The three most common formats differ in weekly time commitment, total duration, and when clinical rotations are scheduled. Here is a quick comparison to help you identify the best fit.

Tuition and Financial Aid for Plano-Area LVN Students

Tuition is simply what a school charges for the program itself, but the cost of LPN programs & schools rarely reflects what a student actually pays once grants and scholarships are applied. That gap between sticker price and net price matters more in practical nursing than almost anywhere else in higher education, because the three ranked programs near Plano sit on very different ends of the pricing spectrum.

Public vs. private pricing

Tarrant County College is the public option here, and it shows: in-state tuition runs a few thousand dollars, with a net price after aid landing around $4,300, largely because Pell Grants cover so much of the bill. Concorde Career College-Dallas and Galen College of Nursing are both private institutions, and their sticker tuition (roughly $17,000 to $25,000) plus fees pushes net price into the $30,000 to $42,000 range even after aid is factored in. Private schools often move faster and offer more flexible start dates, but that convenience carries a real cost premium.

What tuition doesn't cover

Even the published tuition number is not the full bill. Budget separately for:

• Fees and supplies: lab fees, textbooks, scrubs, a stethoscope, and clinical supplies
• Liability insurance: required before clinical rotations begin
• NCLEX-PN exam fee: about $200
• Texas BON licensure application: a separate state fee on top of testing costs

Pell Grants and other aid

Pell eligibility varies sharply by school. Around 92% of Tarrant County College students receive Pell Grants, compared to about 74% at Concorde and 66% at Galen, a reflection of both program cost and student income levels. Regardless of school, file the FAFSA first. Beyond Pell, look into institutional scholarships, the Texas Workforce Commission's Skills Development Fund, and tuition reimbursement programs offered by DFW-area hospital systems for employees pursuing LVN licensure while working.

Setting expectations

Across Texas, a full LVN program typically runs $8,000 to $20,000 or more depending on public versus private status, program length, and included supplies. Use that range, not the headline tuition figure, when comparing schools near Plano.

Total Cost of LVN School in Texas

Understanding where your money goes can help you budget effectively and target financial aid to the most expensive line items. The mid-range estimate below reflects a typical Texas LVN program at a community college or vocational school, though actual costs vary by institution.

NCLEX-PN Pass Rates and Graduate Outcomes

Choosing an LVN program based on cost or schedule alone can backfire if the school's graduates struggle to pass the licensing exam. Your first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate is the clearest single indicator of whether a program actually prepared you for practice, and a failed attempt can delay your licensure, and your paycheck, by weeks or months.

Why the Pass Rate Matters

The Texas Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-PN results for every approved LVN program. For the 2024 reporting year, the statewide first-time pass rate across all Texas LVN programs was roughly 93 percent, with 3,261 of 3,497 first-time test-takers earning a passing score. Any program you consider should meet or exceed that benchmark. A rate significantly below the state average suggests gaps in curriculum, clinical preparation, or student support.

The 80-Percent Threshold

Texas BON requires LVN programs to maintain at least an 80 percent first-time pass rate. Programs that fall short can be placed on warning, conditional approval, or probation. The Board recognizes several approval categories: Full Approval, Full with Warning, Conditional, and Initial with Warning. If a program loses its approval status while you are enrolled, you could be left scrambling to transfer credits or start over elsewhere. Before you commit tuition dollars, verify a program's current BON approval status directly on the Board's website.

Graduate Outcomes Near Plano

Among Plano-area programs tracked in our scorecard, detailed post-graduation earnings and employment data are not yet published for every school. That said, some programs do report strong outcomes. Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, TX, for instance, highlights a 100 percent licensure pass rate for its vocational nursing program, while Concorde Career College in Dallas , one of the Best LVN Programs in Dallas , notes full BON approval and integrated NCLEX-PN review in its curriculum. Galen College of Nursing in Richardson also operates an LVN track in the immediate area.

When comparing schools, ask admissions offices for the most recent first-time pass rate, not just an "overall" rate that may include repeat testers. Programs with consistently high first-time results across multiple years are generally safer bets than those that spike one year and dip the next.

How to Choose an LVN Program in the Plano Area

Five factors separate a good LVN decision from a costly mistake: Texas Board of Nursing approval, schedule fit, total cost, clinical placement sites, and NCLEX-PN pass rates. Weigh all five together rather than picking on tuition or convenience alone, since the cheapest or closest option isn't always the one that gets you licensed and hired.

Approval versus accreditation matters more than most applicants realize. Texas BON approval is non-negotiable: a graduate must have it to take the NCLEX-PN in this state, full stop. National accreditation through ACEN or ABHES is a separate layer that affects credit transfer, eligibility for certain federal aid programs, and whether a bridge program elsewhere will accept your coursework. A program can be BON-approved without national accreditation, but if you plan to move states under LPN/LVN Reciprocity or pursue an LVN to RN in Texas bridge program later, that second credential adds real portability.

Clinical Site Variety

Ask any program directly which facilities host their clinical rotations. Strong DFW-corridor programs place students across acute care, long-term care, and outpatient settings, sometimes including hospital systems like Medical City Plano or Texas Health Presbyterian, alongside skilled nursing facilities and community clinics. Rotating through varied settings before graduation builds the kind of hands-on comfort that hiring managers notice in new-grad interviews, and it helps you figure out which specialty fits you before you're job hunting.

Visit Before You Enroll

Most LVN programs in this region hold monthly open houses or info sessions, and it's worth attending in person if at all possible. Walk the skills lab, ask current students about instructor availability, and get a straight answer on clinical placement logistics, since a glossy brochure can't tell you whether a program actually runs the way it claims to.

Widen the Search Radius

Plano sits inside a dense nursing-education corridor, and a 40-mile radius pulls in McKinney, Richardson, Garland, Irving, and Fort Worth. A program in one of those cities might offer a better evening schedule, lower tuition, or shorter waitlist than anything based in Plano proper, so don't rule out a slightly longer commute if the fit is otherwise stronger.

Ranked LVN Programs Near Plano

Below are the ranked LVN programs serving Plano students, all within commuting distance of the 75093 ZIP code across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Each entry reflects the school's net price after aid, its overall graduation rate, and the program details that matter most to commuting students. Program-level earnings and debt figures for these nursing programs have not yet been published, so the outcome data shown here is school-wide.

TA

Tarrant County College District#1

Fort Worth, TX · $2,000 – $8,000/yr

Hispanic-Serving Institution

★Best for: Budget-minded commuters at a public college

Tarrant County College is a public two-year college that runs its Vocational Nursing certificate at Trinity River Campus East in Fort Worth, the school's health sciences hub and roughly a 45-minute to one-hour drive west from Plano. The school's overall graduation rate is 34%, and estimated total program tuition of about $5,170 makes this one of the more affordable routes in the metro. Its real draw for Plano readers is stackability: the same campus hosts an associate degree nursing fast-track designed for licensed vocational nurses, and a Tarleton State University partnership lets graduates keep going toward a bachelor's degree in nursing without leaving the Metroplex.

• Vocational Nursing, Certificate or DiplomaOn-Campus→

Vocational Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus

Tarrant County College District

• Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing
• Estimated total program tuition of $5,170
• 45 total credit hours, Level 2 certificate
• 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate in 2023
• Selective admission at the Trinity River Campus East site
• Financial aid and VA educational benefits accepted
• Credits transfer toward a bachelor's degree

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GA

Galen Health Institutes-Dallas#2

Richardson, TX · $31,000/yr

★Best for: Career changers holding a prior bachelor's degree

Galen College of Nursing's Dallas-area campus sits in Richardson, about 15 minutes from Plano along US-75, which makes it the shortest commute of the three schools on this list. The Practical/Vocational Nursing diploma runs 12 months with four start dates a year, on-campus classes in modern clinical learning labs, and clinical placements tied to Dallas health systems. Entrance requirements are comparatively flexible: several standardized tests are accepted, and applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree may be able to bypass the entrance exam entirely. Once licensed, graduates can return through Galen's vocational nurse to ADN bridge for RN coursework in the same system.

• Practical/Vocational Nursing, Certificate or DiplomaOn-Campus→

Practical/Vocational Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus

Galen Health Institutes-Dallas

• 12-month Practical/Vocational Nursing diploma
• Four start dates per year
• Entrance exam required, TEAS accepted
• Applicants with a bachelor's degree may waive the entrance exam
• $0 application fee with no essays required
• On-campus classes in modern clinical learning labs
• Academic advisor, faculty advisors, and tutors assigned
• Financial aid, scholarships, and grants available

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CO

Concorde Career College-Dallas#3

Dallas, TX · $25,000 – $30,000/yr

★Best for: Hands-on learners wanting intensive clinical training

Concorde Career College's Dallas campus sits on Greenville Avenue in North Dallas, near Richardson and Garland, roughly a 20-minute drive south of Plano on US-75. The school's overall graduation rate is 60%, and its vocational nursing diploma covers 52 credit hours and 490 clinical hours on a 13-month daytime track with NCLEX-PN review built into the curriculum. Off-site clinical rotations place students in hospitals, long-term care, physician offices, and home health settings across the metro, and the school also offers an evening and weekend vocational nursing track at its Grand Prairie campus for students who need a different schedule.

• Vocational Nursing Diploma ProgramOn-Campus→

Vocational Nursing Diploma Program — On-Campus

Concorde Career College-Dallas

• Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing
• 13-month daytime track, 52 credit hours
• 490 hours of hands-on clinical experience
• NCLEX-PN review included in the curriculum
• Coursework spans pharmacology and medical-surgical nursing
• Off-site clinical rotations at DFW healthcare sites
• Financial aid and scholarships available
• Graduates work in hospitals, long-term care, and home health

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Frequently Asked Questions About LVN Programs in Plano

Below are answers to the questions prospective LVN students in the Plano area ask most often. Where specific data points come from statewide or single-program reports, that context is noted so you can gauge how they apply to your situation.

1. How much does LVN school cost in Texas?

   Tuition at public Texas colleges typically falls in the $4,000 to $9,000 range for in-district students. On top of that, expect roughly $1,500 to $3,500 in additional expenses for books, uniforms, immunizations, and malpractice insurance. Licensing adds about $475, including the $200 NCLEX-PN exam fee. Total out-of-pocket costs at some colleges run higher: Navarro College, for example, estimates around $12,271 for the full program.

2. How long does it take to complete an LVN program near Plano?

   A full-time LVN program in the Plano area commonly takes about 12 months of continuous enrollment. If you choose a part-time, evening, or weekend track, plan on roughly 14 to 20 months to finish. Exact timelines vary by school, so confirm the published calendar with any program you are considering before committing.

3. Are there evening or part-time LVN programs near Plano?

   Several schools serving the greater Plano and Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Fort Worth, TX, offer evening, weekend, or part-time scheduling options. These flexible tracks extend the program to approximately 14 to 20 months. Availability can change each enrollment cycle, so contact your target schools directly to confirm which scheduling formats are open for the upcoming start date.

4. Is an LVN license the same as an LPN license in Texas?

   Yes. Texas uses the title Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), while most other states use Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The credentials are functionally equivalent, and both require passing the same NCLEX-PN examination. If you relocate to another state, you will typically apply for LPN endorsement using your Texas LVN credentials, though each state board sets its own endorsement requirements.

5. What is the NCLEX-PN pass rate for LVN programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?

   A DFW-wide aggregate is not published as a single figure, but individual program rates are available through the Texas Board of Nursing. For context, the 2024 statewide first-time pass rate was 93.25%, well above the national average of 88.38%. Dallas College, one nearby program, reported a 90.48% first-time pass rate in 2025 (19 of 21 candidates). Check each school's published outcomes or the Best LVN Programs in Dallas 2026 guide for the most relevant comparison.

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