LVN to RN Online Programs in TX: Top Schools & Key Details
Online LVN to RN bridge programs in Texas offer a flexible and streamlined path to leveling up your healthcare career. Explore top-ranking programs and take a deep dive into three key schools. You’ll gain insights about not only degree levels, admissions requirements, and completion times but also key benefits of going from an LVN to RN role.
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Profiling Three of Texas’ Top LVN to RN Programs
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), possess the experience and training to make them excellent candidates for becoming RNs. Given the extensive skills and knowledge required to become an RN, the role typically leads to better job prospects, higher salaries, and more responsibilities.
To help you transition out of your LVN role and into RN licensure, we’ll explore three quality school with hybrid learning options. Some schools offer classes, interactive labs, and practice simulations in the evenings, and many programs provide online learning paired with a hands-on component for clinical rotations. When choosing an RN bridge program, you’ll want to compare costs, scheduling, program focus, degree options, and completion times to identify the program that best meets your needs.
Panola College
Panola College’s 60-credit LVN-RN Transition program can be completed in 12 months over three semesters, starting with a 10-week summer flex semester. This program includes online classes, on-campus simulations and labs, and in-person clinicals located within a 70-mile radius of Carthage, TX. Clinicals are scheduled by instructors both on weekdays and weeknights. This transition program is for students who are self-directed and highly self-motivated, and applicants must be admitted into the college and complete prerequisites and standardized testing before being considered for the LVN-RN Transition program.
Duration: 12 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $7,500 in-county, $11,820 out-of-county, $23,100 out-of-state
Admissions Requirements:
- Panola College admittance
- Completion of prerequisites
- HESI testing and minimum scores
- Transcripts
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
- Unencumbered LVN license
Core Curriculum:
- Transition to Professional Nursing Competencies
- Health Care Concepts
- Clinicals
- Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
- Professional Nursing Concepts
- Professional Nursing Review and Licensure Preparation
- Prerequisites (e.g., anatomy and physiology, microbiology, composition, etc.)
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Howard College
The Big Spring Transition LVN to RN Program at Howard College starts every spring and summer. Lectures are online, and clinical rotations take place through many hospitals and clinics in the Big Spring and San Angelo areas. Students in this program are LVNs who have been practicing nurses for at least a year and now want to become RNs. LVNs begin the program with a transition course before merging with second-year generic Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students. An articulation agreement with Texas Universities allows ADNs to go on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Duration: 12 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $2,460 in-district, $4,320 out-of-district, $5,770 out-of-state
Admissions Requirements:
- Howard College admission
- Nursing college admission
- Prerequisite courses
- TEAS exam
- Immunizations
- Background clearance
- TX BON Licensure Eligibility review
- Unencumbered LVN license
Core Curriculum:
- Adaptation to Role of Professional Nurse
- Clinicals – Nursing (RN Training) (4)
- Maternal/Newborn Nursing and Women’s Health
- Care of Children and Families
- Elementary Statical Methods
- Mental Health Nursing
- Composition
- General Psychology
- Enhanced Concepts of Adult Health
Coastal Bend College
The LVN to RN Bridge Program at Coastal Bend College builds on your previous LVN education to earn an Applied Science Degree. Using online and in-person lectures along with in-person labs and external clinical experiences, this program qualifies graduates to take the NCLEX-RN. Students are required to be on campus two days per week. Program selection is competitive and based on a scoring system combining GPA, TEAS, and completed coursework. The 60 total semester hours for this program include core nursing classes, licensure prep, and a capstone course. Prerequisite courses must be completed before applying to this LVN to RN bridge program.
Duration: 3 semesters
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $4,440 in-district, $8,160 out-of-district, $9,060 out-of-state)
Admissions Requirements:
- Satisfactory TEAS scores
- TSI for reading and math
- Prerequisites with minimum C grade
- Background check
- Immunizations
- CPR certification
- College admission
- Unencumbered LVN license
Core Curriculum:
- Professional Nursing Competencies
- Health Care Concepts
- Dosage Calculations for Nursing
- Concept-Based Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
- Clinicals
- Life Span Growth & Development
- Ethics
- Professional Nursing Review and Licensure Preparation
- Professional Nursing Concepts
Get Answers: LVN to RN Student FAQs
Most students considering an LVN to RN online program in Texas have the same questions as you. Below are answers to many of those questions, including details on the benefits and process of becoming an RN, how to maintain your RN license, the various course-duration options, and the education levels available for LVNs.
What are the benefits of moving from LVN to RN?
LVNs and RNs are both on the front lines of patient care, but there are significant differences between the roles, many of which make the RN role a bit more attractive. As such, transitioning from an LVN to an RN role offers significant advantages. RNs benefit from expanded career options, higher salaries, and greater autonomy in patient care. Plus, the role provides enhanced job security, opportunities for specialization, and the ability to pursue advanced certifications and degrees. With broader responsibilities and increased earning potential, the LVN to RN transition represents a valuable step forward in nursing career development.
How do I go from an LVN to an RN in Texas?
The transition from LVN to RN in Texas involves completing the right formal education and other credentialing requirements as determined by the Texas State Board of Nursing (BON). After completing an accredited RN education program and passing a criminal background check, you can then take the NCLEX-RN exam. In Texas, prospective RNs must also pass the Nursing Jurisprudence exam. You then submit a license application and all supporting documents using BON’s paperless nursing portal to receive your RN license.
How do I maintain my RN license in Texas?
Renewal involves using BON’s paperless nursing portal to renew your active RN license every two years. Applications for renewal must be submitted within 60 days of active licensure expiration. BON normally sends out postcard reminders to licensees well in advance of the deadline. However, RNs are responsible for maintaining their licensure. You must participate in 20 hours of continuing education and additional competency experiences within your licensing period.
Are there accelerated LVN to RN programs in Texas?
There are some accelerated LVN to RN programs in Texas that potentially take less time to complete than the typical 12 to 18 months required by most programs. Texas County Technical College, for example, offers an accelerated program that can be completed in one year. Some accelerated programs even have online options but not all. Completing an LVN to RN accelerated program faster than a typical program requires having all prerequisites completed. Whatever school you choose, ensure that it adequately prepares you for all RN licensure requirements.
What are the online nursing bridge program levels for LVNs?
Several types and levels of online nursing bridge programs exist to help you grow your nursing credentials and career. For entry-level nurses, there are online CNA to LVN programs that take about a year, online/hybrid LVN to RN programs that take about two years, and LVN to BSN programs that typically take four years. There are even some programs without prerequisites.
Texas’ Leading Online LVN to RN Schools
Texas is home to several online LVN to RN programs that can help you advance your nursing career. The schools below were ranked based on their quality, affordability, accreditation, flexibility in instruction, and access to important student support services. Each also has at least one online component. Find out more about the ranking system through the “About the rankings” popup just above the listing; otherwise, continue reading for the best online LVN to RN Bridge Programs in Texas.
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Base Methodology for EduMed’s Best Online College Rankings for the ’23-’24 school year.
One: Create list of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on data pulled from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which was self-reported by the schools themselves.
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least 1 online component in a program within the ranking-subject area.
Two: Assign Weighting
After creating the list of eligible schools, EduMed data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of metrics, which were all self-reported by the schools themselves to the U.S. Department of Education and IPEDS.
The metrics are listed below in order of most- to least-heavily weighted.
Online Programs – Number of online programs in the relevant subject area.
Online Student % – Number of total students who are enrolled in at least 1 distance-learning course in the relevant subject area.
Tuition – The average in-state tuition for undergraduate students studying full-time, as self-reported by the school.
Institutional Aid – Percent of full-time undergraduate students who are awarded institutional grant aid, as self-reported by the school.
Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
Career Placement Services – Existence of this service on campus or online.
Student/Faculty Ratio
About Our Data: EduMed’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2023
| # | School Name | Type | Tuition | Online Programs | More Details | School Information | Online Students | Academic Counseling | Career Placement | Students w/Institutional Aid | Median Earnings 10yrs After Entry | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baptist Health System School of Health ProfessionsSan Antonio, TX | Private for-profit | $$ | 2 | Licensed vocational nurses who would like to become a licensed RN should consider the LVN to RN program at the Baptist Health System School of Health Professions. The degre builds off knowledge from students' LVN courses and provides courses on specific nursing specialities, such as mental health and gerontology nursing. By the end of this associate degree, students are prepared to sit for the NCLEX exam and become licensed RNs. Program Highlights: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, LVN to RN
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio7/1 |
Online Student %100% |
LVN to RN Careers: Texas Salary Insights
For Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in Texas, advancing to a Registered Nurse (RN) position unlocks access to higher salaries and expanded opportunities. RNs in Texas earn a median salary of $85,110, significantly outpacing the $57,010 median for LVNs. At the upper end, RNs can earn as much as $115,740 annually, making the shift to an RN role a smart move for career-driven professionals. This increase reflects the greater responsibilities and expertise required of RNs, as well as the high demand in Texas’s growing healthcare system.
The job market for healthcare professionals in Texas is thriving. RNs lead the way with a projected growth rate of 14.6%, adding over 34,000 new jobs by 2030. LVNs are also in demand, with a 12.4% growth rate creating 7,820 new roles in the same period. Combined with thousands of annual openings due to retirements and turnover, Texas offers one of the strongest healthcare markets in the nation. Explore the tables below to map out your next steps toward career growth.
| Occupation ↕ | Area ↕ | 10th Percentile ↕ | Median ↕ | 90th Percentile ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Texas | $45,100 | $57,010 | $70,530 |
| Registered Nurses | Texas | $64,580 | $85,110 | $115,740 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Occupation ↕ | Area ↕ | Curr. Jobs ↕ | Proj. Jobs ↕ | New Jobs ↕ | Growth % ↕ | Avg. Ann. Openings ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | United States | 655,000 | 689,900 | 34,900 | 5.30% | 54,400 |
| Registered Nurses | Texas | 233,850 | 267,980 | 34,130 | 14.60% | 16,900 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Texas | 62,840 | 70,660 | 7,820 | 12.40% | 5,830 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
