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Vocational Nursing

2025 Fall Applications Deadline EXTENSION: JULY 10, 2025

Program Level:

Certificates

Department:

Nursing Education

Institute:

Health & Biosciences

College:

SPC

What is the Vocational Nursing program?

The LVN scope of practice is directed and requires the appropriate supervision of a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, physician, dentist, or podiatrist. The LVN, with a focus on patient safety, is required to function within the legal scope of practice and under the federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of the healthcare institution or practice setting. The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate, and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable healthcare needs. The program is 12 months in length, full-time, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. All students must be able to meet admission requirements as well as clinical and classroom schedules. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) through the Texas Board of Nursing. Passing this exam certifies the graduate to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

What will I learn?

The curriculum covers the fundamentals of vocational nursing, ethical and legal aspects of nursing practice, nutrition, gerontology, communication skills, body structure and function, administration of medications and solutions, medical and surgical nursing, obstetrical nursing, pediatric nursing, mental health nursing, and professional development. In addition to classroom study, the student will receive supervised laboratory and clinical experiences in local long-term care facilities, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities in San Antonio and surrounding communities.

What's special about the program?

The St. Philip’s College Vocational Nursing Program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to award the Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing.

What can I do with this course of study?

Licensed Vocational Nurse

SPC Nursing Students who complete the 12-month, three-semester program are awarded a Certificate of Completion.

VN End-of-Program Learning Outcomes

EPSLO 1:

Facilitate leadership initiatives by building consensus and managing conflicts in patient care, addressing health care disparities, and promoting equitable management of common diseases across local and global contexts.

EPSLO 2:

Analyze collaborative strategies as both a team member and leader within various care settings, contributing to clinical pathways that reduce patient risks and improve cost-effective care outcomes for patients and families.

EPSLO 3:

Integrate evidence-based guidelines, nursing sciences, and clinical expertise to analyze complex patient scenarios, making safe clinical judgments that honor patient and family values.

EPSLO 4:

Organize human and material resources to deliver patient-centered care, examining the ethical and legal considerations that impact nursing practice

EPSLO 5:

Implement culturally responsive, quality care for diverse patient populations by collaborating with patients, families, and interprofessional healthcare teams, promoting shared decision-making.

EPSLO 6:

Demonstrate professional conduct and ethical behavior aligned with the standards of nursing practice, maintaining accountability and adhering to legal and regulatory guidelines.

EPSLO 7:

Apply information technology and data management systems to improve clinical decision-making, communication, and error reduction, supporting quality improvement in healthcare.

EPSLO 8:

Participate in and assess performance and quality improvement activities to enhance patient care delivery and optimize healthcare outcomes.

VN Program Outcomes

Expected Level of Achievement 1:

Annual licensure examination pass rate will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers during the same 12-month period.

Vocational Program NCLEX Pass Rate (ELA is 80%)
Year 2022 2023 2024 Three-Year Average
First Time Pass Rate 87.04% 94.44% 90.63% 90.82%

Expected Level of Achievement 2:

At least 65% of the students will complete the VN program courses on time.

Vocational Program On-Time Completion Rate (ELA is 65%)
Year 2022 2023 2024 Three-Year Average
Summer Cohort 56.68% 55.32% 85.37% 65.79%
Fall Cohort 85.29% 73.81% 78.38% 79.16%
Overall 70.99% 64.57% 81.88% 72.48%

Expected Level of Achievement 3:

At least 80% of graduates will find employment as a VN within six months.

Vocational Program Job Placement Rate (ELA is 80%)
Year 2022 2023 2024 Three-Year Average
Summer Cohort 85.7% 78.26% 87.5% 83.82%
Fall Cohort 82.61% 93.33% 83.33% 86.42%
Overall 84.16% 85.8% 85.42% 85.13%
Program Information and Licensure

The St. Philip’s College Vocational Nursing program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to award a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing.

Contact information for the Texas Board of Nursing is William P. Hobby Building, 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460, Austin, TX 78701-3944, Phone (512) 305-7400 or at http://www.bon.texas.gov/contact_us.asp

Licensure:

Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) through the Texas Board of Nursing. Passing this exam certifies the graduate to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

THECB Statutory Requirement

Admissions and Prerequisite Requirements

Admissions Requirements:

The requirements for admission into the St. Philip’s College Vocational Nursing Program are in accordance with the Alamo Colleges admission policies, admission policies of the Vocational Nursing program and policies specified by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).

Complete and submit the admission application to the Alamo Colleges District. Go to AlamoENROLL for more information.  Select the appropriate type of student you will be. You will then receive a series of e-mails with directions on how to log-in to your Alamo Colleges Education Services (ACES) account to view the “Start Here” Tab for next steps and required GO FAARR and TEST PREP modules if requested. 
The St. Philip’s College school code is 003608.
Admission to St. Philip’s College is required before applying to the Vocational Nursing Program.
The Apply Texas application is for admission to the college, not for admission to the nursing program. You will have to complete a separate application for the nursing program.

If you are an Alamo Colleges District student, you must see your advisor and complete a Change of Primary Institution for St. Philip's College.

The deadlines for Change of Primary Institution is: 

Fall Deadline: July 30

Spring Deadline: November 30

Summer Deadline: April 30

If you are a student coming from another institution, you must complete the Apply Texas application to become a student at St. Philip's College. There are financial aid implications if St. Philip's College is not your primary institution.

Prerequisite Requirements:

Although not required, we strongly encourage completing the following courses prior to admission:

  • Anatomy & Physiology I&II (BIOL2401 and  BIOL2402) or BIOL2404
  • Nutrition (one of the following: BIOL1322, BIOL1323, FDNS1305)
  • PSYC 2314 Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
  • HITT 1305 Medical Terminology

 

Application and Selection Process

Application Process:

To apply for the Vocational Nursing Program at St. Philip's College, please follow these steps:

  1. Review Program Information: Carefully read the program information packet to understand the prerequisites and requirements.
  2. Complete the Application Packet: Fill out the application packet, which can be found in the links provided below.
  3. Prepare Required Documents: Gather all necessary documents as outlined in the application packet.
  4. Assemble Your Application: Place the completed application packet and all required documents into a 9 x 12 brown envelope.
  5. Submit Your Application:
    • By Mail: Send the assembled application to:

    St. Philip’s College
    Nursing Education Department, CHP 100
    1801 Martin Luther King Dr.
    San Antonio, TX 78203

    • In Person: Deliver the assembled application directly to the Nursing Education Department at the above address.
  6. Application Deadlines:
    • Fall Applications: Submit by July 10, 2025 (Extension)
    • Spring Applications: Submit by October 30, 2025

TEAS Exam Requirements

All applicants must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam and submit results along with the completed application packet. The college offers on-campus TEAS testing at its MLK Campus. Information on registration and preparation for the TEAS Exam can be found here.

Important Notes

  • Information and qualifications are subject to change. Please review the documentation provided before submitting your application.
  • If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Nursing Education office at 210-486-2055.

Non-Discrimination Statement

St. Philip's College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all programs and activities sponsored or conducted by the College District.

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ACEN Candidacy

Effective June 15, 2023, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on June 15, 2025. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000 http://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.

Contact Us

Ivette Sterling, MSN, RN-BC

Program Director

210-486-2055

MLK : Center for Health Professions (CHP), 100

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