Concorde?

U.S.A. California

Published

Hello. I'm moving to Southern California mid-December. I want to eventually get a B.S. in Nursing, but I want to become an LVN first for experience and also to make some money while going to school. I do have some college credit already, but it's just core curriculum and electives, so it won't help much anyhow. I was wondering what all people have heard about Concorde? What other colleges are there around there with an accelerated LVN program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I went to Concorde at the San Bernardino Campus. It cost 17000 when I went. The instructors were allright, the financial aid department was weak. They "realized" on the due date for financial aid that they hadn't had us fill at our paperwork which ended up being a mad rush.

It was just a quick way to get through school with less hassles than most community colleges, they took care of your immunization requirements for you, applying to take the boards, etc. All you had to do was show up to class every day and study a bunch.

I heard that now they require that you be either a CNA or a MA before starting the program. With that, you might want to look into adult schools, same types of requirements, but they only cost 3000 dollars.

Something to consider.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Do look into the LVN programs at the community colleges and adult schools, which are practically free compared to the fees for the private schools. $17,000+ is a lot of money to spend for the privilege of earning substantially less than an RN in most cases.

Also consider concentrating on RN prerequisites instead. You will have to take them anyway to do an RN program later, even if you already are an LVN.

Best of luck to you. =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I attended a Southern California LVN program that was private, pricey, and similar to Concorde Career Institute. Be advised that your credits will not transfer to any legitimate RN program, because Concorde is not regionally accredited.

However, your LVN license will transfer when you're ready to do the LVN-to-RN route. Most community colleges and universities will issue you en bloc credit, or advanced placement into their LVN-to-RN programs, thereby enabling you to bypass the first year of the RN program. Many people have successfully bridged to RN after completing their LVN educations at private colleges that lack regional accreditation. I hope this clears things up.

Another note...your A&P education that you receive at the private schools will not transfer, so be ready to take some prerequisites at a local community college or university before applying to an LVN-to-RN bridge program. They will not accept the A&P, med math, and so on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nicu, transition.

Concorde is expensive. Have you heard of ROP? I got my LVN license there and all I had to pay for was my books and uniforms. There is nothing to finance. Their LVN program is located in Anaheim. I think it is called North Orange County Regional Occupational Program. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Concorde is expensive. Have you heard of ROP? I got my LVN license there and all I had to pay for was my books and uniforms. There is nothing to finance. Their LVN program is located in Anaheim. I think it is called North Orange County Regional Occupational Program. Good luck!

How long is their LVN program and do you have to start it in the fall?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I attended a Southern California LVN program that was private, pricey, and similar to Concorde Career Institute. Be advised that your credits will not transfer to any legitimate RN program, because Concorde is not regionally accredited.

However, your LVN license will transfer when you're ready to do the LVN-to-RN route. Most community colleges and universities will issue you en bloc credit, or advanced placement into their LVN-to-RN programs, thereby enabling you to bypass the first year of the RN program. Many people have successfully bridged to RN after completing their LVN educations at private colleges that lack regional accreditation. I hope this clears things up.

Another note...your A&P education that you receive at the private schools will not transfer, so be ready to take some prerequisites at a local community college or university before applying to an LVN-to-RN bridge program. They will not accept the A&P, med math, and so on.

thanks that does help. what LVN school did you go to?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I went to Concorde at the San Bernardino Campus. It cost 17000 when I went. The instructors were allright, the financial aid department was weak. They "realized" on the due date for financial aid that they hadn't had us fill at our paperwork which ended up being a mad rush.

It was just a quick way to get through school with less hassles than most community colleges, they took care of your immunization requirements for you, applying to take the boards, etc. All you had to do was show up to class every day and study a bunch.

I heard that now they require that you be either a CNA or a MA before starting the program. With that, you might want to look into adult schools, same types of requirements, but they only cost 3000 dollars.

Something to consider.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

are you glad you went to concorde? was it hard to find a job after you graduated?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nicu, transition.
How long is their LVN program and do you have to start it in the fall?

It is 12 months long and it has 2 starting classes each year, one in June and one in October.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
thanks that does help. what LVN school did you go to?
I attended Casa Loma College. Their 2 campuses are located in Van Nuys and Hawthorne.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello...I am currently enrolled at the San Bernardino campus. I will grad. in Jan (i took the part time class- and I suggest the full time 12 mo class if you have a choice!)...when I signed up it was $24,000 and I know that it is at least $2000 more now. I have not heard that they require you to be a MA or CNA 1st- this was not the case when I signed up...but you may want to check now.

I just wanted to give you an idea of what the cost has risen to over the past several years...

Would I do it again? Yes, but I would take the shorter class as I said above. The instructors are always coming and going and we have seen several directors of the program during our time there...not a lot of consistency in the administration. And with the instructors changing the way they do you always have to adjust to each new person's expectations- which can be hard for some.

One plus is that Concorde has a very high NCLEX pass rate (leave it to me to not remember exact #s- sorry!)...they offer a NCLEX study class (a weekend long, I believe) and if you take this class (incl. in the tuition) then they pay for your 1st try at the boards...of course, hopefully, it should only take the one time so you don't have to pay the fees.

GL with what ever you choose to do...and I hope that you find the path for you! :D

~Brandy :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
when I signed up it was $24,000 and I know that it is at least $2000 more now. I have not heard that they require you to be a MA or CNA 1st- this was not the case when I signed up...but you may want to check now.

I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience. I talked to one of their representative on the phone and she informed me the tuition is around 25K right now. she didn't say anything about being a cna or a ma to take the lvn class. but she said i needed to go in for an interview type thing once i'm in california. (i'm in upstate ny right now)

how long after you did your interview were you able to get everything in order and start class?

*Shirley

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment