Trade schools vs. community college

sunray12 · Mar 27, 2009

It doesn't matter where you get your nursing credential - what does matter is whether the school is recognized by your state board of nursing - so the first thing you should do is go to your state bon website and find out that info. The bon will also have other info like the school's nclex pass rate - something else you should consider because this speaks to the quality of the school. Then consider cost. You'll pay more for private school and this can be worth it if there's a long wait at community college or if you don't have any community college programs convenient to you but you probably don't want to be price gouged either.

cookderosa · Mar 27, 2009

I would add that you want to be sure the school is REGIONALLY ACCREDITED. Not all schools are. Some are NATIONALLY ACCREDITED, which is not the same. In academics, regional accreditation is the standard- national accreditation can be.....shady....to be polite.

Regional accreditation means, among other things, that those credits will transfer into another college/university. If the program you speak of is a diploma program, you may want to get an associate or even bachelor degree at a later date. If the school isn't RA, then your local community college can't even accept the credit. Other situations also happen- you move, schools close, life gets in the way- and you don't want to be sitting on 30K worth of worth-less credit that you can't put into another program.

All community colleges are regionally accredited (as are state universities) just check first. (department of ed has a search-able data base, you'll have to google the link)

rollndice · Mar 27, 2009

Thanks for the advice. I was wondering that too. I'm a California native, however, I plan to do my schooling and start my career out in Arizona, I do plan to come back to CA eventually, just in case this happens in the middle of my time at school this is helpful. So if the wait time is going to be very long at the community college would anyone suggest going for my LPN schooling first so I can get through it and be working while waiting to get accepted into an RN program? I hear this is often the faster "smarter" way to go about this. Also, as an LPN I might decide I love or just hate nursing. any suggestions?

Cilantrophobe · Mar 27, 2009

Other situations also happen- you move, schools close, life gets in the way- and you don't want to be sitting on 30K worth of worth-less credit that you can't put into another program.

Wow, you bring up a really good point. I know a lot of people are going back to school and there isn't a shortage of people trying to get into nursing school and pay the required tuition that even trade schools charge, but in this economy you really can't predict the future. Anyone can fall on hard times and I can't imagine giving so much money to a school and be robbed when the school closed its doors.

UVA Grad Nursing · Mar 27, 2009

Do you think you might want to pursue further education (a BSN or a graduate program). If so, you might have problems if your initial nursing education was at a trade school (or for-profit company).

cookderosa · Mar 27, 2009

Do you think you might want to pursue further education (a BSN or a graduate program). If so, you might have problems if your initial nursing education was at a trade school (or for-profit company).

>>

As someone with 17 years community college teaching and advising experience, I want to promise you that the for-profit status or trade/vs liberal arts isn't ever an issue. It is always 100% of the time based on accreditation of the school issuing credit. The exception is transferring in ACE-Evaluated credit, which is going a little off topic, but to be technically correct- a school with ACE evaluated credit that is not regionally accredited can be allowed into RA colleges, but there are a lot of factors depending on your major....

anyway, I just don't want to let the profit/non-profit issue cloud the facts, it's not a factor.

caliotter3 · Mar 27, 2009

As far as the NCLEX is concerned, it does not matter where you went to school. The advantage to the trade school is getting into the program and getting it done instead of dealing with rejections, waiting lists, or lotteries. However, trade school courses typically never transfer to public schools and the quality of the education may be lower. Just because a school is open and functioning does not mean it is optimal. A better education is usually possible in a community college, the cost is low, and the courses will transfer to a four year school when one wants to continue for higher education.

2bRN4BABES21 · Mar 28, 2009

You shouldnt let your math skills affect you. im sure you can tackle your math problems with a little bit of determination and a tutor if needed. a trade school is so expensive. your going to end up paying much more for the lvn alone. and im sure your going to want to go back to get ur bsn....and you would have to take youre pre reqs anyway. i would stick it out withthe community college.

dreamon · Mar 29, 2009

Just to be sure I understand correctly- if you go to trade school, become an RN (or LPN) then go to another school for further training (i.e. RN-BSN) either you won't be accepted or you'll have to do extra work?

Wouldn't A&P/chem/etc be standard at all schools regardless of the type of school?

rollndice · Mar 29, 2009

I just know that I am now a massage therapist and paid 15K for said trade school subject. I busted my butt in A&P, bio etc... and still to this day can tell you majority of the muscled origin/ insertion points, nerve points, bones etc... off the top of my head, not a single one of these classes/credits is going to be able to be transferred to the community college I chose because my education was done at a trade school. the upside of this, these classes will be a bit of breeze as i have already learned the essentials, the bad side of this is I have to pay for classes i should already have. All this input is great and i think I will go the community college route as the trade school does take 2 years yes, but if it is going to mean further downt he line it will make it hard to get my BSN or become a midwife (which is what my persuit is) then in the big picture the 2 years of accelerated learning is not worth all the tea in china. that way too i can focus on the math and Chem at my pace and not be pushed through the program.