Vocational School for my LPN?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2009

I completed an LVN program at a private vocational school in southern California several years ago. It was the springboard to a different job, more money, and enhanced career mobility, so I do not regret my decision.

However, I would pursue the LPN/LVN program with the cheapest tuition. The truth is that all of the schools of nursing will get you to the same end result, which is an LPN license. Why pay more for the exact same license?

In addition, the school that I attended mandated that all applicants possess either a high school diploma or GED prior to even applying.

elkpark · Dec 24, 2009

Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

A lot of the proprietary (for-profit) technical/vocational schools are much more (several times more) expensive than the same program at a community college. You are basically paying for the convenience of no waiting list and the fact that they'll take pretty much anyone who will pay.

One concern about these schools is whether or not the credits/courses you complete there will transfer anywhere else. A lot of tech/voc school offer perfectly good education, and are approved by the BON for you to be eligible for licensure when you graduate, but, because they are not accredited by the same agencies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities (many of them say that they are accredited, but it's by different organizations that only accredit private tech/voc schools), most other schools will not accredit their credits for transfer. So, if you find in the future that you want to (or need to) further your nursing education and career, you'll have to start all over again and your previous coursework won't count.

You may be saying to yourself now that all you want is LPN licensure and you'll never want to do more in nursing than be an LPN, but many, many nurses started out feeling that way, and, after they were in nursing for a few years and saw what other career paths and possibilities were available, they felt differently and returned to school to expand their professional opportunities. IMHO, it's a big mistake these days, esp. in nursing, to pay tuition for any classes that won't transfer to other schools later on. No point in limiting your future career opportunities this early in the process! (And paying a lot more money than necessary to do so ...)

Best wishes!

stacy0906 · Dec 26, 2009

Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:
A lot of the proprietary (for-profit) technical/vocational schools are much more (several times more) expensive than the same program at a community college. You are basically paying for the convenience of no waiting list and the fact that they'll take pretty much anyone who will pay.
One concern about these schools is whether or not the credits/courses you complete there will transfer anywhere else. A lot of tech/voc school offer perfectly good education, and are approved by the BON for you to be eligible for licensure when you graduate, but, because they are not accredited by the same agencies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities (many of them say that they are accredited, but it's by different organizations that only accredit private tech/voc schools), most other schools will not accredit their credits for transfer. So, if you find in the future that you want to (or need to) further your nursing education and career, you'll have to start all over again and your previous coursework won't count.
You may be saying to yourself now that all you want is LPN licensure and you'll never want to do more in nursing than be an LPN, but many, many nurses started out feeling that way, and, after they were in nursing for a few years and saw what other career paths and possibilities were available, they felt differently and returned to school to expand their professional opportunities. IMHO, it's a big mistake these days, esp. in nursing, to pay tuition for any classes that won't transfer to other schools later on. No point in limiting your future career opportunities this early in the process! (And paying a lot more money than necessary to do so ...)
Best wishes!

This is very good and complete information. I am currently in a propriety school for my LPN, but I have already completed my prereqs for a BSN program and I have an associates degree. Frankly, I took this route because it was a sure thing and I didn't have to wait. I walked into the school gave them my transcripts and told them what my goals were and the next month I was sitting in class. I didn't even take the entrance exam because of my transcripts. The drawbacks are if you have never taken any science courses or anything outside a high school diploma it can be very difficult. The program is 12 months of training and no breaks. This Christmas holiday is the my first real break. I'm doing the LPN-BSN route because I really wanted to work my way through. I currently work as a Dialysis Technician. Since I have been working in the field and talked to many nurses many eventually go back to school to expand on there current skills to have more opportunities. I wish you all the best and congratulations on your decision to enter the field.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2009

The best technical nurses I have seen come out of BOCES, the NYS vocational training schools. They are excellent nurses, fully skilled, I depend on them and trust them wholeheartedly.

Go for it.

:)

Roxyann57 · Dec 27, 2009

I go to a vocational school. the only schools in my area offering LPN are private schools which cost around 25,000. I DO NOT have that kind of money and my school cost 6,000 for the 11 months. I love it so far. I graduate in july. My only complaint is the teachers can be very unorganized and that it is full time and they are strict with attendance. It is 1500 hours and you better have 1500 hrs when you graduate or else you aren't! I recommend voc cause thats what I am doing!