FOR INQUIRIES:
Jonathan Klassen BSN, RN
Assistant Director of LVN/Nursing Clinical Coordinator
Attendance to a Nursing Program Information Session is mandatory prior to submitting an application. Failure to attend a session will result in automatic rejection of your application.
Vocational Nursing
The Licensed Vocational Nursing program will be accepting applications for the New Part Time Traditional LVN program October 1st until October 31st. *No applications will be accepted after October 31st 5pm.
*NEW STARTING APRIL 1, 2026 ALL NURSING STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE HESI A2 EXAM PRIOR TO APPLYING.*
After this date, TEAS scores will no longer be accepted. For questions or additional information, please contact the success coaches.
The Odessa College vocational nursing program is a certificate program that prepares the graduate to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). We currently offer 2 pathways in our LVN program:
- Traditional Pathway: A 1-year full time program offered only at Andrews and Monahans Extension Centers.
- Extended Pathway: An 18-month part-time option offered on the Odessa College Main Campus.
The LVN functions as an important member of a health care team under a licensed physician and/or a registered nurse’s supervision. Vocational nurses provide care in a variety of structured health care settings for individual clients who are experiencing common health problems. The Odessa College vocational nursing programs are approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
The BON is located at 333 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701; phone 512-305-7400. The nursing curriculum plan is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
Applications will be accepted online only through this email: LVN@odessa.edu
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. In order to allow students to complete the application process by the deadline, we encourage students to submit all required documents. Call 432-335-6390 or 432-524-1990 if you have any questions or concerns.
- Admission Guide Video
- LVN Admission Requirements for 2025 applicants
- VN Program Application
- Attendance of a Nursing Program Information Session is mandatory prior to submitting an application. Failure to attend a session will result in automatic rejection of your application.
- Information Session Dates for Applicants starting a program in January 2026:
- In Person: September 8th, 2025, at 9:00 AM - In the Wood Health Science Building Community Rm, 201
- In Person: September 29th, 2025, at 5:00 PM - In the Wood Health Science Building Community Rm, 201
- Virtual (Zoom): October 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM [Join Here]
The nursing programs at Odessa College are designed to lead the way in preparing nursing students for practice in a multicultural community within a diverse and changing health care environment, advance the practice of nursing, and provide quality, comprehensive health care in a competent, caring and compassionate manner.
The Odessa College nursing programs will advance the practice of nursing in our diverse and evolving communities of care through increased education of our nursing workforce and fostering the application of management principles, evidence-based practice, and compassionate leadership to improve health outcomes.
LVN Pillars
- Professionalism and leadership: Demonstrating integrity, lifelong learning, accountability and responsibility while functioning within the legal and ethical scope of practice.
- Clinical Judgment and evidence-based practice: Analyzing assessment data to identify problems, formulate expected outcomes, and develop collaborative plans of care for patients and their family using information from best current evidence.
- Safety and quality: Minimizing the risk of harm to patients and providers through individual performance.
- Patient centered care: Integrating knowledge of patient and family cultural factors when providing care, including age, religion, ethnicity, economics, and gender.
- Informatics and Technology: Communicating and managing information using technology to support decision making in providing patient care.
LVN Courses
| NLCEX-PN-5-Year Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | Texas Pass Rate | Monahans Pass Rate | Andrews Pass Rate |
| 2024 | 88.38% | 93.26% | 96.3% | 100% |
| 2023 | 86.68% | 92.92% | 100% | 100% |
| 2022 | 79.93% | 87.38% | 100% | 94.87% |
| 2021 | 79.6% | 86.49% | 100% | 93.94% |
| 2020 | 83.09% | 88.53% | 93.33% | 100% |
| Required Program Courses | |||
| Rubric | Course Title | Course # | SCH |
| VNSG | Health Science | 1405 | 4 |
| VNSG | Essential of Medication Admin | 1227 | 2 |
| VNSG | Nursing in Health and Illness I | 1400 | 4 |
| VNSG | Nursing in Health and Illness II | 1509 | 5 |
| VNSG | Nursing in Health and Illness III | 2510 | 5 |
| VNSG | Applied Nursing Skills | 1402 | 4 |
| VNSG | Maternal Newborn Nursing | 1330 | 3 |
| VNSG | Pediatric Nursing | 1334 | 3 |
| VNSG | Leadership and Professional Development | 1219 | 2 |
| VNSG | Menal Illness | 1238 | 2 |
| VNSG | Introductory Clinical Nursing | 1160 | 1 |
| VNSG | Intermediate Clinical Nursing | 1361 | 3 |
| VNSG | Advanced Clinical Nursing | 1363 | 3 |
| Total | 41 | ||
Texas utilizes the title of LVN. Many other states use LPN (licensed practical nurse) for this level of nursing practice. The Odessa College vocational nursing graduate must meet state requirements to take the licensing examination National Council for Licensure Examination – Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN®).
Requirements to take the licensing examination to become an LVN include the application and approval process with the BON, payment of fees to the BON, graduation from the nursing program, and graduate certification by the director of the vocational nursing program. Be advised that the BON requires fingerprint identification to screen all applicants for licensure. The fingerprints are analyzed by the state of Texas and the FBI, and there must be clearance on the background check by the BON prior to being allowed to take the licensing examination. There are other issues that may prevent an applicant from being allowed to test. Contact the nursing department or the BON directly regarding any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The 12-month traditional program is offered at the Andrews extension site and Monahans Extension site. If accepted into the program you are assigned to an extension
- The 18-month extended program is offered on our Odessa main campus.
- Our Dual Credit (High School) track is offered in Andrews, Monahans, Odessa and Denver City.
No. Placement is based on geographical location, with priority given to students who live closest to each site.
TEAS Tests are being given at the testing center.
To sign up call 432-335-6620 or email testingcenter@odessa.edu
CPR Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (BLS) class offerings can be found on the CPR website calendar or by contacting Continuing Education at 432-335-6580 or conted@odessa.edu for more information.
Contact Us
Jonathan Klassen BSN, RN
Assistant Director of LVN/Nursing Clinical Coordinator