General policies related to students in the Vocational Nursing Program are consistent with those in effect for all students enrolled at Central Texas College and can be found in the Central Texas College Student Handbook and the Central Texas College Catalog. Support services are available to students and information can be found in the Central Texas College Student Handbook and in the semester enrollment guides.
Admission Policy
General Information
The Vocational Nursing Program culminates in certification leading towards licensure and is responsible to maintain the Rules and Regulations Relating to Vocational Nursing Education, Licensure, and Practice in the State of Texas issued by the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON). VN students are responsible for maintaining professional conduct throughout all aspects of this program. The TBON regulations define and outline “Unprofessional Conduct” and can be found in the VN Program Student Handbook. Failure to maintain the professional code of conduct may subject the student to disciplinary action and/or removal from the program.
Applicants for the program must follow the regular procedures for admission to Central Texas College. Upon successful completion students are eligible to receive a Vocational Nursing Certificate of completion and become candidates for the National Council Licensure Examination-LVN®. A candidate who successfully passes this exam is licensed to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). In addition, the student must complete all Department of Health Sciences standard program admission requirements which include CPR, American Heart Association (AHA) - Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification, 11-Panel Drug Screen, Criminal Background check, HESI A2 pre-entrance exam, and TSI completion/exemption.
Applicants for the program must follow the regular procedures for admission to Central Texas College. In addition, the following is required of all applicants for admission to the Vocational Nursing Certificate Program:
- All students must be TSI complete or exempt. For more information and assistance on the test, contact the office and refer to the current Central Texas College catalog.
- All Community Non-Native Speakers, International Students and/or ESOL students must follow the requirements listed in the current Central Texas College catalog.
- Application to the VN Program with copies of transcripts from all prior colleges attended.
- All required prerequisite courses on the current VN Degree Plan, TSI completion/exemption verification, and HESI A2 exam scores must be submitted and/or verified by the eligibility deadline date for the semester which you are applying.
- Attain a minimum of a 2.8 overall (average) GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for CTC VN Degree Plan lab science prerequisite/co-requisite courses. Lab science courses over five (5) years old must be repeated. This includes any science courses that were repeated. This must be done by the eligibility deadline date.
- A student who has repeated a required science course more than once within the last five years and earned grades of less than a “C” will be ineligible for admission into the Vocational Nursing Certificate Program.
- HPRS 2300 courses greater than five years old will not be accepted. A student who has repeated HPRS 2300 more than once within the last five years and earned grades of less than a “C” (75%) will be ineligible for admission into the Vocational Nursing Certificate Program.
- Complete the HESI A2 Admission Assessment Exam by the eligibility deadline date. The HESI A2 is a computerized test which may be taken at the CTC Testing Center or other approved testing site. If the HESI A2 is successfully completed at another testing center, the results must be sent electronically from the testing site to the CTC DHS. A HESI (A2) Prep book is available in the CTC Bookstore. The HESI (A2) is the only exam accepted. The exam must be completed with passing scores of 80% in each section of Math, Reading Comprehension, and Vocabulary and General Knowledge. Anatomy and Physiology will also be required with passing scores of 60%. HESI A2 exams greater than 2 years old will not be accepted. We recommend that prospective students take the HESI A2 when they are close.
- Mandatory attendance is required at a Preadmission Information Session and Orientation Session with the Nursing Programs Director or designee during the semester all prerequisite courses are completed. In addition, the following must be on record in the DHS prior to your being scheduled for this meeting: CTC DHS application, HESI A2 exam scores, TSI completion/ exemption verification, and all transcripts. This is the final step for eligibility.
- Candidates for admission to the VN program are ranked and selected based upon the performance of the applicant pool for that semester to include:
- GPA for all CTC VN Degree Plan prerequisite / co-requisite courses whether taken at CTC or transferred from another college or university. (Minimum 2.8 required).
- GPA for all CTC VN Degree Plan lab science prerequisite/co-requisite courses. (Minimum 2.8 required).
- HESI A2 pre-entrance exam cumulative scores.
- Pharmacology course grade and number of attempts.
- After selection for admission, but prior to registration, the following must be on record in the DHS office:
- Physical Examination using the CTC DHS form and must be completed no more than 90 days prior to the program start date. Please make certain that the activity level (limited or unlimited) and all required immunizations are noted on the physical exam form signed and stamped by the health care provider.
- Documentation of negative screening results for tuberculosis (TB) is required. Students must complete one of the following TB tests no more than thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the first rotation period at any Facility: 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in- Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot). Thereafter a 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot) is required annually. Those who have had a previous positive TB skin test result will be required to submit a negative chest x-ray completed within thirty (30) days preceding first day of first clinical rotation period at any Facility. There after an annual negative chest x-ray will be required through program completion.
- Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - American Heart Association – Health Care Provider (BLS) and Military Training Network (MTN) are the only CPR courses that will be accepted. Please furnish the original card and a photocopy – front and back) – online certifications are not accepted.
- Proof of purchase for the required Lab Kit. Each prospective student must bear the cost of all the above requirements.
Additional Need-to-Know Information
- Students will be required to complete nationally standardized and referenced examinations throughout the curriculum and earn satisfactory scores based on national and school benchmarks on such examinations.
- Students without any prior nursing courses are required to complete the VN program within one year of first enrollment in VNSG course. Transfer students are required to complete the VN program within two years of first time enrollment.
- Students will be required to attend a Pre-Admission session and Orientation session to fulfill admission requirements in the VN program.
- Preadmission Information Session
- Nursing Program Orientation
- Success Camp (on-line - must complete mandatory assignments by designated date)
Vocational Nursing Readmission Policy
Readmission to any nursing course is dependent upon availability of class openings after current class progression; it is not automatic.
- If a student does not successfully complete any nursing course or withdraws from a nursing course with a failing average, the student may apply for readmission to the Nursing Program one time. Failure of any two VNSG courses or withdrawal from any two VNSG courses with a failing grade average will result in ineligibility for readmission.
- Students who become ineligible for readmission may reapply after three (3) years to VN or any other DHS programs unless failure was due to a safety issue or unprofessional conduct. Science courses must not be older than five (5) years old.
- Any student who is requesting readmission to a clinical course, or who experiences a “break” from clinical for any reason will be required to provide a “Student Nurse Medical Release Return to Class/Clinical/Lab” form before being allowed to participate in a clinical course. The medical evaluation must take place within the thirty (30) day period immediately prior to the first day of the semester.
- Students must provide current physical, immunization, criminal background and drug screen information.
- Provide proof of physical examination or diagnostic tests as recommended or required to include physicians return to class/clinical documentation after illness, injury, surgery, or pregnancy etc.
- The Vocational Nursing program must be completed within two years of first time enrollment in VNSG 1222 or its equivalent.
Consideration for course readmission of former students is based on the following:
- Faculty/team recommendation
- Academic grade average and clinical evaluation
- Reason(s) for failure, if applicable, or withdrawal
- Resolution of outside extenuating circumstance if applicable
- Completion of remedial work and /or Admissions and Standards Committee requirements.
- An interview with the former student may be recommended by the A&S Committee.
A letter to the VN Admissions and Standards Committee written by applicant that includes:
- Student Name
- Nursing course name(s) and number(s) to which seeking readmission
- Reason(s) for lack of success/progress in the course(s)
- Plan for success if readmitted [Be specific please]
- Semester and year seeking readmission
- Student signature and date
The A&S Committee determines eligibility for readmission and notifies the student in writing.
After an applicant has been accepted for readmission, the student will follow standard DHS admission policies found in the current DHS Student Handbook and this information packet.
Progression Requirements
- To progress in the Vocational Nursing Program, a student must achieve an average of 75 percent or higher in each course
- Successfully complete co-requisites concurrently with
- Failure to achieve 90 percent on the Dosage Calculation exams, after three attempts, will result in a clinical course failure.
- Complete the Vocational Nursing Program within two years
- Provide documentation of medical release to return to class/clinical/lab after mental or physical condition, illness, injury, surgery, and pregnancy, “break in clinical” etc. that would result in a change of the physical limitations status. Documentation must be faxed from the healthcare facility directly to the DHS. Safety is a priority for the patient and health and well-being of students nursing courses.
- Tuberculosis Documentation of negative screening results for tuberculosis (TB) is required. Repeated annually thereafter: 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in- Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot). Thereafter a 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot) is required annually. Those who have had a previous positive TB skin test result will be required to submit a negative chest x-ray completed within thirty (30) days preceding first day of first clinical rotation period at any Facility. There after an annual negative chest x-ray will be required through program completion.
- Maintain a negative 11-panel drug screen and criminal background check.
- It is mandatory for VN students within all semesters of the program to participate in a comprehensive assessment and review program. Online exams provide immediate results and detailed diagnostic reports and provide opportunity for remediation. Proof of satisfactory remediation on each exam must be submitted to the course faculty by the first class day of the next semester so the student may progress in the VN program. Failure to submit proof of remediation will result in an Academic Hold.
Part-Time Policy
There is an Evening Weekend option available in the VN Program.
Transfer Students
Definition: A transfer student is a person who has attended another nursing program and has transferred course credit(s) for advanced placement in the Central Texas College VN Program.
- Must apply for and meet general admission requirements of Central Texas College.
- Must submit the CTC Vocational Nursing Program application and meet current program admission requirements.
- Evidence of maintaining a “C” (2.8 GPA) at the previous school.
- Grades for all courses that are transferred in must be a “B” or better.
- Vocational Nursing courses used for transfer for advanced placement must have been completed in the past year.
- Regardless of which courses were granted credit, all students transferring into the VN program will be required to take VNSG 1222 Vocational Nursing Concepts.
- Submit a packet containing:
- Letter of request for transfer must be submitted 90 days prior to the student’s requested start date. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.
- Two official letters from the previous nursing program validating safe nursing practice. One from the Director/Dean and the other from the last clinical professor is required.
- A complete course description, learning guide, and syllabi of the nursing courses for which you are requesting transfer.
- Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis by the VN Admissions and Standards Committee.
- Submit proof of completion of CPR course – American Heart Association (AHA)- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or Military Training Institute: CPR and AED. Submit a copy of the front and back of the card.
- Submit completed physical examination form and mandatory immunizations.
- Show proof of negative FBI Background Check or Declaratory Order from TBON.
- Negative 11 panel drug screen.
- Submit proof of purchase of lab kit (receipt).
- All transfer students must successfully complete a minimum of 25 percent of credit hours (26 credit hours) at CTC.
- Students must complete the Vocational Nursing Program within two years of first time enrollment in VNSG 1222 or its equivalent.