Offered at the Levelland Campus, the SPC Reese Center, and the Plainview Extension Center

The Vocational Nursing program is designed to prepare individuals interested in the nursing profession to practice as licensed vocational nurses. Clinical experience is provided through affiliations with several area health care facilities.

Satisfactory completion of the 12-month curriculum with a minimum grade of “C” in all course work, including a Capstone Experience in the final semester of the program, qualifies the student to receive a Certificate of Proficiency. The student is then eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

The Vocational Nursing program reserves the right to change the curriculum and program policies as deemed necessary for the maintenance of a high quality education. Policies regarding admissions, advanced placement, dismissal, probation, class and clinical attendance, insurance, grading and readmission are available in the Vocational Nursing Student Handbook.

This program is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Board of Nursing.

Program Admission Requirements

Students wishing to make application for entrance into the Vocational Nursing program should follow the criteria below.

1. Must contact the program advisor on the desired campus of enrollment for specific program information.
2. All students applying to the program must be TSI compliant in reading, writing, and math.
3. Must have a high school diploma or a GED.
4. Must apply for admission to South Plains College. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Vocational Nursing program.
5. Must complete the prescribed physical examination for admission to the vocational nursing program.
6. Must pass the entrance exam administered by the Testing Center.
7. Admission to the Program is determined by the Vocational Nursing Admissions Committee.
8. All students applying to the program will undergo a criminal background check required by the Texas Board of Nursing. Any student wishing to enroll in the Vocational Nursing program who has been convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, plead guilty, no contest or nolo contendre to any crime in any state, territory or country, whether or not a sentence was imposed, including pending criminal charges or unresolved arrests must submit a declaratory order to the Texas Board of Nursing prior to applying for admission to the program. This includes expunged offenses and deferred adjudications with or without prejudice of guilt. No student will be considered for the Vocational Nursing program until they have been deemed eligible for licensure by the Texas Board of Nursing. The student must present a copy of licensure eligibility to the Program Coordinator at the time of application to the program.
9. Student admission into the program will be conditional pending a negative drug screen.  A positive drug screen will result in forfeiting entrance into the program.  The presence of an adulterant in the drug screen is considered a positive test.

Program director on the Levelland Campus is Sue Ann Lopez, Dean of Health Occupations. Program director at the SPC Reese Center is Korbi Berryhill, associate professor of vocational nursing. Program director at the Plainview Center is Suzanne Griffin, assistant professor in vocational nursing.

Certificate of Proficiency