This article discusses the types of vocational schools for nurses, as well as the types of nurses and nursing education available. It also provides a chart, organized by state, of vocational and technical schools offering nursing education.

The word vocation can have three different meanings when related to nursing. First it can refer to an LVN, a licensed vocational nurse, the term for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in California and Texas. Second, it can refer to the vocation of nursing, in which case it encompasses all types of nurses. Third, it can refer to the type of institution at which one can obtain certain types of nursing education, specifically a vocational or technical school. It is this third meaning that will be covered by this article.

Types of Vocational Schools

A vocational school can be a secondary school or a college. It may have the word vocational in its name, or it may be called a career center, a technical school, or some other name with technical or institute in it. The point is that it is preparing the student for work rather than a course of studies that may lead to a degree but is unrelated to specific job training.

Types of Nurses

There are several different professions with nurse in their name, and they can be distinguished to a certain extent by their educational backgrounds:

  • Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) A nurse with state approved training from one of the following institutions: a high school, a vocational school, a community or junior college, a hospital, or a college or university. An LPN or LVN may continue training and become a registered nurse
  • Registered Nurse (RN) A nurse with at either an associates degree in nursing from a junior or community college and a diploma from a hospital or a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN).
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP) An advanced practice nurse with a registered nurse preparation and additional education and training, usually including a master's degree and possibly a doctorate.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) A licensed registered nurse who has specialist training through graduate preparation (with a master's or doctorate degree).

Licensed Practical Nurses, Licenses Vocational Nurses, and Vocational Schools

As you search for a vocational school that offers nursing, be aware that in California and Texas, junior colleges, community college, colleges, universities, hospitals, and high schools that offer LVN training may have listings as “Vocational Nursing.” In this context, this does not mean that they are vocational schools.

These are the vocational and technical schools at which nursing education is offered. Always check for accreditation and state program approval before applying to a career school.

State

Institution Name

Alabama

Bessemer State Technical College

Drake State Technical College

H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College

Reid State Technical College

Arizona

Maricopa Skill Center

Arkansas

Arkansas State University Technical Center

Arkansas Valley Technical Institute

Black River Technical College

Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute

Northwest Technical Institute

Ouachita Technical College

Pulaski Technical College

SAU Tech

California

West Coast Ultrasound Institute

Connecticut

Lincoln Technical Institute

Porter and Chester Institute

Delaware

Delaware Technical & Community College

Florida

Concorde Career Institute

Lincoln Technical Institute- Fern Park

Sarasota County Vocational - Technical Center

Georgia

Albany Technical College - Early County

ALTAMAHA TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Appling County

APPALACHIAN TECHNICAL COLLEGE

ATHENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Elbert County Class

ATHENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Walton County

ATLANTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Augusta Technical College

Northwestern Technical College

Savannah Technical College

Kansas

Manhattan Area Technical College

North Central Kansas Technical College

Wichita Area Technical College

Massachusetts

Assabet Valley Regional Technical School

Regional Vocational Technical School

Minnesota

Anoka-Hennepin Technical College

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Rochester Community & Technical College

Saint Cloud Technical College

Saint Paul Technical College - Health and Service

Missouri

Lebanon Technology and Career Center

New Jersey

Somerset County Technology Institute

New Mexico

Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute

New York

Eastern Suffolk, BOCES Technical Center

North Carolina

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

North Dakota

United Tribes Technical College

Vocational Educational & Extension Board Nassau County

Ohio

Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

Hocking Technical College

Miami-Jacobs Career College

Pickaway-Ross Joint Vocational School

Oklahoma

Autry Technology Center

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center

Canadian Valley Technology Center

Canadian Valley Technology Center

Central Technology Center

Chisholm Trail Technology Center

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Great Plains Technology Center

Indian Capital Technology Center

Meridian Technology Center

Metro Technology Centers

Mid-America Technology Center

Mid-Del Lewis Eubanks Technology Center

Moore Norman Technology Center

Northeast Technology Center

Red River Technology Center

Southwest Technology Center

Tri County Technology Center

Tulsa Technology Center-School of Practical Nursing

Western Technology Center

Pennsylvania

Bucks County Technical School

Career Technology Center

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology

Chester County Intermediate Unit
Center for Arts and Technology-Brandywine Campus

Clearfield County Career and Technology Center

Crawford County Area Vocational
Technical School

Delaware County Intermediate Unit

Eastern Center for Arts & Technology

Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School

Franklin County Career and Technology Center

Greater Johnstown Area Vocational Technical School

Greene County Area Vocational Technical School

Hazleton Area Vocational Technical School

Indiana County Technology Center

Jefferson County-DuBois AVTS

Juniata-Mifflin Counties Area Vocational Technical School

Lawrence County Vocational Technical School

Northern Tier Career Center

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29
Schuylkill Technology Centers

Somerset County Technology Center

Upper Bucks County Vocational Technical School

Venango County Area Vocational Technical School

Western Area Career & Technology Center

Wilkes-Barre Area Vo-Tech School

York County School of Technology

South Carolina

Aynor Conway Career Center

Central Carolina Technical College

Greenville Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Midlands Technical College - Nursing Department

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College

Spartanburg Technical College

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Trident Technical College - Nursing Division

South Dakota

Lake Area Vocational Technical Institute

Western Dakota Tech

Texas

Career Centers of Texas - Corpus Christi

Concorde Career Institute - Arlington

North Texas Professional Career Institute

Utah

Davis Applied Technology College

Ogden Weber Applied Technology College

Uintah Basin Applied Technology College

Vermont

Vermont Technical College

Virginia

Norfolk Technical Vocational Center

Riverside School of Health Careers

Washington

Renton Technical College

Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Moraine Park Technical College

Sources

bls.gov

aanp.org

nacns.org

napnes.org

allnursingschools.com