Which Nursing Schools and Programs Are in Houston?
Learn about nursing programs in Houston, Texas. See degree and specialization options, program requirements and courses, and get career and salary info for the region. Schools offering Nursing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Licensing Information for Nurses in Texas
When you have completed an approved and accredited nursing program, the next step is to acquire a license. If you've studied to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you'll have to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). If your education prepared you to become a registered nurse (RN), you'll take the NCLEX-RN examination. These computerized licensing tests cover areas such as health promotion and maintenance, as well as effective and safe health care environments.
To become a licensed LPN in Texas, you'll need to complete an approved LPN program with a 2.0 GPA in all nursing courses. You must also pass either the NCLEX-PN or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE). To become a licensed RN, you must complete an accredited RN program and pass the NCLEX-RN or SBTPE exam. Additionally, Texas requires all nurses to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain licensure.
Career and Salary Info for Nurses in Texas
In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were approximately 184,890 RNs working in Texas, and jobs for nurses nationwide were expected to grow 26% from 2010-2020. RNs in Texas earned mean salary of about $68,000 in 2011, and RNs in Houston earned about $74,000, according to the BLS.
Associate's Degree Programs in Nursing in Houston, Texas
San Jacinto Community College in Pasadena, Texas
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- Program Length: Two years
- Tuition: $183 per credit for residents, $224 for non-residents (for 2012)
- Requirements: Meningitis vaccine; placement test; official transcripts
- School Type: 2-year, public; about 28,549 undergraduate students
- Address: 8060 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77501
- Phone: (281) 998-6150
Located southeast of Houston, San Jacinto Community College is a 2-year public college with three campuses. It offers an associate's degree program in nursing that consists of 28 credit hours. Your credits can be transferred to a bachelor's degree program at a 4-year university. Core courses include lifespan growth and development, inorganic chemistry and statistics. You can also take RN courses, such as foundations for nursing practice, mental health nursing and principles of adult health.
Houston Community College
- Program Name: Associate in Applied Science in Nursing
- Program Length: Two years
- Tuition: $31 per credit hour for in-district students, $64 per credit hour for out-of-district and out-of-state students, plus additional fees (for 2012)
- Prerequisites: Coursework in anatomy and physiology, composition and introduction to psychology; entrance exam
- Requirements: Mandatory on-campus informational session; immunizations; background check
- School Type: 2-year, public; roughly 60,303 undergraduate students
- Address: 1900 Pressler Street Ste. 344, Houston, TX 77030
- Phone: (713( 718-7230
Houston Community College offers a 2-year associate's degree program in nursing that qualifies you to sit for the NCELX-RN exam. Courses in the program include children and family care, foundations of clinical nursing and clinical training for RNs. This program could prepare you to work in hospitals, ambulatory care centers, private doctors' offices and clinics.
Bachelor's Degree Programs in Nursing Near Houston, Texas
Houston Baptist University
- Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Program Length: Four Years
- Tuition: $25,254 per year (for 2012-2013)
- Prerequisites: Standardized test scores; official transcripts
- Requirements: Score of 80% or higher on the HESI A2 entrance exam; 3.0 undergraduate GPA; background check
- School Type: 4-year, private: roughly 2,597 undergraduate and 399 graduate students
- Address: School of Nursing and Allied Health, 7502 Fondren Rd., Houston, TX 77074
- Phone: (281) 649-3300
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a 127-128 semester-hour program offered at the School of Nursing and Allied Health. Composed of coursework and clinical components, the curriculum is taught both in the classroom and in hospitals affiliated with the Texas Medical Center. If you're selected to be part of a paid work-study program, you could work up to 24 hours per week at a nearby trauma center. You can complete all your other requirements on one campus.
University of Texas in Houston
- Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Program Length: Four years
- Tuition: $5,100 per year for residents, $20,970 for nonresidents (for 2012-2013)
- Prerequisites: 40 hours of undergraduate courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology and chemistry
- Requirements: HESI A2 Entrance Exam scores; immunizations; CPR certification; drug screening and background check
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 4,427 students (518 undergraduate)
- Address: University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, 690 1 Bertner, Room 220, Houston, TX 77030
- Phone: (713) 500-2100
The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston boasts the seventh-largest medical school in the nation, as well as a school of nursing. The bachelor's degree program in nursing includes courses in child and adolescent health care, adult health care, health assessment and pharmacotherapeutics. Other features of the program include labs and clinical rotations. An RN to BSN program is also available and open to applicants who are licensed RNs.
Master's Degree Programs in Nursing in Houston, Texas
University of Texas in Houston
- Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing
- Program Length: Two years
- Tuition: $4,944 per year for residents, $17,568 for nonresidents (for 2012-2013)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in nursing; basic statistics and chemistry courses
- Requirements: Graduate Records Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogies Test (MAT) scores within the past ten years (test requirements may be waived for applicants with master's degrees); 3.0 undergraduate GPA; three references; Texas nursing license (out-of-state license for applicants with master's degrees); nursing certification; resume; one year of nursing experience; immunizations; CPR certification; background check and drug screening
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 4,427 students (518 undergraduate)
- Address: University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, 6091 Bertner, Room 220, Houston, TX 77030
- Phone: (713) 500-2100
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers a number of different specialties, including nursing education, anesthesia, acute care nursing, gerontology and nursing leadership. You could also pursue a joint degree program, combining your MSN program with a Master of Public Health (MPH) program, offered through the University of Texas School of Public Health.
Doctoral Degree Programs in Nursing in Houston, Texas
University of Texas in Houston
- Program Name: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Program Length: Two years
- Tuition: $4,944 per year for residents, $17,568 for non-residents (for 2012-2013)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in nursing; master's degree in advanced practice nursing or nurse leadership; graduate coursework in statistics, nursing research and epidemiology
- Requirements: One year of experience in advanced practice nursing; professional references; essay; curriculum vita; national certification (for advanced practice nurses); eligibility or approval to work as an advanced practice nurse in TX (for advanced practice nurses); 3.0 undergraduate/graduate GPA; immunizations; CPR certification; background check and drug screening
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 4,427 students (518 undergraduate)
- Address: University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, 6091 Bertner, Room 220, Houston, TX 77030
- Phone: (713) 500-2100
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a post-master's program consisting of 32-43 credit hours. After graduating, you could be prepared to take on manager or director positions in nursing departments. You would work around the schedules of nursing professionals and work in the classroom only two days a month; the curriculum also includes online activities. You'll learn about nursing administration, quality improvement, evidence-based research and ethics in nursing. Throughout the program, you'll work with a faculty member and develop a doctoral dissertation.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below: