Assabet Valley Regional Technical School Nursing Program Review
Assabet Valley Regional Technical School (AVRTS) enrolls 900 high school students each year, and also provides classes to thousands through adult day and evening programs. AV opened in 1973, and has become a leader in career and technical education for the community along the Route 495 corridor.
Nursing Programs
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
This program has been training students to be LPNs for forty years. This program takes 40 weeks to complete, and is offered full-time during the day. Classes begin in late August, and students will finish in mid-June. Graduates of the program will receive a Practical Nursing certificate of proficiency, and be allowed to sit for the state LPN licensing exam.
To be able to apply for this program, students must pass the TEAS V admission exam with a 61% or higher in Reading, a 50% or higher in Math, and a 53.3% or higher in English. In addition, they must submit three professional references, be at least 17 ½ years old and provide a birth certificate, be a high school graduate or have a GED, and have an interview with a faculty member. They will also have to have health insurance coverage and maintain it throughout the program, be currently certified in Basic Life Support for Health Care providers, and have and maintain professional liability insurance coverage. Students will also have to meet the Good Moral Character Compliance and Guidelines put out by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, have a Criminal Record Investigation (CORI) and a Sex Offenders Registry Board (SORI) background check, and meet the program health requirements.
This program has been approved by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Advanced Placement in LPN Program
Students may apply for advanced placement to enter the LPN program at hour 24. To qualify, students will need to have completed a Certified Nursing Assistant or Home Health Aide course within the last five years. They may have taken the course either at AVRT, or at Blackstone Valley Vocational Technical School or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School.
Students will need to meet the entry requirements for the LPN program, as well as earn a satisfactory grade on the transitional course, including the written exam and clinical portion, prior to starting the LPN program.
Continuing Education
The Center for Continuing Education at AVRT offers courses in LPN Entrance Exam Prep (TEAS V).
There is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course. This is a 17 week course, and graduates will be eligible for the national and state EMT exams. To enroll, students must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be able to read, communicate, and understand English.
Health Technologies
The Health Technologies program allows students to train for a career in healthcare. This program begins with theory classes and training on campus in the nursing lab, and moves to clinical practice in long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and acute care hospitals.
Students that complete this program will graduate with certifications in the following programs:
- American Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide
- Alzheimer’s Caretaker Certification
- Department of Public Health paid feeder certification
- American Heart Association First Aid Certification
- American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider with AED
Students that complete Health Technologies at AVRT and the EMT-Basic course at Mass Bay Community College will be eligible to sit for the EMT-Basic exam, provided they are at least 18 years old.
Contact:
Assabet Valley Regional Technical School
215 Fitchburg Street,
Marlborough, MA 01752
