Vero Beach has a lot of hidden treasures.

The Practical Nursing Program at Treasure Coast Technical College is one of them – just what the doctor ordered for 32963 residents who want to age in place, remaining in their homes instead of moving to an assisted care facility on the mainland.

Recognized as the No. 1 Licensed Practical Nursing program in Florida by Nursing Schools Almanac, this homegrown health education operation graduated 16 LPNs in December, and 25 more students will start the accelerated 11-month program this month.

“It is important that we have this program here in Indian River County,” says Bob Gibb of John’s Island Real Estate Company, who is a staunch supporter of workforce training.

“Most people don’t want to go to assisted living or nursing homes. They would rather stay at home, but they can’t many times because they need assistance and care and aren’t able to find qualified people.”

There is a nationwide shortage of nurses – both LPNs and RNs – and a 2022 study by the Florida Center for Nursing projected a shortfall of 32,000 LPNs in Florida by 2037.

The deficit in trained caregivers hits 32963 harder than the rest of the county and state. The median age of the island’s approximately 15,000 residents is a creaky 69.1, according to Census data, meaning islanders are much more likely to need home healthcare now, and in the future, than younger residents elsewhere.

And while the 16 new LPNs who just posed smiling with their families at graduation are a mere drop in the bucket, at least the drop is falling in the right bucket, due to the perseverance of local educators and the organic growth of Treasure Coast Technical College.

What began in 1970 as the school district’s Adult Education program – a place where students could earn a high school equivalency diploma (GED), take a class in word processing or learn English as a second language – has grown into a college where residents can earn career certificates in a variety of fields, including five medical certificates.

“We are the best-kept secret in Indian River County, and I am trying desperately to change that,” says Christi Shields, director of Treasure Coast Technical College, one of 48 technical colleges in Florida, all operating under the umbrella of local school districts.

In 2015, shortly after she became director, Shields gave the school its current name and oversaw its move from the Freshmen Learning Center in downtown Vero Beach to its present location at 4680 28th Court, just north of Gifford Middle School, and began expanding its offerings.

While not as comprehensive as registered nurse training, the licensed practical nursing program isn’t giving out matchbook degrees.

The 1,350-hour program includes 625 hours in a clinical setting, primarily at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Treasure Coast and Acts Indian River Estates Retirement Community.

Graduates must pass a rigorous state license exam and participate in ongoing professional education.

“You can’t always count on the quality of care you will get in assisted living, but the training these nurses receive, and the licensing exam they pass, provide a level of confidence in the kind of care you are going to get,” says Gibb, who several years ago with his family donated $400,000 to help build Indian River State College’s Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Center in Fort Pierce.

Treasure Coast Technical College’s LPN program currently has a 100 percent National Council Licensure Examination pass rate, as reported by the Florida Board of Nursing. In 2025, students performed in the ninety-fourth percentile nationwide on the Assessment Technology Institute Comprehensive Exit Exam.

Students study Monday through Friday, full-time. Tuition is $9,028 and the school is approved for the federal Title 4 Pell Grant Program and there also are multiple local grants and scholarships available. “Worst case scenario, if you don’t qualify for grants and you don’t have the money, we will arrange a payment plan,” Shields says. “We go above and beyond to make sure finances are not an issue. We want our students to leave here debt-free.”

Most graduates are placed in jobs immediately. Others continue studying to become registered nurses or get their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing. A few have gone on to become nurse practitioners or doctors, Shields says.

“The December graduation represents more than a credential,” says School Superintendent Dr. David Moore. “It represents confidence, competence, and career readiness. Our Practical Nursing Program is changing lives while strengthening the healthcare workforce across our region. We are incredibly proud of these graduates and the dedicated educators and partners who make this level of excellence possible.”

Gibb says he believes island philanthropists would support the expansion of the program if more knew about it.