LVN Programs in California – Schools, Salary, and License Info

LPN Programs in California

The huge demand for nurses is present in many US states.

In California, for instance, this demand is seen in two areas.

First, in the huge training opportunities.

And secondly, in the employment of LVNs across the country.

You can notice that every day.

But mostly, this demand is noticed when the state itself creates projects to know more about it.

Hence, The Bureau Labor of Statistics is the main healthcare institution in California.

As such, it has foreseen a 12% increase in LVN employment in 2026.

This increase has caused a huge interest in the field of nursing.

However, this employment does not happen over the night.

To be more concise, an hour of nursing in California is paid $24.94.

While the annual salary is $51,870.

While the two sums together make up nearly $7,840.

That in itself is more than the national average in the US per year.

We’ve heard so many inspirational words to go for a nursing career in California.

But now let’s focus more on the procedures you need to follow to get there.

First and foremost, choose a school that has programs approved by the state.

This is important because of the license.

It has to state eligible for you to use it everywhere.

Next, do your best to find approved programs.

You can find them where else but in, community colleges, technical centers, and private career schools throughout the state.

In California, the number of LVN schools is indeed huge.

But I have decided to choose quality over quantity for this article.

Therefore, by the end of it, only 50 of them have been listed carefully.

The listing has been done in accordance with the results of the NCLEX-PN exam.

Specifically, the first-time pass rates done these last years were the main focus.

Details on California LVN Schools & Classes

Becoming an LVN in California is all a matter of a good education.

The first thing to note is attending an accredited school and graduate from it as well.

After that, the student should proceed right away with the NCLEX-PN exam.

Only after doing that he or she can get the license.

LVN programs are easily accessible to students.

They can be mainly found at colleges, technical and vocational schools and so on.

Knowing that students can visit these places and see which program works best for them.

These programs have different courses and labs which are taught in it.

However, among them students may also find a mixture of the following courses:

  • Anatomy and Physiology for Vocational Nurses
  • Nursing of the Mature Adult Theory
  • Pediatric Nursing Theory

Accreditation

If you have the privilege to choose, you have the right to make the best choice too.

But the best choice you can take when choosing which LVN program to attend in California, is to make sure one is accredited.

Accreditation is an indicator that the school works at high academic standards.

And you should stand for the same in your life as well.

In this state, accrediting bodies to consider are two.

One is the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

The other is the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

If not them, you can also check for regional accrediting organizations also.

They will all help you find accredited programs around the state.

Admission Requirements

In order to be admitted to a particular LVN program in California, you need to meet some criteria.

From these criteria, you may be asked to send the following documents:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Transcripts of any previous college work
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • CPR certification for healthcare providers

Tuition and Costs

Nowadays, money is a concern for many.

Especially, to students since they do not have yet their own personal incomes secured.

And, an LVN education does not come for free, unless you cannot afford it all by yourself.

For those who can, tuition, mandatory fees, uniforms, and textbooks are in their responsibility.

An example of the total LVN cost is Pasadena City College in California.

If you attend this college, you have to pay a total of $4,463 to afford the entire program.

California LVN Licensing Requirements

Despite the admission, there are also other licensing requirements students need to complete to get their LVN license.

First, they need to have a full share of 1,530 education hours.

These hours should be done at different LVN schools, such as vocational or trade ones which are approved by the California Nursing Board.

The rest of these hours, 576 from them belong to the theoretical part, while 54 belong to the pharmacology.

Students need also to take training at different nursing topics.

From them, there are to be mentioned anatomy and physiology, psychology, communications, patient education, nutrition, growth and development, rehabilitation, maternity, and others.

The entire program, however, can take 12 to 20 months’ time to finish.

As always, the length depends on the schedule, whether the students attend it part-time or full-time.

LVNs may also be asked to perform physical activities that will prepare them for work.

Actions such as lifting patients, pulling and pushing patients and machinery, as well as walking, running, squatting and standing for a longer time than usual are included.

The licenses in California are renewed every two years.

If the LVN forgets to do so, he or she needs to finish some 30 hours more of continued education covering the next two years.

NCLEX Exam Information

NCLEX-PN exam is the last step to LVN qualification.

The test comes after graduation and training.

It is made of 100 questions related to nursing.

Students who are not ready for the exam can take the practical one first.

LVN Reciprocity and eNLC

California is not in the range of states who are part of the eNLC compact.

So the rules of the compact are not applicable in this case.

An applicant that comes from another state can apply for an LVN license in California by means of an endorsement.

As part of the application, he or she needs to complete the following requirements:

  • Graduated from an approved LVN program
  • Graduated from another state’s approved LVN/LPN program
  • Completed and education and experience equivalent
  • Completed the education and experience equivalent in the US military

Additionally, the applicant who applies for endorsement must also fulfill certain criteria.

He must have:

  • received a passing score on either the NCLEX or SBTPE and verify her current license through submission.

The Best LVN Schools in California

There are over 50 Top-ranked LVN schools in California.

The less ranked programs have not been included.

But obviously, there are many opportunities for students who aim for this profession.

 

School NameAddress
Santa Barbara Business College - Santa Maria303 East Plaza Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Copper Mountain College6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Mira Costa College1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Allan Hancock College800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Gavilan College5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020
College of the Redwoods7351 Tompkins Hill Rd, Eureka, CA 95501
Santa Barbara City College721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Annenberg School of Nursing19300 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Tulare Adult School575 W Maple Ave, Tulare, CA 93274
North Orange County ROP385 N Muller St, Anaheim, CA 92801
Bakersfield Adult School2727 F Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Career Development Institute1830 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
College of the Siskiyous800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094
Santa Rosa Junior College1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Mission College3000 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Sri Sai Krish Institute12362 Beach Blvd. Suite #14, Stanton, CA 90680
Stanbridge University2041 Business Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
Riverside City College4800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92506
Rio Hondo College3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601
College of Nursing & Technology18700 Sherman Way #203, Reseda, CA 91335
Grossmont Health Occupations Center9368 Oakbourne Rd, Santee, CA 92071
Antelope Valley College3041 West Avenue K, Lancaster, CA 93536
Beaumont Adult School1575 Cherry Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223
Inland Career Education Center1200 North E St, San Bernardino, CA 92405
Fresno Adult School2500 Stanislaus St, Fresno, CA 93721
Ukiah Adult School1056 N Bush St, Ukiah, CA 95482
Southwestern College900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Allied Medical & Health Services, Inc.730 S. Central Ave Ste 208, Glendale, CA 91204
Cerro Coso College3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Xavier College1130 N El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95202
Hartnell Community College411 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901
Citrus College1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741
Cuesta CollegeHighway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 -
North-West College - Long Beach3799 E Burnett St., Long Beach, CA 90815
Bakersfield College1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305
Carrington College - Sacramento8909 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95826
Palo Verde Community College1 College Dr, Blythe, CA 92225
Madera Community College Center30277 Avenue 12, Madera, CA 93638
Unitek College - Sacramento1111 Howe Ave #300, Sacramento, CA 95825
Sacramento City College3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education14101 E Nelson Ave, La Puente, CA 91746
West Coast Ultrasound Institute - Ontario3700 E. Inland Empire Blvd. Suite 235, Ontario, CA 91764
Merced Community College3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348
Career Care Institute43770 15th St W, Lancaster, CA 93534
Concorde Career College - North Hollywood12412 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606
San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno295 E Sierra Ave, Fresno, CA 93710
College of the Redwoods - Del Norte Education Center883 W. Washington Blvd, Crescent City, CA 95531
Clovis Adult Education School1452 David E Cook Way, Clovis, CA 93611
Concorde Career College - San Diego4393 Imperial Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92113
Homestead Schools, Inc.23800 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505

LVN Salaries in California

LVN Salaries in California depend from place to place.

But they also depend on other factors.

These factors include education, experience at work as well as skills.

Annual Salary Range:

$49K
$54K
$61K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
LocationAvg. Annual Salary
Los Angeles$54,216
San Diego$52,517
San Jose$61,301
San Francisco$61,203
Long Beach$54,463
Fresno$48,943
Sacramento$52,797
Oakland$57,882
Santa Ana$54,512
Anaheim$54,585

Regional Salary in California

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Bakersfield, CA1,290$68,710$33.04$79,110$56,730
Chico, CA440$69,630$33.48$80,530$61,020
El Centro, CA290$69,340$33.34$77,480$53,660
Fresno, CA1,980$70,150$33.73$93,600$56,730
Hanford-Corcoran, CA290$70,500$33.89$76,200$60,830
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA31,710$75,880$36.48$95,360$61,800
Madera, CA190$70,710$33.99$78,670$61,870
Merced, CA260$66,520$31.98$77,750$55,060
Modesto, CA1,080$73,540$35.35$97,910$61,360
Napa, CA280$83,310$40.05$107,000$65,220
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA1,230$73,730$35.45$88,500$61,380
Redding, CA450$68,450$32.91$80,030$52,940
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA8,310$71,780$34.51$84,780$58,870
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA4,410$78,530$37.75$97,780$62,750
Salinas, CA680$75,380$36.24$83,330$62,520
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA6,370$73,890$35.52$91,760$62,070
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA8,580$87,120$41.88$109,230$69,960
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA3,290$87,180$41.92$100,120$72,550
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA460$74,700$35.91$99,100$62,180
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA320$74,520$35.83$99,090$62,240
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA580$74,280$35.71$91,440$62,030
Santa Rosa, CA900$82,360$39.6$102,410$65,510
Stockton-Lodi, CA1,320$73,100$35.14$93,820$60,810
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA800$82,270$39.55$110,330$64,010
Visalia-Porterville, CA800$67,900$32.64$78,140$54,330
Yuba City, CA280$70,780$34.03$82,950$59,440
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, OCC Code 29-2061, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

USA LPN Programs by State


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