LVN Programs in California

If you live in the state of California and would like to become a license vocational nurse, or LVN, it pays to do some homework before proceeding. For example, did you know that in California, LPNs are actually known as licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs? More importantly, do you know what you need to do to become a licensed LVN in the Golden State?

Opportunities abound for LVNs in the state of California, so it's well worth it to complete the necessary training and other steps to get there. In this state, training to become an LVN takes anywhere from 12 to 20 months, which is much shorter than it takes to become a registered nurse with an associate degree. This is why so many nurses in the state start out by becoming LVNs.

Do you have what it takes to become an LVN in California? Chances are that you already meet the basic requirements to get the ball rolling on this exciting career, so read on to learn more.

Top LVN Programs in California

Do you need help finding LVN programs in the state of California? You've come to the right place. There are dozens of approved LVN training programs in the state, including in all major metro areas. The first step in finding the right program is searching only for those that are approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing. Note that most programs take 12 to 20 months to complete. Duration depends on many factors, including whether you enroll full time or part time and whether you do some of your program online or completely on location.

1. Advanced College

   13180 Paramount Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280 (562) 408-6969

2. Allan Hancock College

   800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-6966

3. Allied Medical & Health Services, Inc.

   730 S Central Ave #208, Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 637-7871

4. American Career College

   3130 Sedona Ct, Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 218-3253

5. American Career College

   4021 Rosewood Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 668-7555

6. American Career College - Orange County

   1200 N Magnolia Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 763-9066

7. Angeles College

   3440 Wilshire Blvd #310, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 487-2211

8. Angeles Institute

   11688 South St #205, Artesia, CA 90701 (562) 531-4100

9. Annenberg School of Nursing

   19300 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335 (818) 757-4431

10. Antelope Valley College

    3041 W Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93536 (661) 722-6300

11. Bakersfield Adult School

    2727 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 861-1151

12. Bakersfield College

    1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305 (661) 395-4011

13. Baldy View Regional Occupational Program

    8265 Aspen Ave # 100, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (909) 980-6490

14. Beaumont Adult School

    1575 Cherry Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 845-6012

15. Blake Austin College

    611 Orange Dr Suite K, Vacaville, CA 95687 (707) 455-0557

16. Butte College

    3536 Butte Campus Dr, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 895-2511

17. California Career College

    7003 Owensmouth Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303 (818) 710-1310

18. California Career Institute

    12141 Brookhurst St, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (714) 539-5959

19. California Nurses Educational Institute

    5200 Ramon Rd #1, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760) 416-5955

20. Career Care Institute

    43770 15th St W, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 942-6204

21. Career Care Institute

    2051 Solar Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036 (661) 942-6204

22. Career Care Institute

    22500 Town Cir #2205, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 (951) 214-6446

23. Career Development Institute

    1830 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (310) 559-0225

24. Carrington College

    8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826 (916) 585-7770

25. Carrington College

    6201 San Ignacio Ave, San Jose, CA 95119 (408) 337-3829

26. Cerro Coso College

    3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 384-6100

27. CES College

    401 S Glenoaks Blvd #211, Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 563-9822

28. Chaffey College

    5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 (909) 652-6000

29. Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center

    5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 643-7400

30. Citrus College

    1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 963-0323

31. City College of San Francisco

    50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 239-3000

32. Clovis Adult Education School

    1452 David E Cook Way, Clovis, CA 93611 (559) 327-2800

33. CNI College

    702 Town and Country Rd, Orange, CA 92868 (888) 982-0420

34. College of Nursing & Technology

    18700 Sherman Way #203, Reseda, CA 91335 (818) 343-1022

35. College of the Desert

    43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-8041

36. College of the Redwoods

    7351 Tompkins Hill Rd, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 476-4100

37. College of the Redwoods - Del Norte Education Center

    883 W Washington Blvd, Crescent City, CA 95531 (707) 464-7457

38. College of the Siskiyous

    800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094 (530) 938-5555

39. Concorde Career College

    12412 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (818) 766-8151

40. Concorde Career College

    4393 Imperial Ave #100, San Diego, CA 92113 (619) 688-0800

41. Concorde Career College

    201 E Airport Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (909) 884-8891

42. Concorde Career College

    12951 S Euclid St #101, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (714) 703-1900

43. Copper Mountain College

    6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 (760) 366-3791

44. Cuesta College

    CA-1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (805) 546-3100

45. Curam College of Nursing

    6520 44th St, Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 427-4400

46. Downey Adult School

    12340 Woodruff Ave, Downey, CA 90241 (562) 940-6200

47. Eastern Sierra College Center

    101 College Pkwy, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 934-2875

48. El Monte-Rosemead Adult School

    10807 Ramona Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731 (626) 258-5800

49. Feather River College

    570 Golden Eagle Ave, Quincy, CA 95971 (530) 283-0202

50. Fresno Adult School

    2500 Stanislaus St, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 457-6000

51. Gavilan College

    5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-4800

52. Glendale Career College

    240 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203 (818) 243-1131

53. Grossmont Health Occupations Center

    9368 Oakbourne Rd, Santee, CA 92071 (619) 956-4300

54. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

    4712 Stoddard Rd #200, Modesto, CA 95356 (209) 521-1821

55. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

    7335 N Palm Bluffs Ave, Fresno, CA 93711 (559) 222-1903

56. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

    1401 Willow Pass Rd, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 687-9555

57. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

    2121 S El Camino Real Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 685-6616

58. Hacienda La Puente Adult Education

    14101 Nelson Ave E, La Puente, CA 91746 (626) 934-2801

59. Hartnell Community College

    411 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 755-6700

60. Healthcare Career College

    8527 Alondra Blvd #174, Paramount, CA 90723 (562) 804-1239

61. High Desert Medical College

    701 W Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 940-9300

62. Homestead Schools, Inc.

    23800 Hawthorne Blvd #200, Torrance, CA 90505 (310) 791-9975

63. Imperial Valley College

    380 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 (760) 352-8320

64. Inland Career Education Center

    1200 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92410 (909) 388-6000

65. Institute of Technology

    1755 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002 (888) 319-7180

66. Institute of Technology

    564 Herndon Ave, Clovis, CA 93612 (559) 297-4500

67. Institute of Technology

    5601 Stoddard Rd, Modesto, CA 95356 (209) 545-3100

68. Lassen Community College

    478-200 CA-139, Susanville, CA 96130 (530) 257-6181

69. Long Beach City College

    4901 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 938-4111

70. Los Medanos College

    2700 E Leland Rd, Pittsburg, CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

71. Madera Community College Center

    30277 Ave 12, Madera, CA 93638 (559) 675-4866

72. Marian College

    5900 Sepulveda Blvd # 101, Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 782-6163

73. Marian College

    3325 Wilshire Blvd 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 388-3566

74. Merced Community College

    3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 (209) 384-6000

75. Mira Costa College

    1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056 (760) 757-2121

76. Mission College

    3000 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (408) 988-2200

77. Napa Valley College

    2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy, Napa, CA 94558 (707) 253-3000

78. National Career College

    14355 Roscoe Blvd, Panorama City, CA 91402 (888) 988-2301

79. North Orange County ROP

    385 N Muller St, Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 502-5800

80. North-West College

    3799 E Burnett St, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 546-5171

81. North-West College

    2121 W Garvey Ave N, West Covina, CA 91790 (626) 343-5266

82. North-West College

    530 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 389-8536

83. North-West College

    4550 La Sierra Ave, Riverside, CA 92505 (951) 324-4157

84. North-West College

    134 W Holt Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 (909) 236-7106

85. Pacific College

    3160 Red Hill Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 662-4402

86. Palo Verde College

    1 College Dr, Blythe, CA 92225 (760) 921-5500

87. Pasadena City College

    1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 585-7123

88. Platt College

    1000 Fremont Ave #1, Alhambra, CA 91803 (626) 300-5444

89. Premiere Career College

    12901 Ramona Blvd, Irwindale, CA 91706 (626) 814-2080

90. Professional Medical Careers Institute

    920 Hampshire Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 (866) 500-6274

91. Rio Hondo College

    3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (562) 908-3415

92. Riverside City College

    4800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 222-8000

93. Sacramento City College

    3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 558-2111

94. San Joaquin Valley College

    295 E Sierra Ave, Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 448-8282

95. Santa Barbara Business College

    303 Plaza Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-8256

96. Santa Barbara Business College

    5300 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 835-1100

97. Santa Barbara Business College

    34275 Monterey Ave, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 341-2602

98. Santa Barbara City College

    721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 965-0581

99. Shasta College

    11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003 (530) 242-7500

100. Southwestern College

     900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 421-6700

101. Sri Sai Krish Institute

     12362 Beach Blvd # 14E, Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 890-7023

102. St. Joseph's College of Nursing

     816 W Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 726-5060

103. Stanbridge University

     2041 Business Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92612 (949) 794-9090

104. Summit College

     851 S Cooley Dr E, Colton, CA 92324 (909) 954-3208

105. Tri-County ROP

     970 Klamath Ln, Yuba City, CA 95993 (530) 822-5120

106. Tulare Adult School

     575 W Maple Ave, Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 686-0225

107. Ukiah Adult School

     1056 N Bush St, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 463-5217

108. Unitek College

     1111 Howe Ave #300, Sacramento, CA 95825 (888) 735-4355

109. Unitek College

     1401 Willow Pass Rd, Concord, CA 94520 (888) 919-4220

110. Unitek College

     21615 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94541 (855) 808-2732

111. Unitek College

     333 Palmer Dr STE 200, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (888) 912-8512

112. Unitek College

     257 Longford Dr #5, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (855) 811-6191

113. Unitek College

     4670 Auto Mall Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538 (888) 775-1514

114. Unitek College

     6800 Santa Teresa Blvd #200, San Jose, CA 95119 (888) 775-1514

115. University of Antelope Valley

     44055 Sierra Hwy, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 726-1911

116. Visalia Adult School

     3110 E Houston Ave, Visalia, CA 93292 (559) 730-7655

117. West Coast Ultrasound Institute

     3700 Inland Empire Blvd Suite 235, Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 483-3808

118. West Coast Ultrasound Institute

     3580 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (310) 289-5123

119. Xavier College

     1130 N El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 941-0968

Neighboring States: Arizona | Nevada | Oregon

As you can see, LVN training programs are available in all areas of California. Whether you're located in the Bay Area or are down closer to San Diego, you shouldn't have any trouble identifying suitable, state-approved LVN training programs in your area.

LVN Licensing Requirements in California

In the state of California, you must meet the following requirements to obtain an LVN license:

• Complete a state-approved LVN training program consisting of 1,530 education hours. A minimum of 576 hours of theory and 54 of pharmacology are required.
• Take and pass the NCLEX-PN licensing examination, which is administered several times a year at locations around the state.
• Be physically strong enough to work long hours on your feet.
• Depending on the school, you may also be required to provide finger prints or to undergo a criminal background check.

LVN licenses expire every two years in the state of California. Conveniently, continuing education is not required for first renewal. For subsequent “active” license renewals, you must complete 30 hours of continuing education.

California Board Of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

Regardless of which state-approved program you complete to meet the training requirement, you must apply for your license with the California Board Of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Going forward, this is also the agency that handles renewals, transfers and reinstatements, so keep the contact information handy:

California Board Of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
2535 Capitol Oaks Dr #205, Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 263-7800
Fax: (916) 263-7859

LVN Salary & Employment Outlook in California

Is paying for LVN training in the state of California a worthwhile investment? Review the typical salary that is enjoyed by licensed vocational nurses in this state to get a feel for what to expect in terms of compensation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LVNs in the state of California earn a median salary of $66,090 per year. This is equivalent to $31.77 per hour. Nationally, LVNs earn a median salary of $54,620, or $26.26 per hour, so they are very well compensated in California.

As far as job outlook goes, it looks very promising indeed for LVNs in California. The BLS has projected that the LVN field in the state will grow by 21 percent from 2014 through 2024, which is about 5-percent faster than nationally. This means that more than 3,240 new LVN jobs will open up in California per year. Given the excellent compensation that you are sure to enjoy as an LVN in this state as well as strong demand for LVNs, it is safe to say that California is among the best states to be if you aspire to work as an LVN.

LVN Salaries in California by Area

Just as LVN salaries vary from one part of the country to another, they vary from one part of the state of California to another. As you will see, LVNs in the state enjoy the best earning potential in the largest metro areas. Information regarding available positions is included for your convenience too, so you can zero in on areas in the state where demand is especially high for these professionals. Check how much you can expect to earn in the area where you currently live, or scout out other areas to relocate to for better compensation:

Find the right LVN training program now to get the ball rolling on your nursing career!