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.
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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.
Advanced College
13180 Paramount Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280 (562) 408-6969Allan Hancock College
800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-6966Allied Medical & Health Services, Inc.
730 S Central Ave #208, Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 637-7871American Career College
3130 Sedona Ct, Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 218-3253American Career College
4021 Rosewood Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 668-7555American Career College - Orange County
1200 N Magnolia Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 763-9066Angeles College
3440 Wilshire Blvd #310, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 487-2211Angeles Institute
11688 South St #205, Artesia, CA 90701 (562) 531-4100Annenberg School of Nursing
19300 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335 (818) 757-4431Antelope Valley College
3041 W Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93536 (661) 722-6300Bakersfield Adult School
2727 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 861-1151Bakersfield College
1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305 (661) 395-4011Baldy View Regional Occupational Program
8265 Aspen Ave # 100, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (909) 980-6490Beaumont Adult School
1575 Cherry Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 845-6012Blake Austin College
611 Orange Dr Suite K, Vacaville, CA 95687 (707) 455-0557Butte College
3536 Butte Campus Dr, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 895-2511California Career College
7003 Owensmouth Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303 (818) 710-1310California Career Institute
12141 Brookhurst St, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (714) 539-5959California Nurses Educational Institute
5200 Ramon Rd #1, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760) 416-5955Career Care Institute
43770 15th St W, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 942-6204Career Care Institute
2051 Solar Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036 (661) 942-6204Career Care Institute
22500 Town Cir #2205, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 (951) 214-6446Career Development Institute
1830 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (310) 559-0225Carrington College
8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826 (916) 585-7770Carrington College
6201 San Ignacio Ave, San Jose, CA 95119 (408) 337-3829Cerro Coso College
3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 384-6100CES College
401 S Glenoaks Blvd #211, Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 563-9822Chaffey College
5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 (909) 652-6000Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center
5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 643-7400Citrus College
1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 963-0323City College of San Francisco
50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 239-3000Clovis Adult Education School
1452 David E Cook Way, Clovis, CA 93611 (559) 327-2800CNI College
702 Town and Country Rd, Orange, CA 92868 (888) 982-0420College of Nursing & Technology
18700 Sherman Way #203, Reseda, CA 91335 (818) 343-1022College of the Desert
43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-8041College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Rd, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 476-4100College of the Redwoods - Del Norte Education Center
883 W Washington Blvd, Crescent City, CA 95531 (707) 464-7457College of the Siskiyous
800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094 (530) 938-5555Concorde Career College
12412 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (818) 766-8151Concorde Career College
4393 Imperial Ave #100, San Diego, CA 92113 (619) 688-0800Concorde Career College
201 E Airport Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (909) 884-8891Concorde Career College
12951 S Euclid St #101, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (714) 703-1900Copper Mountain College
6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 (760) 366-3791Cuesta College
CA-1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (805) 546-3100Curam College of Nursing
6520 44th St, Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 427-4400Downey Adult School
12340 Woodruff Ave, Downey, CA 90241 (562) 940-6200Eastern Sierra College Center
101 College Pkwy, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 934-2875El Monte-Rosemead Adult School
10807 Ramona Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731 (626) 258-5800Feather River College
570 Golden Eagle Ave, Quincy, CA 95971 (530) 283-0202Fresno Adult School
2500 Stanislaus St, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 457-6000Gavilan College
5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-4800Glendale Career College
240 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203 (818) 243-1131Grossmont Health Occupations Center
9368 Oakbourne Rd, Santee, CA 92071 (619) 956-4300Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
4712 Stoddard Rd #200, Modesto, CA 95356 (209) 521-1821Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
7335 N Palm Bluffs Ave, Fresno, CA 93711 (559) 222-1903Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
1401 Willow Pass Rd, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 687-9555Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
2121 S El Camino Real Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 685-6616Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
14101 Nelson Ave E, La Puente, CA 91746 (626) 934-2801Hartnell Community College
411 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 755-6700Healthcare Career College
8527 Alondra Blvd #174, Paramount, CA 90723 (562) 804-1239High Desert Medical College
701 W Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 940-9300Homestead Schools, Inc.
23800 Hawthorne Blvd #200, Torrance, CA 90505 (310) 791-9975Imperial Valley College
380 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 (760) 352-8320Inland Career Education Center
1200 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92410 (909) 388-6000Institute of Technology
1755 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002 (888) 319-7180Institute of Technology
564 Herndon Ave, Clovis, CA 93612 (559) 297-4500Institute of Technology
5601 Stoddard Rd, Modesto, CA 95356 (209) 545-3100Lassen Community College
478-200 CA-139, Susanville, CA 96130 (530) 257-6181Long Beach City College
4901 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 938-4111Los Medanos College
2700 E Leland Rd, Pittsburg, CA 94565 (925) 439-2181Madera Community College Center
30277 Ave 12, Madera, CA 93638 (559) 675-4866Marian College
5900 Sepulveda Blvd # 101, Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 782-6163Marian College
3325 Wilshire Blvd 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 388-3566Merced Community College
3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 (209) 384-6000Mira Costa College
1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056 (760) 757-2121Mission College
3000 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (408) 988-2200Napa Valley College
2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy, Napa, CA 94558 (707) 253-3000National Career College
14355 Roscoe Blvd, Panorama City, CA 91402 (888) 988-2301North Orange County ROP
385 N Muller St, Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 502-5800North-West College
3799 E Burnett St, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 546-5171North-West College
2121 W Garvey Ave N, West Covina, CA 91790 (626) 343-5266North-West College
530 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 389-8536North-West College
4550 La Sierra Ave, Riverside, CA 92505 (951) 324-4157North-West College
134 W Holt Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 (909) 236-7106Pacific College
3160 Red Hill Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 662-4402Palo Verde College
1 College Dr, Blythe, CA 92225 (760) 921-5500Pasadena City College
1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 585-7123Platt College
1000 Fremont Ave #1, Alhambra, CA 91803 (626) 300-5444Premiere Career College
12901 Ramona Blvd, Irwindale, CA 91706 (626) 814-2080Professional Medical Careers Institute
920 Hampshire Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 (866) 500-6274Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (562) 908-3415Riverside City College
4800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 222-8000Sacramento City College
3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 558-2111San Joaquin Valley College
295 E Sierra Ave, Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 448-8282Santa Barbara Business College
303 Plaza Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-8256Santa Barbara Business College
5300 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 835-1100Santa Barbara Business College
34275 Monterey Ave, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 341-2602Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 965-0581Shasta College
11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003 (530) 242-7500Southwestern College
900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 421-6700Sri Sai Krish Institute
12362 Beach Blvd # 14E, Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 890-7023St. Joseph's College of Nursing
816 W Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 726-5060Stanbridge University
2041 Business Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92612 (949) 794-9090Summit College
851 S Cooley Dr E, Colton, CA 92324 (909) 954-3208Tri-County ROP
970 Klamath Ln, Yuba City, CA 95993 (530) 822-5120Tulare Adult School
575 W Maple Ave, Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 686-0225Ukiah Adult School
1056 N Bush St, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 463-5217Unitek College
1111 Howe Ave #300, Sacramento, CA 95825 (888) 735-4355Unitek College
1401 Willow Pass Rd, Concord, CA 94520 (888) 919-4220Unitek College
21615 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94541 (855) 808-2732Unitek College
333 Palmer Dr STE 200, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (888) 912-8512Unitek College
257 Longford Dr #5, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (855) 811-6191Unitek College
4670 Auto Mall Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538 (888) 775-1514Unitek College
6800 Santa Teresa Blvd #200, San Jose, CA 95119 (888) 775-1514University of Antelope Valley
44055 Sierra Hwy, Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 726-1911Visalia Adult School
3110 E Houston Ave, Visalia, CA 93292 (559) 730-7655West Coast Ultrasound Institute
3700 Inland Empire Blvd Suite 235, Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 483-3808West Coast Ultrasound Institute
3580 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (310) 289-5123Xavier College
1130 N El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 941-0968
LPN Programs in Neighboring States:
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
Website: bvnpt.ca.gov
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 $75,610 per year. This is equivalent to $36.35 per hour. Nationally, LVNs earn a median salary of $59,730, or $28.72 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:
| Area | Total Employments | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 31,710 | $36.48 | $75,880 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | 8,580 | $41.88 | $87,120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 8,310 | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad | 6,370 | $35.52 | $73,890 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade | 4,410 | $37.75 | $78,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 3,290 | $41.92 | $87,180 |
| Fresno | 1,980 | $33.73 | $70,150 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 1,320 | $35.14 | $73,100 |
| Bakersfield | 1,290 | $33.04 | $68,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 1,230 | $35.45 | $73,730 |
| Modesto | 1,080 | $35.35 | $73,540 |
| Santa Rosa | 900 | $39.60 | $82,360 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield | 800 | $39.55 | $82,270 |
| Visalia-Porterville | 800 | $32.64 | $67,900 |
| Salinas | 680 | $36.24 | $75,380 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 580 | $35.71 | $74,280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande | 460 | $35.91 | $74,700 |
| Redding | 450 | $32.91 | $68,450 |
| Chico | 440 | $33.48 | $69,630 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 320 | $35.83 | $74,520 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 290 | $33.89 | $70,500 |
| El Centro | 290 | $33.34 | $69,340 |
| Napa | 280 | $40.05 | $83,310 |
| Yuba City | 280 | $34.03 | $70,780 |
| Merced | 260 | $31.98 | $66,520 |
| Madera | 190 | $33.99 | $70,710 |
Find the right LVN training program now to get the ball rolling on your nursing career!
