With the help of this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an LVN in California.
Step 1: Complete the required prerequisites
In order to become an LVN, you’ll need to complete a few steps before you can apply for your license. First, you should have completed high school and earned your diploma (or GED), as well as completed at least one year of general education courses. You can also earn college credits while completing your general education requirements.
Step 2: Apply for the state’s approval
After you’ve earned your diploma or GED, you’ll need to apply for approval with the California Board of Vocational Nurses (CBVN). You can find more information about this process here.
Step 3: Complete training in your area of specialty
Once you have been approved by the CBVN, it’s time for training! In order to become an LVN in California, you will need to complete a nursing program that is accredited by either the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). You can find out more about these accreditation programs here and here respectively.
How To Become An Lvn In California
LVNs) to meet the growing demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) even projects 9% growth in employment for the industry through 2029, leading many to pursue this career pathway. LVNs in California earn approximately $27.02 per hour, which equates to an average annual salary of $56,200. This is roughly $9,150 per year more than the national average.
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Are you looking to become a licensed vocational nurse in California? The school you choose is important when it comes to getting your license. Approved programs in California are offered at community colleges, technical centers, and private career schools – we list 122 schools across the state. After careful review of NCLEX-PN exam first-time pass rates over the past several years, we have ranked the top 50 programs. For more information on our LVN program rankings, see our Methodology page.
To see all the top ranked LVN programs in California click here.
Details on California LVN Schools & Classes
To become an LVN in California, you’ll need to enroll in and graduate from an accredited school. Once complete, students must take and pass the NCLEX-PN exam in order to gain licensure. LVN programs can be round at a variety of colleges and technical/vocational schools across the state, making it easy for students to find one that suits their needs. LVN programs consist of a mix of nursing-specific courses and labs, with titles such as:
- Anatomy and Physiology for Vocational Nurses
- Nursing of the Mature Adult Theory
- Pediatric Nursing Theory
Accreditation
The first thing students can do when researching LVN programs is to search for accredited schools. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing is a widely-known national accrediting body to keep an eye out for, and regional accreditations exist as well. You can also look for programs endorsed by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Admission Requirements
California LVN schools typically require the following in order to be eligible for admission, though it’s important to keep in mind that these requirements may vary from school to school:
- 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
Many students are scared off by the thought of LVN school tuition, but there are programs in the state that fit many budgets. Students must consider the cost of tuition, mandatory school/program fees, and extras like textbooks and uniforms. The LVN program at southern California’s Pasadena City College, for example, runs roughly $4,463 in its entirety.
For those interested in advancing their nursing career, see our California LVN to RN/BSN programs page.
California LVN Licensing Requirements
To become an LVN in the state of California, the applicant must complete 1,530 education hours at a vocational, trade, or private LVN school approved by the California Nursing Board—576 of these hours are in theory and 54 in pharmacology. Training includes coursework in: anatomy and physiology, psychology, communications, patient education, nutrition, growth and development, rehabilitation, maternity, and much more. The program can take anywhere from 12 to 20 months, depending on the level of commitment—part-time or full-time coursework. Other requirements to become an LVN may include physical strength requirements, including the ability to life patients, pulling and pushing patients and machinery, and extended periods of standing, squatting, walking, and running. There are no continued education requirements for those holding an LVN license, but licenses must be renewed biennially. If the license holder fails to renew for 2 or more years, he or she will be required to complete an additional 30 hours of continued education over the next 2 years.
NCLEX Exam Information
Once students graduate from an LVN program and complete their training, they must register for and pass the required test, known as the NCLEX-PN. This test consists of roughly 100 nursing-related questions, and students are required to pass this in order to be eligible for licensure as a vocational nurse. More about the NCLEX-PN can be found here, and students can also take advantage of our NCLEX-PN practice test in order to prep for the exam.
LVN Reciprocity and NLC
California is currently pending legislation for participation as a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Under the NLC, nurses can practice in other NLC states, without having to obtain additional licenses. An individual can also become an LVN in the state of California by endorsement (transferring with a license from another state), in which he or she must have completed one of the following:
- 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
And:
- The applicant applying for endorsement must have received a passing score on either the NCLEX or SBTPE and submit verification of current licensure.
Check out more detailed information about LVN endorsement by application in California. Learn more about an alternative way to gain LVN licensure in California.
