LVN Programs in California

Find the best LVN programs in California. Learn about licensing requirements, salaries, and employment outlook for LVNs in the Golden State.
LPN 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:

AreaTotal EmploymentsAvg. Hourly WageAvg. Annual Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara3,020$38.75$80,590
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward8,730$38.69$80,470
Santa Rosa890$36.88$76,710
Napa310$36.72$76,370
Vallejo-Fairfield850$36.66$76,240
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade4,200$34.27$71,280
Santa Cruz-Watsonville300$33.92$70,550
Salinas680$33.51$69,710
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande480$33.23$69,120
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim28,280$32.95$68,530
Stockton-Lodi1,270$32.90$68,440
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara600$32.88$68,390
San Diego-Carlsbad6,150$32.57$67,750
Hanford-Corcoran270$32.34$67,260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura1,220$32.00$66,570
Modesto950$31.87$66,300
Yuba City250$31.86$66,260
Bakersfield1,230$31.56$65,650
Madera220$31.56$65,640
Fresno1,800$31.29$65,080
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario8,170$31.19$64,880
Chico420$31.12$64,720
El Centro260$30.34$63,110
Merced260$29.95$62,300
Redding460$29.88$62,150
Visalia-Porterville740$29.42$61,190

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2022

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

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