Best 14 LVN to RN Programs in California in 2025

Best 14 LVN to RN Programs in California in 2025 January 13, 2025 | Admin When youre a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), you can explore a number of exciting career opportunities in the medical field. At some point, you may decide its time to seek more responsibility and increase your salary. LVN to RN programs in California are available, making it easy for you to become a registered nurse . LVN vs. RN Programs Its important to understand the differences between an LVN and an RN. Both have significant growth opportunities over the next decade. Additionally, both require you to pass a nationwide licensing exam. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , Registered Nurses can earn more than $20,000 a year more than LVNs. Much of this has to do with added responsibilities, including administering IV medications, pronouncing the time of death, and administering various insulin and cardiac medication drips. If you are currently working as an LVN, there are ways to upgrade your career. You can choose to get certified in a specialty, such as IV therapy or pharmacology. However, if you upgrade to an RN, you can specialize in so much more, including obstetrics, geriatrics, or ER. The average program will take between one and two years to complete. Some courses may be available online while labs will have to be done on campus. It can be a great investment in your career by looking into LVN to RN programs in California. Weve identified some of the top schools in California that offer an LVN to RN program. Weve determined the rank by looking at two important factors: tuition costs and the student to teacher ratio. Those with lower-cost programs and smaller classroom sizes are ranked higher on the list. Top 14 LVN to RN Programs in California Yuba College AtYuba College, there is a full LVN to RN program, which includes an LVN to RN Bridge course. There are prerequisites that may need to be completed as well as several program courses such as Physiology, Microbiology, and Anatomy. Students will also need to score about a 62 percent on the TEAS and obtain a Current Intravenous Therapy certification among several other requirements. There is a time commitment within this program that includes four hours of theory and 16 to 18 hours of clinical time. Further, the amount of study/homework can vary from 20 to 30 hours a week. San Bernardino Valley College The Nursing Department atSan Bernardino Valley Collegeoffers an LVN to RN program. Students who enroll in the program must have at least one year of full-time LVN work experience. Additionally, prerequisites must be completed prior to applying to the program. The bridge program is a total of 30 units, followed by the NCLEX-RN examination in order to become licensed. The program allows for students to be licensed in the state of California, but students will not be awarded anAssociate of Science(AS) degree by completing this bridge program. American River College AtAmerican River College, the LVN to RN program is a one-year program if taken full-time. The career mobility program involves taking a summer bridge course and completing all of the necessary prerequisites as the traditional RN program, including Speech and either Sociology or Cultural Anthropology. Students must have an active LVN license in the state and have a minimum of six months of recent full-time experience working as an LVN. Students will be actively involved in training with a hands-on approach. Butte College The LVN to RN program atButte Collegeis state-approved and makes it possible for students to apply for the licensure to become a Registered Nurse. Admission requirements include holding a current California LVN license and 16 units of college-level nursing credit. Additionally, students must already have the IV Therapy Certification. Students will need to maintain a GPA of at least 2.5, particularly in the courses of Microbiology, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology. Other courses include Physical Education Activities and Modern Social Problems. Fresno City College Students atFresno City Collegecan complete the LVN to RN program in approximately one year, though it may require longer depending on the prerequisites that have been completed. Students will learn about direct and indirect approaches to providing health care services. The 30 units required to be able to sit for the RN licensure exam include courses in Microbiology and Human Physiology. Skills labs will be a significant part of the program to prepare students for fieldwork. Santa Ana College The LVN to RN program atSanta Ana Collegeis a one-year academic program. Students are considered Advanced Placement for this program as they will have already obtained an LVN certification in the state of California and have current work experience. Students will need to have completed all prerequisite courses prior to applying for the program. The program only accepts a limited number of students into the program every year, and priority will go to students who are currently employed at local hospitals in the area, including St. Joseph Hospital of Orange. Victor Valley College AtVictor Valley College, students are not required to obtain the standard AS in Nursing. Instead, those who have an LVN certification can enroll in the LVN to RN entry program. There are several entry exams that will need to be passed. Additionally, students who wish to graduate from the program will need to complete at least 12 units at VVC. Students who have documented experience in certain areas may be able to challenge content areas in order to avoid sitting in the classes/labs. The thirty-unit program, for most students, will take one year to graduate. Pacific Union College The LVN to RN program atPacific Union Collegeis uniquely designed so that students can continue to work as an LVN while continuing to obtain a nursing education. The program includes three 17-week sessions, which takes a total of 18 months to complete. The format is non-traditional, designed for the working adult. The Christian liberal arts college has a list of courses that will need to be taken, including mental health nursing, pediatric nursing, and more. Los Angeles Harbor College The Division of Health Sciences atLos Angeles Harbor Collegeoffers an LVN to RN bridge program. Students will need to complete an array of prerequisite courses that include Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, and Psychology. We also require LVN applicants to enroll in Nursing 329A/B (offered in Fall semester only), 311, and 321, as well as have acurrent CA LVN license. The program only accepts a limited number of students into the advanced placement program, on a space-available basis. Mt. San Jacinto College AtMt. San Jacinto College, students can choose to not only take the LVN to RN bridge program but also work toward earning an Associate in Science degree. This will involve taking the core classes of the program as well as courses that satisfy the requirements to earn an AS. Students will need to purchase a wide array of supplies for the program, including nursing uniforms, supply kits, and more. By the end of the program, students will have the ability to sit for the NCLEX-RN program in order to be licensed as an RN by the state of California. San Diego State University The School of Nursing atSan Diego State Universityoffers a 30-unit LVN to RN option. Students can complete the program in one year, though it will not involve earning an Associate in Science degree. Students can choose to take courses not only at SDSU but at other schools around the state. By the end of the program, students will be able to qualify for taking the licensure exam to become an RN. The 30-unit program is also only accepted by employers in California other states may require additional courses before becoming licensed as an RN. Allan Hancock College Students who take the LVN to RN program atAllan Hancock Collegewill also earn an Associate in Science. The program is fully accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing. It will take two semesters to complete. In order to be eligible for the program, students must have either recently completed an accredited vocational program or hold a current LVN license in California. Students will have classroom learning as well as skills labs. Additionally, there will be a significant amount of collaboration with health care teams. College of the Desert At theCollege of the Desert, students are placed into an Advanced Placement program in order to seek a LVN to RN program. Enrollment in the program is limited and requires a GPA of at least 2.5 as well as current LVN licensure in the state of California. There is a 30-unit option that students can choose to take so that they will receive the classroom and hands-on learning needed in order to graduate from the program and qualify to take the RN licensure exam. Another option is to take an additional semester worth of courses in order to qualify for an AS in Nursing. Long Beach City College Current LVNs can choose to attend the LVN to RN program atLong Beach City College. There is an information meeting that must be attended in addition to completing the nursing program application. Students who are admitted into the program must complete all perquisites prior to starting. The ADN (Associate Degree Nursing) program will typically take one year to complete and provide students with the ability to meet the healthcare needs of the community. The program is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The schools are ranked by giving them a score in two different areas. Schools are first scored based on tuition, with the more affordable programs receiving a higher score. Then, schools are scored based on student to teacher ratio, with the smaller classroom sizes receiving a higher score because it offers more focused learning. The scores are added together in order to identify how the schools are ranked. The cost of tuition is based on the cost to attend for one year (two semesters). When applicable, in-state tuition fees are used. Further, the cost of tuition is based on tuition and fees alone labs and books are excluded as is any room and board costs that may be required. If you notice an error in any of the data weve used to rank the schools, please let us know. We aim to provide the most updated information to help identify which schools across the state are the best. When youre searching for an online LVN to RN program to upgrade your career, let us help you find one that works well for you. Whether youre trying to start your career or make a big change, we can help you find the perfect school to help you reach your goals. #J-18808-Ljbffr