LVN Programs in Los Angeles: Online and On-Campus
LVN programs in L.A. provide students with on-campus and online learning opportunities in the fast-growing vocational nursing sector. Find a school near you and learn how to get started today.
When patients need basic care, healthcare facilities in Los Angeles turn to licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs, to give them the help they need. If you have a passion for helping others and have been thinking about becoming part of the nursing profession, earning LVN certification is a relatively fast and affordable way to get your foot in the door and build a solid foundation of nursing knowledge. LVN programs in Los Angeles provide access to the latest information on medical care for children, seniors, and others who rely on nurses for care.
This guide provides information about campus-based and online LVN programs in Los Angeles, including what specific programs entail, the skills you will learn throughout the program, and the job prospects you can expect after you graduate.
College Spotlights: Best LVN Programs in Los Angeles
An integral part of the healthcare system, LVNs are required to receive specialized training that will prepare them for the demands of the job. To help you find LVN programs in Los Angeles that will provide proper training to enter the field, we have compiled a list of a few of the best state-approved programs in the area for 2023. We chose these schools based on their accreditation, affordability, learning flexibility, and support services for students. Continue reading to get information on some of the top schools on our curated list. Even if you don’t apply to any of these schools, they can still provide a framework of what to look for when doing your own research.
American Career College
American Career College offers an LVN diploma program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in diverse healthcare settings such as long-term care facilities, medical clinics, and acute care hospitals. To help them prepare for the rigors of the job, as well as the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), students are taught the skills they will need, including how to take vital signs, administer medication to patients, collect samples that are used for routine testing, and monitor how patients respond to different medications and treatments. To teach these skills, the program requires that students complete a curriculum made up of four modules (Introduction to Client-Centered Care, Care of the Client with Health Care Deviations I, Care of the Client with Health Care Deviations II, and Advanced Client-Centered Care). This curriculum can be completed in 13 weeks for students who enroll on weekdays and 20 weeks for students who attend evenings and weekends. After completing these modules, students take a licensing examination preparation course where they get the opportunity to review the concepts that they’ve learned and prepare for the NCLEX-PN.
Marian College
The vocational nursing diploma program at Marian College prepares people for an LVN career through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, research, and experiential learning. Students must complete 1,534 clock hours, which includes coursework that covers nursing theory, patient care provided to people throughout the lifespan, and basic nursing skills. More than half of this instruction will include clinical practice. The program takes about 14 months to complete for students who attend on a weekday schedule and 18 months for students who attend during the weekend. To graduate, students are required to earn at least a C average in their classes. Marian College graduates go on to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, private doctor’s offices, and clinics. The program is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Angeles College
As of 2021, Angeles College’s vocational nursing program boasts an NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate of greater than 75% for each quarter. In addition to accepting quality students, one reason for this success is Angeles College’s rigorous 1,800-hour curriculum that includes lectures (706 hours), laboratory work (176 hours), and clinical experiences (918 hours). The program takes 52 weeks to complete for full-time students who attend during the day. Part-time students who attend during the weekend can finish in 72 weeks. No matter where students choose to attend, they learn about nursing fundamentals, which include principles of caring, patient education, nursing processes, and the ethical and legal considerations for people in the nursing field. Additionally, students take coursework on anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, rehabilitation nursing, and mental health nursing. By the time students graduate, they can use critical thinking skills when making nursing decisions and perform basic patient care in an ethical and compassionate manner.
List of State Approved LVN Programs in Los Angeles
| School | School Type | NCLEX-PN Pass Rate (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| School | School Type | NCLEX-PN Pass Rate (2019) |
Source: California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians; Most recent data as of Feb. 2022
FAQs About LVN Programs in Los Angeles
What skills do you learn in LVN programs in Los Angeles?
When you work through the curriculum of an LVN program in Los Angeles, you gain numerous invaluable skills, including the ability to conduct assessments on patients, provide medications, maintain medical records, and assist patients with issues related to hygiene and mobility. Also, students in these programs gain strong decision-making skills to prioritize what care a patient needs and communicate effectively with patients, their family members, and members of a healthcare team. Finally, LVN programs teach students computer and observational skills to document a patient’s health issues and ensure medical records are accurate and complete.
How much do LVN programs cost in Los Angeles?
The amount that you can expect to pay for an LVN program in Los Angeles varies depending on the school you choose. Generally, you will be charged a lump sum each semester as you complete the program, or your school may charge by the number of credits you take. To get an idea of how much your tuition could be, here are three different Los Angeles schools with various price points.
LVN Diploma Program
Total Credits: 94.0 quarter credits
$41,210.00/total cost
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my LVN program in Los Angeles?
Of course, and most students do. Several sources of financial aid are available for those who enroll in Los Angeles-based LVN programs. When you apply for financial aid, you may be able to receive scholarships, loans, and grants from various sources, including your school and the state. For example, California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development offers the Licensed Vocational Nurse Loan Repayment Program to help full-time LVNs pay for their loans. There’s also the Vocational Nurse Scholarship Program, which awards students up to $4,000 per year to pay for an LVN program in Los Angeles.
For more information on the types of financial aid that you may qualify for, log on to our practical nursing scholarships guide and financial aid guide to find out about your options.
How long do LVN programs in Los Angeles take to finish?
While some programs have specific time frames for how long it takes to work through the curriculum, you can generally complete an LVN program in about a year if you enroll as a full-time student. If you decide to attend as a part-time student, you may be able to complete your studies in about 18 months.
Inside Look at Online LVN Programs in Los Angeles
Although LVN programs in Los Angeles are not offered entirely online, there are hybrid programs that allow students to take many of their classes online. Students can choose to take in-person courses on weekdays during business hours or during evenings and weekends, which gives you an excellent opportunity to incorporate your studies into your lifestyle, no matter what other obligations you may have. After finishing coursework, you will gain hands-on experience at a medical facility where you can apply what you learned in the classroom to real-world healthcare settings and patients. While providing this care, you will be under the supervision of experienced professionals. Also, students may be required to take a review class to prepare for the licensing examination.
Common Questions About Online LVN Programs in Los Angeles
Will earning my credential from an online LVN program in Los Angeles impact my ability to get certified or licensed?
It will not. Taking online classes will not impact your ability to get your LVN license or certification, as long as you attend an LVN program that California has approved.
Will employers care if I took some of my LVN classes online?
It’s unlikely. LVN programs offered in Los Angeles are delivered by qualified faculty members who understand what it takes to succeed in the field and provide hands-on experiences that solidify students’ understanding of what they learned in class. Therefore, employers will mainly look to see that you graduated from an accredited, state-approved institution, passed the NCLEX-PN exam, and have fulfilled the other LVN licensure requirements.
Are online LVN programs more affordable than campus programs in Los Angeles?
Not necessarily. The tuition costs for on-campus LVN programs in Los Angeles are typically comparable to those that provide online learning. That being said, you can still save money by enrolling in a hybrid program because you won’t be required to spend money traveling back and forth to campus every day.
Can I complete my LVN training in Los Angeles faster by taking classwork online?
Probably not. While you may be able to take some of your coursework online, you will still be required to complete a certain number of program hours, including participation in supervised hands-on training at a healthcare facility. These are typically done in a group setting, meaning you will progress through your clinical requirements at the same rate as your classmates. Therefore, online classes will not expedite your graduation.
LVN Licensing Information and Requirements in Los Angeles
Completing an LVN program in Los Angeles is the first step toward beginning this career. After graduation, people still need to go through the licensing process. To earn a California LVN license, you should:
- Complete the “Application for Vocational Nurse Licensure” for consideration
- Submit to fingerprinting with the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Pay a $220.00 fee to the Board of Vocational Nursing & Psychiatric Technicians
- Pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical (Vocational) Nursing (NCLEX) or the National League for Nursing Test Pool Practical Nursing Examination (NLN)
How Much You Can Earn as an LVN in Los Angeles
LVNs in Los Angeles can make a healthy yearly salary, with the majority earning between $48,000 and $78,000. This is comparable to what LVNs make across this state but much higher than the national average. This isn’t surprising given the higher cost of living for the Los Angeles area. Pay will largely come down to individual ability and experience, but other factors like whether you work for a large hospital network or a small family-owned clinic can affect pay as well.
Annual Earnings for Licensed Vocational Nurses in Los Angeles
| Location | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021
