Working as an LVN is certainly rewarding, but if you're ready to move to a different level in your career, you can join the ranks of more than one-quarter million working RNs in California. Their annual mean salary is the highest in the nation at more than $87,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 60 percent of California's RNs work in hospitals. Other common settings are ambulatory care and home health.
The Los Angeles metro area has the third highest employment level of RNs in the country. Although a 2011 UCSF report indicated that California's nursing shortage is improving, a higher demand may emerge in the future because of an anticipated high retirement rate among RNs and an aging population.
Options include degree pathways such as LVN to ADN and LVN to BSN. Many programs offer hybrid classes in this technology-savvy state. For grants, loans, and scholarships, check out the California Board of Registered Nursing, the California Student Aid Commission, and the California Nursing Students' Association. Your employer may also have a tuition reimbursement benefit. For additional information on registered nursing in California, contact the American Nurses Association/California and National Nurses United.
Some LPN to RN programs to consider:
California State University (Sacramento, CA). CSU is one of the largest university systems in the U.S. They offer a non-degree program for LVN to RN candidates.
City College of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA). This urban community college was founded in 1935 and is one of the largest in the country. LVNs may choose a non-degree program or apply for advanced placement status in the ADN program.
Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA). This university supports the Wesleyan mission. LVNs may apply for advanced placement status in the BSN program on a space-available basis.
Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-to-RN program
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American River College (Sacramento, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-to-RN Career Mobility
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Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN, LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to BSN and LVN to RN (30-unit option)
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Bakersfield College (Bakersfield, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Nursing Transition (LVN to ADN) Program
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Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: transfer-challenge(LVN to RN) program
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Butte College (Oroville, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Licensed Vocational Nurse to Associate Degree Registered Nurse (LVN-RN), LVN to RN
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Cabrillo College (Aptos, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Nursing Program Advanced Placement
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California State University-Fresno (Fresno, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: Advanced Placement - BSN
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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California State University-Long Beach (Long Beach, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to RN, BSN
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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California State University-Sacramento (Sacramento, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
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California State University-San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to BSN
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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California State University-San Marcos (San Marcos, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to BSN Program
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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California State University-Stanislaus (Turlock, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to BSN Program
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Carrington College (Antioch, CA / Citrus Heights, CA / Emeryville, CA / Pleasant Hill, CA / Sacramento, CA / San Jose, CA / San Leandro, CA / Stockton, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN (ADN)
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Cerritos College (Norwalk, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-ADN MOBILITY PROGRAM
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Chabot College (Hayward, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
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Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: VN to RN
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Citrus College (Glendora, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN transition course
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City College of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Placement for LVN’s
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College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Associate Degree Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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College of the Desert (Palm Desert, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN (Transition Option)
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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College of the Redwoods (Eureka, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
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College of the Sequoias (Visalia, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN RN Bridge Program
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College of the Siskiyous (Weed, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN Step-Up Program
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Contra Costa College (San Pablo, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Nursing Program Advanced Placement for LVNs/LPNs
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Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: 30 Unit Option for LVNs
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Cypress College (Cypress, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN/PT to RN Career Mobility Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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De Anza College (Cupertino, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN Transition to Registered Nursing (Associate of Science Degree)
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Dominican University of California (San Rafael, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN
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East Los Angeles College (Monterey Park, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse
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El Camino Community College (Torrance, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN/LPN ADVANCED STANDING
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Evergreen Valley College (San Jose, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN Advanced Placement
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Fresno City College (Fresno, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Articulation Program
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Gavilan College (Gilroy, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Standing - Registered Nurse Program
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Golden West College (Huntington Beach, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Career Ladder Program LVN - ADN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Imperial Valley College (Imperial, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Placement (LVN to RN)
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Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN to BS Track
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Long Beach City College (Long Beach, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN ladder program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program LVN Transition/Bridge course
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Los Medanos College (Pittsburg, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
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Mendocino College (Ukiah, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Bridge Program
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Merced College (Merced, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN (ADN)
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Merritt College (Oakland, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN
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MiraCosta College (Oceanside, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN Career Ladder Nursing Program
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Mission College (Santa Clara, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN
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Mount Saint Mary's College (Los Angeles, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Mobility Option
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Mount San Jacinto College (Menifee, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Transition Program
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National University (La Jolla, CA / San Diego, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: Licensed Vocational Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (L.V.N. - to - B.S.N.)
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Pacific Union College (Angwin, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Palomar College (San Marcos, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN step up program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Pierce College (Woodland Hills, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-to-RN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN Advanced Placement Program
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Rio Hondo College (Whittier, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN - ADN PROGRAM
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Riverside Community College (Riverside, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: ADN (RN) ADVANCED PLACEMENT OPTION
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Sacramento City College (Sacramento, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Career Mobility Program
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Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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San Bernardino Valley College (San Bernardino, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Degree Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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San Diego City College (San Diego, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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San Joaquin Valley College (Bakersfield, CA / Cucamonga, CA / Modesto, CA / Rancho Cordova, CA / Visalia, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN A. S. Degree Program
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San Jose State University (San Jose, CA)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LVN Advanced Placement
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Santa Ana College (Santa Ana, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN (Advanced Placement)
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to ADN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Santa Rosa Junior College (Santa Rosa, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Vocational Nursing to Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
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Shasta College (Redding, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN-RN Associate Degree Nursing Program
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Sierra College (Rocklin, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Career Mobility LVN to RN Option
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Solano Community College (Suisun City, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Career Mobility Program
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Southwestern College (San Diego, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to ADN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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United States University (National City, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN
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Unitek College (Fremont, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to Registered Nursing (LVN to RN)
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University of Phoenix (Multiple Locations)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LPN or LVN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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Ventura College (Ventura, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: 30-unit Option for LVN and LPN Entrants
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Victor Valley College (Victorville, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN transition college
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West Hills Community College District (Lemoore, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Bridge Program
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Yuba Community College District (Marysville, CA)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LVN to RN Step-Up Nursing Program
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