Full-time schedule
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday
Listed length: 61 weeksThe program at a glance
A five-term private-college route to vocational nursing
High Desert Medical College, usually shortened to HDMC, runs its Vocational Nursing program from the Bakersfield campus at 2000 24th Street. The school describes the award as a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing. The current catalog also lists the credential as a certificate, so this is not the same as an associate-degree nursing program.
The curriculum is measured in clock hours, meaning scheduled instructional time rather than college semester units. HDMC lists 1,530 hours across five terms. General-education courses such as English composition and sociology are not part of this certificate. HDMC offers a separate Vocational Nursing AAS route for licensed vocational nurses who want to add an associate degree.
Students comparing this school with other California LVN programs should look at the full cost, schedule, entrance process, and travel to assigned clinical sites along with the advertised program length.
- Credential
- Vocational Nursing certificate
- Program hours
- 1,530 clock hours
- Full-time length
- 61 weeks
- Part-time length
- 84 weeks
- Campus
- Bakersfield
- General education
- Not included in the certificate
HDMC's 2026/2027 catalog states that the Vocational Nursing program is approved by California's Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. The Board maintains the state's approved-program information.
Where the 1,530 hours go
Lecture, laboratory, and clinical training
The current catalog divides the program into 576 lecture hours, 274 laboratory hours, and 680 clinical hours. HDMC groups lecture and laboratory time together as 850 classroom hours on its program page.
576
Lecture hours
274
Laboratory hours
680
Clinical hours
Part-time schedule
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, plus Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Listed length: 84 weeksWhat “hybrid” means here
HDMC's public program FAQ says the program is currently offered in person. The 2026/2027 catalog lists the delivery method as “Residential; Hybrid,” but it does not state how much theory may be online. Laboratory and clinical training require in-person attendance. Clinical days and times can change by term and may include morning or evening shifts.
The course sequence
Five terms that move from fundamentals to specialty care
Each term must be completed in order. The first term is entirely lecture and laboratory work; clinical hours begin in Term II and continue through the rest of the program.
Term I300 hours
Fundamentals of Nursing I
Anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, communication, documentation, nutrition, safety, and basic patient care.
- Lecture
- 203
- Lab
- 97
- Clinical
- 0
Term II300 hours
Fundamentals of Nursing II
Patient admission and discharge, vital signs, physical assessment, growth and development, pain, medication basics, and pharmacology.
- Lecture
- 94
- Lab
- 62
- Clinical
- 144
Term III300 hours
Medical Surgical Nursing I
Adult care involving skin, muscles and bones, digestion, urinary health, blood, circulation, breathing, older adults, and surgical patients.
- Lecture
- 93
- Lab
- 31
- Clinical
- 176
Term IV314.5 hours
Medical Surgical Nursing II
Endocrine, sensory, neurological, immune, cancer, communicable disease, and mental-health nursing topics with expanded clinical work.
- Lecture
- 93
- Lab
- 21.5
- Clinical
- 200
Term V315.5 hours
OB, Pediatrics and Leadership
Reproductive health, maternity and pediatric nursing, along with the vocational nurse's role in supervision and leadership.
- Lecture
- 93
- Lab
- 62.5
- Clinical
- 160
Admission is more than one form
Academic entry and clinical clearance
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. HDMC uses a nursing-department interview and selection process, then requires health and background clearance for clinical work.
Before the nursing program
-
1
Document education and identity
Provide valid identification, a Social Security number, and proof of a high school diploma, college diploma, GED, or accepted equivalent. Foreign education requires a transcript evaluation.
-
2
Meet the entrance-test score
The current catalog requires a TEAS score of at least 55. An official score from the previous year may be accepted. The catalog allows three attempts per admission cycle, with at least two weeks between tests.
-
3
Complete the nursing interview
Applicants interview with the Director of Nursing or a designated staff member before final selection and enrollment paperwork.
-
4
Pass the required prerequisite course
HDMC lists a separate 128-hour, four-week prerequisite course covering study skills, basic arithmetic, dosage calculation, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. A score of 75% or higher is required.
Current catalog charges
$36,370 listed total program cost
This is the total in HDMC's 2026/2027 catalog. The charge table is marked effective July 1, 2025, and its individual amounts add to the published total.
- Tuition
- $28,321
- Registration fee
- $200
- Textbooks and workbooks
- $2,484
- Lab fees and supplies
- $3,135
- Malpractice insurance
- $150
- Uniforms and student ID
- $75
- CPR fee
- $85
- Licensure-related registration
- $1,260
- Technology fee
- $660
- Total
- $36,370
Items included in the school package
The catalog identifies two scrub sets, a stethoscope, CPR card, lab coat, ID badge, background fingerprinting, and the graduation diploma among the included uniform and supply items.
Items paid separately
HDMC estimates additional costs for the physical exam, white closed-toe shoes, a watch with a second hand, blood-pressure cuff, scissors, penlight, and black pen. Using the catalog's ranges, these items total about $185.75 to $310.75 before any added vaccination or repeat-testing costs.
Put the price beside likely pay
Tuition is only one side of a school comparison. Local job setting, experience, schedule, and employer also affect LVN salary after licensure.
Previous education and next steps
Transfer credit is possible, but it is not automatic
HDMC may review recent nursing-related education completed within the past five years. The school decides whether course content and hours match its own curriculum.
Education HDMC may review
- Vocational or practical nursing courses
- Registered nursing courses
- Psychiatric technician courses
- Armed Forces nursing courses
- Certified nursing assistant courses
What the review requires
Request the review when enrolling and provide an official transcript plus detailed course descriptions or syllabi. If credit is granted, HDMC says program length and tuition are reduced for the accepted work.
The separate AAS option
The Vocational Nursing AAS is a different program that builds on a completed vocational nursing certificate and an active LVN or LPN license. It adds online science and general-education courses; it is not the award earned from this 1,530-hour certificate alone.
Bakersfield branch campus
Downtown location and student offices
High Desert Medical College2000 24th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
661-579-2901 Official Bakersfield campus page
HDMC says the Bakersfield campus has more than 26,000 square feet of medical-education space. The current catalog identifies administrative offices, a reception area, accessible restrooms, and a learning resource center with program-related materials.
Academic help
Tutoring, academic advice, and a learning resource center.
Financial aid office
Help with aid applications and available payment options.
Career services
Resume, interview, job-search, and placement assistance.
Student support
Community referrals and discounted bus passes may be available.
Other study at this campus
Healthcare programs listed for Bakersfield
HDMC's Bakersfield academic calendar lists several other programs. These examples lead to different jobs and should not be confused with vocational nursing.
Clinical Medical Assisting
Prepares students for front- and back-office work in clinics and medical practices. It does not prepare graduates for licensed nursing work.
Pharmacy Technician
Focuses on medication processing, pharmacy calculations, inventory, and work supporting a pharmacist rather than bedside nursing care.
Nursing Assistant
A shorter course for basic daily-care support under nursing supervision. Its job scope and credential differ from the Vocational Nursing certificate.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Trains students for diagnostic imaging work with MRI systems. It is a degree program in imaging, not a nursing pathway.
Compare the local routes
Other vocational nursing programs in and near Bakersfield
Bakersfield includes public and private options with different awards, entry requirements, schedules, and prices. Cerro Coso's Kern River Valley program is a regional Kern County option in Lake Isabella, not a Bakersfield campus.
Public college
Bakersfield College
A lower-cost public-college pathway with college prerequisites and an active CNA requirement.
BC program details
Public adult education
Bakersfield Adult School
A one-year certificate route with prerequisite coursework and a CNA requirement.
BAS program details
Private college
Unitek College
Offers a private vocational nursing curriculum with day and part-time evening schedule formats.
Unitek program details
Private college
Carrington College
Uses an associate-degree curriculum, which makes its award and general-education requirements different from HDMC's certificate.
Carrington program details
Regional public college
Cerro Coso Community College
The Kern River Valley option is based in Lake Isabella. Travel distance is a major part of the comparison for Bakersfield residents.
Kern River Valley program details
Private college
North-West College
NW has multiple nursing offerings: LVN, AA in Nursing, and B.S. in Nursing.
North-West program detailsHigh Desert Medical College FAQ
Details that are easy to misunderstand
Does the Bakersfield Vocational Nursing program award a degree?
No. HDMC awards a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing. The school offers a separate Vocational Nursing Associate of Applied Science program for students who have completed vocational nursing education and hold an active LVN or LPN license.
Is the four-week prerequisite included in the 1,530 hours?
The catalog presents the 128-hour prerequisite as a separate course required before admission. The five nursing terms total 1,530 hours without adding those prerequisite hours.
Can the program be completed online?
No. HDMC's program page describes it as in person, while the catalog uses the label “Residential; Hybrid.” The school does not publish a clear online-theory percentage. Laboratory and clinical work are completed in person.
Are both day and evening schedules listed?
Yes. The catalog lists a Monday-through-Thursday daytime schedule for the full-time program and weekday evenings plus a long Saturday session for the part-time program. Theory times may vary, and clinical schedules change by term and site.
Does HDMC name the Bakersfield clinical facilities?
The current catalog describes clinical training but does not publish a Bakersfield facility list. It states that clinical hours depend on site availability and may occur on morning or evening shifts.
Can CNA or previous nursing coursework reduce the program?
Possibly. HDMC may review qualifying nursing, psychiatric technician, military nursing, or CNA education completed within the past five years. Official transcripts and course details are required, and the school makes the final decision.
Does the $36,370 total cover every student expense?
No. The published total includes the listed tuition, school fees, books, laboratory supplies, uniform package, insurance, CPR, technology, and licensure-related registration. The physical exam, shoes, watch, blood-pressure cuff, scissors, penlight, pen, and some health-related costs are paid separately.