Cerro Coso Community College offers a public vocational nursing program through its Kern County locations, including Lake Isabella. This guide covers the courses, admission requirements, cost, and important location details for Kern River Valley students.
Cerro Coso's KRV location is at 6504 Lake Isabella Boulevard in Lake Isabella.
First, a quick location note
Cerro Coso's Kern River Valley location is in Lake Isabella, not Bakersfield. The college lists Lake Isabella as one of the places where the classes needed for its vocational nursing program are available. The KRV office also provides computers and student support.
Students looking for an LVN program in Kern County may find Cerro Coso while comparing schools in and around Bakersfield. We included it so students can compare its public-college cost and admission requirements with programs located inside Bakersfield.
The important part is knowing where you would actually need to go each week. Classes may be available in Lake Isabella, but nursing students also complete skills labs and clinical training. Those activities may take place at another college location or at healthcare facilities outside Kern River Valley.
Cerro Coso's Kern River Valley locationThe nursing sequence
The certificate combines nursing theory, pharmacology, medical-surgical content, obstetric and pediatric nursing, leadership, and three clinical courses. Among California LVN programs, Cerro Coso is distinctive for pairing a public-college price with a required set of college prerequisites and current CNA certification.
This is the most concentrated medical-surgical semester in the listed sequence.
Cerro Coso's current certificate page uses 43 units for its cost estimate, while the individual courses displayed on that page add up to 47.5 units when the required 3-unit selection is included. Ask which education plan and unit total apply to the next LVN class.
Before the nursing sequence
Admission is handled through Counseling. The prerequisite work must be completed with a grade of C or better before the program begins, and the college says the prerequisites plus the nursing program commonly take about two years altogether.
Take Survey of Anatomy and Physiology with lab, or complete the separate Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses.
Electronic Health Records (1.5 units) and Medical Terminology (3 units) are both required.
The standard or honors psychology course satisfies this part of the prerequisite list.
Cerro Coso requires applicants to hold active nursing assistant certification before entering the program.
Cerro Coso says the 2026–27 deadline has passed and that the 2027–28 application will appear when that cycle opens. Students can use the interval to meet with Counseling and finish any missing prerequisites.
Application pageTwo awards, one nursing sequence
The 43-unit certificate contains the vocational nursing major. The 60-unit associate degree adds a general-education pattern. Students who may continue their education later should discuss the degree route with Counseling before registering.
College estimate$4,558
College estimate$6,360
Cerro Coso bases these figures on California-resident enrollment at $46 per unit and estimated books and supplies. A student's actual budget may also include prerequisites, CNA training, health records, screening, uniforms, equipment, and repeated travel to campus or clinical facilities.
The lower public-college price is meaningful, but it should be compared with the time needed to finish the prerequisites and the likely travel burden. Those costs can be considered alongside current LVN salary levels rather than evaluating tuition in isolation.
Other healthcare study at Cerro Coso
These are separate programs leading to different kinds of work. Several can be completed online, which makes the KRV office's computer access and student support more relevant to Lake Isabella residents.
Cerro Coso offers an AS degree plus administrative and clinical certificates. Administrative coursework is available online; the clinical certificate combines online availability with selected in-person locations.
Medical assisting optionsBoth certificates are listed as online programs. Medical billing focuses on claims and reimbursement, while coding covers the code systems used to document services and diagnoses.
Medical coding certificateThe online certificate prepares students for support roles in human-service settings. It is not a nursing credential, but it may fit students interested in community and behavioral-health services.
Human services certificateIf Bakersfield is where you need to study
Cerro Coso may work for a student based near Lake Isabella, but a Bakersfield resident should compare the travel and prerequisite requirements with programs that operate inside the city.
Compare the full schedule, admission requirements, award, total cost, and clinical travel—not just the advertised program length.
Kern River Valley office
Common questions
No. The KRV office is in Lake Isabella. This guide includes the program as a regional Kern County choice that students may compare with schools located in Bakersfield.
Cerro Coso's current program pages list Lake Isabella among the locations where the required courses are available. Because class and clinical locations can change, confirm where the next LVN class will meet before applying.
Yes. Applicants must hold a current CNA certificate in addition to completing the required college courses.
The college estimates four semesters for both the 43-unit certificate and the 60-unit associate degree. Students who have not completed prerequisites should include that additional time.
The certificate consists of the 43-unit vocational nursing major. The AS degree requires 60 total units and adds a general-education pattern.
No. Vocational nursing includes in-person clinical training and skills work. Some prerequisites or other college courses may be available online, but applicants should not treat the nursing program as an online-only pathway.
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