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San Joaquin Valley College has 15 college campuses offering 25 Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor of Science degree programs in the fields of Medical & Dental, Trade & Industrial, and Business & Criminal Justice.
San Joaquin Valley College has 15 campuses in California. SJVC offers over 20 different degree and certification programs. They have vocational nursing programs at 4 of their California campuses: Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Visalia, and Rancho Mirage.
Their LVN programs are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The WSCUC is the accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education.
SJVC's vocational nursing program takes 15 months to complete. Once finished, students will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN. In addition to receiving certification, students are also awarded an Associate Degree.
Upon completion of SJVC's LVN program, graduates will be able to demonstrate:
SJVC's Bakersfield campus also has 9 healthcare degree and certification programs, including Medical Assisting, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technology, Vet Assistant, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Diagnostic Sonography, and Medical Office Administration.
The vocational nursing program at SJVC is 15 months long, with total "clock hours" totaling 1,900. Their program covers both core courses and general education courses. Core courses include:
General education courses include:
Students learn to take vital signs, gather patient information, deliver injections, collect lab samples and to assist patients with personal hygiene tasks. The career outlook for graduates of Licensed Vocational Nurse programs has never been better, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, estimating that over 100,000 new licensed vocational nursing jobs will be created in the next eight years.
Graduates from Licensed Vocational Nurse programs like the one at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield often go on to take an accredited LVN to RN program.
Unitek College, with its seven locations across California, provides two LVN programs at its Bakersfield campus: a year-long full-time course, and an evening part-time course spread over 17 months.
Prospective students are not required to complete any prerequisite courses before commencing the program. However, they must attend a session on "career development and admissions interview" before enrolling.
Unitek College supports its students throughout their journey, offering assistance in job search during the course and following its completion.
The LVN program boasts multiple commencement times over the year, eliminating the need to wait for a new semester.
Besides, Unitek College features a fast-track 3-year BSN program. Similar to the LVN program, there are no prerequisite courses required. The program operates all year round, enabling students to accumulate 120 units for their degree. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the California nursing boards.
Amongst all the programs in Kern County, Bakersfield College's LVN program has the longest history. The program has been the starting point for numerous nurses in the area, with many graduates advancing to BC's LVN to RN program.
Applying to BC's vocational nursing program comes with its merits and demerits. On the upside, it's a highly esteemed degree, but on the downside, the acceptance process can be lengthy. Due to a higher number of qualified applicants compared to available slots, most applicants usually end up on the waiting list.
Before applying, the completion of four prerequisite courses is mandatory:
Applicants are also required to provide evidence of a high school diploma or GED.
High Desert Medical College, with its three campuses in Bakersfield, Lancaster, and Temecula, offers two distinct LVN programs. The first is a vocational nursing certification program that spans 56 weeks.
In addition to this, HDMC also provides a comprehensive 101-week Vocational Nursing Associate of Applied Science degree.
Both programs come with their unique benefits. The certification program is accelerated, concluding in just 56 weeks, while the Associate of Applied Science LVN degree program includes extra science and general education classes. These general education courses can be delivered in a hybrid, online setting.
High Desert Medical College's LVN program is fully accredited by both the Accrediting Council on Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) and the California Board of Vocational Nursing.
Besides the LVN program, HDMC offers a variety of other courses such as Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, medical billing & coding, Ultrasound Technology, Phlebotomy, and Pharmacy Tech, among others.
The LVN program offered by Bakersfield Adult School merges supervised clinical practice with classroom instructions and hands-on lab exercises. Spanning a period of 22 months, the LVN program mandates that all applicants be a minimum of 18 years old and hold either a high school diploma or GED.
Prior to applying, BAS requires the completion of four prerequisites:
Many students who graduate from the Licensed Vocational Nurse program at BAS often proceed to undertake the LVN to RN 'bridge' program at Bakersfield College.
The strength of a program is often evaluated based on the passage rate for the PN-NCLEX, also referred to as the state boards exam. BAS classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020 have a 100% success rate in the PN-NCLEX. This underscores the high-quality nature of the Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program in California.
The total fee for Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program is $6,500 in addition to the NCLEX fee. This fee encompasses all necessary books, a laptop, uniforms, and other materials.
Situated on College Heights Blvd in Ridgecrest, Cerro Coso Community College (CCCC) offers a three-semester LVN program. Given the high number of qualified applicants and limited available seats, the institution maintains a waiting list.
Enrollment in the program necessitates the completion of four prerequisite courses:
The Kern River Valley campus in Lake Isabella, a branch of Cerro Coso Community College, hosts an LVN program that is sanctioned by the California Board of Vocational Nursing. This three-semester program encapsulates a total of 1660 hours of blended instruction and clinical rotations.
Application to the program mandates the completion of six prerequisite courses:
Online Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in California indeed require hands-on clinical rotations as part of their curriculum. This is consistent with state regulations, ensuring the development of practical skills needed in patient care. Despite a significant portion of the coursework being theoretical and feasible to accomplish online, the practical aspects of nursing cannot be fully simulated or substituted virtually.
Thus, online LVN programs usually incorporate a hybrid format that includes both online classes and in-person clinical experiences. These rotations provide students with critical real-world exposure, allowing them to apply learned concepts in real healthcare settings under professional supervision. It's a crucial aspect that not only satisfies educational requirements but also helps students gain confidence and competence. So, even if the didactic portion of the program is online, a hands-on component remains essential in a well-rounded LVN program.
California leads the pack in terms of pay for LVN/LPNs. As 2022 came to a close, earnings for nurses reached an unprecedented peak. There is a higher demand than ever before for both Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a part of the US Department of Labor, has shared the average salary details for LVN/LPNs.
The median pay for LVNs in 2022 was $48,820 per annum, but this is a nationwide average. Some states, like Louisiana and Arkansas, report an average annual pay of $46,000 and $47,500, respectively. Conversely, states like California and Massachusetts surpass this, boasting a higher than average annual pay.
According to the Employment Development Department of California, the median annual pay for LVNs is $63,676, translating to an hourly wage of $30.62. In fact, the pay for Licensed Vocational Nurses is predicted to keep growing each year, at least until 2025. For more comprehensive data, refer to this LVN salary guide.