LPN Programs in California

State Info:

As California is one of the most densely populated states in America there are plenty of opportunities for LPN nurses to find work. Like in most other states the number of job opportunities available to nurses with an LPN qualification are on the increase.

There are many schools where you will be able to study for this qualification and you will also find that once you have achieved an LPN qualification and worked for a while as an LPN in the state of California you will then be in a position to advance you career even further by studying to be an RN. In California LPNs are more commonly referred to as LVNs.

Licensing Requirements

In order to enter an LPN program in the state of California you will need to hold a GED and have achieved good grades when in high school. If you have these qualifications you will be eligible to enter and LPN program in California. These programs take about one year to complete generally speaking. Once you have completed the program you will then be required to pass the relevant examination, namely the NCLEX-PN. Once you have passed this examination you will then be licensed to work as an LPN in the state of California. You will also be required to prove that you have a clean criminal history.

Exam Fee

There are several fees that you will have to pay in order to write the exam and become properly licensed. These fees are as follows:

• Fee for the NCLEX-PN examination in the state of California: $75
• Finger printing fee in the state of California: $31
• Fee for a temporary license in the state of California: $30

Renewal fee to be paid every two years in the state of California: $85 (in addition to which you must provide proof that you have participated in 30 hours of continuous education)

Salaries

Financial Aid Available

In order to do your LPN training you will of course need to pay for the course. Courses differ in terms of how expensive they are, but regardless of the cost some people simply cannot afford to complete a program. For many people this is the only thing that is actually standing in their way. There are several options available to you if you would like to study for your LPN qualification in the state of California. For one thing you could contact the nearest Adult and Continuing Education Program office in your area to find out what sort of options they have available for you. It is always worth inquiring about all possible scholarships and grants before applying at a school. This is because there are a lot more options out there for adults wishing to improve their education then you may think, and consequently there is very little reason why you should not be able to find the financial assistance that you need. If you are receiving welfare or unemployment benefits than you should contact the local welfare and unemployment office and see what options they have available that will help you to study for your LPN qualification at no cost to yourself. They will be happy to help you receive the qualifications you need to get a job and to start supporting yourself. It is well worth inquiring in this arena. You can also apply for financial aid packages at the college where you are hoping to study. Colleges are well aware that there is an increasing demand for LPN nurses and are consequently willing to do their bit to try and meet those demands. On top of that you should also see what state scholarships there are in order to ascertain whether or not you qualify for state aid. If you are already working in a nursing capacity than you may be able to apply to your employer for the money to study further and to upgrade you CNA qualification to an LPN qualification. Also look into loan forgiveness programs. You could take out a loan for your studies and then enter a forgiveness program where you may be required to work for a certain amount of time at anon-profit organization in return for a part repayment of your loan.

List of Schools

There are several schools in the state of California where you can study towards your LPN qualification (or your LVN qualification). Below is a list of the schools you can study at in California along with where they are and what qualification you will get at the end of your studies.

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Advanced College
South Gate
Associate’s Degree

Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria
Associate’s Degree

American Career College
Anaheim, Los Angeles, Ontario
Certificate

Antelope Valley College
Lancaster
Associate’s Degree

Bakersfield College
Bakersfield
Associate’s Degree

Butte College
Oroville
Associate’s Degree

Casa Loma College- Van Nuys
Van Nuys
Associate’s Degree

Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest
Associate’s Degree

Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga
Associate’s Degree

Charter College
Canyon Country
Diploma

Citrus College
Glendora
Associate’s Degree

City College of San Francisco
San Francisco
Associate’s Degree

College of the Desert
Palm Desert
Associate’s Degree

College of the Redwoods
Eureka
Associate’s Degree

College of the Siskiyous
Weed
Associate’s Degree

Community Based Education and Development DBA CBD College
Los Angeles
Associate’s Degree

Copper Mountain Community College
Joshua Tree
Associate’s Degree

Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo
Associate’s Degree

Feather River College
Quincy
Associate’s Degree

Gavilan College
Gilroy
Associate’s Degree

Hartnell College
Salinas
Associate’s Degree

Imperial Valley College
Imperial
Associate’s Degree

Institute of Technology
Clovis
Associate’s Degree

Kaplan College
North Hollywood, San Diego, Vista
Diploma

Lassen Community College
Susanville
Associate’s Degree

Long Beach City College
Long Beach
Associate’s Degree

Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles
Associate’s Degree

Los Medanos College
Pittsburgh
Associate’s Degree

Merced College
Merced
Associate’s Degree

Merritt College
Oakland
Associate’s Degree

MiraCosta College
Oceanside
Associate’s Degree

Mission College
Santa Clara
Associate’s Degree

Modesto Junior College
Modesto
Associate’s Degree

Mount Jacinto College
San Jacinto
Associate’s Degree

Napa Valley College
Napa
Associate’s Degree

Pacific College
Costa Mesa
Associate’s Degree

Palo Verde College
Blythe
Associate’s Degree

Pasadena City College
Pasadena
Associate’s Degree

Porterville College
Porterville
Associate’s Degree

Reedley College
Reedley
Associate’s Degree

Rio Hondo College
Whittier
Associate’s Degree

Riverside Community College
Riverside
Associate’s Degree

Sacramento City College
Sacramento
Associate’s Degree

San Diego City College
San Diego
Associate’s Degree

San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton
Associate’s Degree

San Joaquin Valley College- Visalia
Visalia
Associate’s Degree

Santa Barbara Business College
Bakersfield
Associate’s Degree

Santa Barbara Business College
Santa Maria
Associate’s Degree

Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara
Associate’s Degree

Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa
Associate’s Degree

Shasta College
Redding
Associate’s Degree

Sierra College
Rocklin
Associate’s Degree

Western Career College
Antioch, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro
Associate’s Degree

Yuba College
Marysville
Associate’s Degree

Personality requirements

In order to be an LPN you should ensure that you meet the following personality requirements as well:

Confidence: you will need to display confidence in yourself and in your skills in order to put your patients at ease and in order to do your job properly, quickly and effectively. Confidence will develop as you progress through your LPN course.
Multitasking: the job of an LPN is a difficult one and there will often be multiple things that require your attention at the same time. It is therefore essential that you are able to multitask and deal with the various problems that may arise at the same time.
Good interpersonal skills. The key focus of your job is one your interpersonal interactions with your patients and you will therefore need to have the interpersonal skills of kindness and empathy in order to cope with this all important aspect of your job description.
Attention to detail: this is an incredibly important part of being an LPN, your patient’s well being depends on your accuracy, so it is important to get things 100% correct in all domains. This includes the administration of medication as well as in the accurate recording of your patient’s vital signs and history.

Distance Learning

If you are unable to find a school in California that fits in with your timetable remember that there are several distance learning options for you to look into. Distance learning and online curses allow for you to work at your own pace and have a far more flexible schedule. You will also be able to continue your current job while studying and generally these courses are a lot cheaper as well. However, you need to keep the following considerations in mind:

• Is the school that you are doing distance learning with properly accredited? If it is not you will be wasting your time and money as your LPN qualification will be useless at the end of it all. To find out which schools are properly accredited check the California state board of nursing.
• You will have to do practical work no matter what the online course promises you. It is impossible to do an LPN qualification entirely online, and if you choose this option you will be responsible for finding a health care institute near you where you can do your clinical training. You cannot receive your LPN qualification if you are not properly trained in both the theory and the practical side of the course.
• What kind of teaching methods do you benefit from the most? If you are someone who works well on their own and that can motivate themselves to do the work that is necessary, then an online program will be perfect for you and will slot into your schedule nicely. If however you excel in a classroom situation, if you need a lot of prompting and guidance to get through a course, and if you prefer to have interaction with lecturers and other students, than you should consider trying to do a face-to-face qualification instead as this will be a lot easier for you.