How to Become a Nurse in California

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Educational Requirements for Becoming a Nurse in California

Different nursing roles have different educational requirements due to varying levels of responsibilities within each role. Explore these requirements to better understand what it will take to advance towards your future nursing career.

LVN education requirements in CA

To become an LVN, you need to complete a vocational nursing diploma program that is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), or equivalent education and/or experience.

Vocational nursing programs, which may also be referred to as LVN programs, typically take one to two years to complete, depending on whether you’re going to school full-time or part-time. For example, American Career College offers a Vocational Nursing program that takes 12 months full-time or 18 months on an evening/weekend schedule.

A vocational nursing program can be appealing to those who want to streamline their entry into the workforce. If you would like to start working in the field of nursing right away and work your way up to becoming an RN, this educational path may be a good fit for you. There are many people who complete an LVN program, gain work experience, and then continue their nursing education at a future time.

RN education requirements in CA

You can become an RN in California through one of the following educational paths, as outlined by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN):

Associate degree of nursing (ADN) program: An ADN program usually takes two to three years to complete. (ACC’s program takes as few as 20 months!) It can be ideal if you don’t already have a degree and you’re interested in working as an RN sooner rather than later. Because not everyone can or wants to pursue a four-year degree, obtaining an ADN can help you streamline your nursing education and get you working as a practicing nurse faster than if you were to pursue a higher-level degree.

Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program: A BSN program offers more comprehensive nursing education and usually takes 4 years to complete. However, you may be able to significantly shorten your time to graduation if you already have an ADN and qualify for an ADN-to-BSN bridge program. While a BSN is not required for RN licensure in California, many employers prefer or even require this level of education.

Entry-level master’s program in nursing (ELM) – An ELM program typically takes 1 to 2 years to finish. This option is ideal for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. Individuals who have taken nursing course prerequisites can typically shorten the time to completion for their master’s program.

LVN 30-unit option: This is a non-degree educational path designed for California LVNs who want to become RNs, and it typically takes 18 to 24 months. Because some states do not accept this form of education as a qualification for RN licensure, you may want to instead pursue a more traditional path like an ADN or BSN program if you’re thinking of working as an RN outside of California in the future.

Military corpsmen: California allows you to take the national exam for RN licensure if you are a corpsman who completed RN-level education and clinical experience. It should be noted that individuals obtaining licensure through their military corpsmen training and experience may have difficulty obtaining RN licensure in certain states.

Vocational Nursing Gallery

Searching for the right nursing program

It’s critical to do your research and find the nursing program that is right for you. Make sure the program is approved by the California Board of Nursing, has a solid reputation, offers robust resources for students, and is available in the format and on the pacing track that meets your needs. For example, the ADN program at ACC offers a blend of online and in-person classes to maximize convenience for students.

After completing your program or educational requirements, the next step will be to apply for licensure and then apply with Pearson VUE to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). You cannot take the NCLEX without first applying for licensure. We will dive into what you need to know for taking the NCLEX, but first, let’s explore California’s requirements for licensure.

To become licensed as an LVN, you will need to:

Be at least 17 years old
Show proof of high school graduation or the equivalent
Complete and sign the “Application for Vocational Nurse Licensure”
Undergo a criminal background check
Pay a nonrefundable application fee
Pass the NCLEX for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) or or the National League for Nursing Test Pool Practical Nursing Examination (NLN)
Pay the initial licensing fee once the other criteria is met
Show proof of completion of your LVN program or equivalent education and/or experience

You can expect your LVN license to be processed in four to six weeks

To become licensed as an RN, you will need to:

Fill out an application for California RN licensure (Be sure to submit your application within 6 to 8 weeks of your expected graduation date.)
Undergo a criminal background check
Pay the RN application fee
Pass the NCLEX for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)

If you would like to start working in a supervised nursing capacity while waiting for your NCLEX results, you can apply for an interim permit. See the mandatory timeframes for RN applications in California.

Preparing for the NCLEX: What You Need to Know

The NCLEX is used to determine whether you have the knowledge necessary for safe and effective practice nursing at the entry level.

Once you apply for your license and register with Pearson VUE to take the exam, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email, which gives you a range of dates to test within (usually an average of a 90-day span). It typically takes 6 weeks or less to receive the results of your exam, though this period can vary by the nursing regulatory body. See the 8 steps for taking the NCLEX.

The exam uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology, which means it administers questions based on test takers’ abilities determined from previous questions. This type of testing is meant to help ensure that questions are not too easy or hard for the test taker. Learn more about how the CAT technology works and how the exam is scored. You will have up to five hours (including breaks) to complete the NCLEX.

Check out the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN’s) NCLEX resources that can help you prepare for the exam, which include test plans (an overview of content, exam administration, and item writing tips), sample questions, exam previews, details about how to register, and more.

Learn more about ACC's Vocational Nursing program

Available in Los Angeles, Ontario and Anaheim

View full program details

Get Started on Your Nursing Program

If you're ready to begin your nursing journey, find a program that helps you reach your goals. American Career College offers both a Vocational Nursing (VN) program and an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, each designed to provide hands-on training and NCLEX exam preparation.

Vocational Nursing