Best LVN Programs in Chula Vista 2026

Find Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in Chula Vista, California with information on schools, classes, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing steps and career opportunities for vocational nurses in the Chula Vista area.

Written by Jane Dewy and Edited by The PracticalNursing.org Editorial Team.
Expert Guide Verified updated on May 29th, 2025.
Edit Template
Chula Vista California LVN programs offering vocational nursing training and hands-on clinical preparation for entry-level healthcare roles

2026 Best LVN Programs in Chula Vista, CA

If you're looking to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse in Chula Vista, CA, finding the right program is key to starting your career strong. At practicalnursing.org, we've carefully reviewed and ranked the best LVN programs in the area to help you make an informed choice. Our rankings highlight schools that offer quality education, hands-on training, and good support for students. We focus on what matters most to future nurses, like pass rates and job placement success. You can trust our list to guide you toward programs that set you up for success in healthcare. Learn more about how we create these rankings at https://www.practicalnursing.org/rankings-methodology/.
#1

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, CA - Public 2-Year - swccd.edu

Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Southwestern College's Vocational Nursing Program in Chula Vista provides comprehensive training for direct patient care roles. This campus-based program spans three semesters, integrating hands-on lab work with clinical experiences in healthcare settings. Students complete prerequisites including Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Nutrition Fundamentals within five years prior to enrollment. The curriculum emphasizes medication administration, patient care techniques, and effective communication skills. Graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-PN examination for licensure. Admission requires a TEAS score of 58%, high school diploma or GED, and current CNA certification. Total program costs are approximately $7,300 excluding living expenses, offering an accessible pathway to vocational nursing careers.

  • 18-month program length
  • Three semester duration
  • Campus-based instruction
  • Prepares for community nursing
  • Covid-19 vaccination required
  • Background check mandatory
  • Drug screening required
  • Immunization documentation needed
  • Virtual information sessions available
  • Career-focused nursing education
#2

Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista

Chula Vista, CA - Private 2-year - pmi.edu

Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate Program

Campus Based - Visit Website

Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista offers a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate Program that prepares students for direct patient care roles. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on training in monitoring vital signs, medication administration, and daily living assistance. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam for California licensure. Financial aid is available for qualified students, supporting accessibility to this comprehensive nursing education.

  • 12-month program duration.
  • On-campus delivery method.
  • Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
  • Hands-on patient care training.
  • Financial aid available.
  • Comprehensive nursing education.
  • Eligible for licensure in CA.
  • Skills for direct patient care.
  • Administer medications training.
  • Monitor vital signs skills.
*Federal data source: IPEDS 2023, administered by NCES.

Chula Vista LVN Program Overview

Licensed Vocational Nurses play a vital role in Chula Vista by delivering hands-on patient care under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. LVNs support medication administration, wound care, monitoring of chronic conditions, and patient education, which are essential services across the city’s acute, post-acute, and community-based settings.

Chula Vista’s healthcare landscape includes a major acute care hospital, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, as well as numerous skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, home health and hospice agencies, and community health centers that serve the broader South Bay. These settings consistently employ LVNs for bedside care, transitional care, and chronic disease management. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports steady national demand for licensed practical and vocational nurses, with continued need in long-term care and home health driven by an aging population and chronic illness management.

LVN programs accessible to Chula Vista residents typically offer two pacing options. Full-time tracks commonly take about 12 to 18 months. Part-time or evening and weekend formats often take about 18 to 24 months. Programs blend classroom instruction with supervised clinical rotations in medical-surgical nursing, gerontology, maternal and child health, mental health, and pharmacology. In California, approved vocational nursing programs follow state requirements that generally total at least 1,530 hours of combined theory and clinical practice.

Graduates prepare for the NCLEX-PN, the national licensure exam for practical and vocational nurses. Licensure in California is regulated by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, which approves programs, sets training and clinical standards, and oversees eligibility for licensure. Local community colleges and accredited vocational schools in the South Bay and greater San Diego area offer BVNPT-approved pathways that align with these standards and prepare students for entry-level practice in hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and home health.

Employment Opportunities for LVNs in Chula Vista

The healthcare employment landscape in Chula Vista, California, demonstrates an active and steady demand for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), who are crucial across various healthcare settings. This consistent need for healthcare services is driven by the region’s growing and diverse population, ensuring a constant flow of opportunities for qualified professionals.

LVNs in Chula Vista find employment across a broad spectrum of healthcare facilities, including:

  • Hospitals:Providing direct patient care, measuring vital signs, administering medications, assisting with procedures, and monitoring patient progress. Notably, facilities within major systems like Sharp HealthCare and Scripps Health (which includes Scripps Mercy Chula Vista) are significant employers.
  • Long-Term Care Facilities:This category encompasses nursing homes and assisted living centers where LVNs care for elderly or chronically ill patients, including medication administration, wound care, and assistance with daily living activities.
  • Clinics:Various specialized clinics, such as medical weight loss, urgent care, internal medicine, urology, and oncology clinics, frequently hire LVNs.
  • Home Health Agencies:Agencies like Maxim Healthcare Services and Pathwell Health actively employ LVNs for private duty nursing, skilled nursing, physical rehabilitation, companion care, respite care, and behavioral care in patients’ homes.
  • Hospice Agencies:LVNs deliver direct, compassionate nursing care to hospice patients in their homes or facility settings.
  • Senior Living Facilities:Assisted living and memory care communities, such as Sunrise Assisted Living At Bonita, Lantern Crest Senior Living, and Westmont At San Miguel Ranch, rely on LVNs for medication passing and overseeing resident care.
  • Rehabilitation Centers:LVNs provide essential care to patients in various stages of rehabilitation, including facilities like Bella Vista Health Center in nearby Lemon Grove.
  • Schools:LVNs are employed in elementary school healthcare settings to provide nursing services, health assessments, medication administration, and health education to students.
  • Private Practices:Some private practices, including those focused on medical weight loss, hire LVNs, sometimes even offering entry-level positions with training.

Beyond these categories, major healthcare providers and networks contribute significantly to LVN employment. The State of California directly employs Licensed Vocational Nurses, including positions within veteran’s homes in the Chula Vista area. Organizations like BrightSpring Health Services (ResCare Community Living) also seek LVNs to support individuals with disabilities and provide community living services. Other employers mentioned in job postings that contribute to the local healthcare landscape include MD Care Hospice, Infusion For Health, Bridge Home Health and Hospice, Avery Home Health Agency, Inc., and Neighborhood House Association.

The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating LVNs, ensuring high standards of practice and public protection in California.

List of LVN Programs in Chula Vista, CA

If you're looking for LVN programs in Chula Vista, California, you're in the right place. The table below lists schools in the area that offer these programs. It includes details like the city and state location, key program highlights, and links to each school's program page. This information helps you compare options and find the best fit for your nursing career goals. Check it out to get started on your path to becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Jump to City:

Chula Vista, CA

Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista

  • Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing Certificate Program

    Campus Based - Website

    • 12-month program duration.
    • On-campus delivery method.
    • Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
    • Hands-on patient care training.
    • Financial aid available.
    • Comprehensive nursing education.
    • Eligible for licensure in CA.
    • Skills for direct patient care.

Southwestern College

  • Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing

    Campus Based - Website

    • 18-month program length
    • Three semester duration
    • Campus-based instruction
    • Prepares for community nursing
    • Covid-19 vaccination required
    • Background check mandatory
    • Drug screening required
    • Immunization documentation needed
*Data compiled from: IPEDS 2023 survey, NCES. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/