Best LVN Programs in Long Beach 2026
Explore Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in Long Beach, California with information on schools, coursework, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and career opportunities for vocational nurses in the Long Beach area.
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2026 Best LVN Programs in Long Beach, CA
Career Networks Institute
Santa Ana, CA - Private 4-year - cnicollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Diploma Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Career Networks Institute's Vocational Nursing Diploma Program is a 21-month campus-based pathway to becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Students engage in comprehensive classroom learning and clinical rotations that emphasize direct patient care, medication administration, and essential nursing competencies. This program readies graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam and offers financial assistance options. A key strength is its practical, real-world healthcare training, ensuring LVNs are well-prepared for diverse clinical environments.
- 21-month program duration.
- Combines classroom and clinical training.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Financial aid available.
- Hands-on real-world training.
The Chicago School at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA - Private 4-year - thechicagoschool.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Certificate in Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
The Chicago School at Los Angeles offers a 51-week full-time Certificate in Vocational Nursing program designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exam and entry-level nursing roles. This campus-based program covers essential topics like patient care, medical terminology, and nursing procedures, with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and critical thinking skills. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, passing a nursing school admissions test, and a background check. Graduates are equipped to work in diverse healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, making it a practical choice for aspiring vocational nurses in the Long Beach area.
- 51-week full-time program
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
- Covers patient care and procedures
- Admission requires high school diploma
- Background check required
- Emphasizes hands-on learning
- Focuses on critical thinking skills
Glendale Career College
Glendale, CA - Private 4-year - success.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Glendale Career College's Vocational Nursing program in California provides comprehensive hands-on training with modern technology, preparing students for immediate entry into healthcare roles. Professional instructors guide students through practical experiences that build real-world skills, and the program offers robust career placement assistance, achieving high job placement rates. This campus-based pathway is ideal for those seeking a focused vocational nursing education without requiring entrance exams, emphasizing direct career readiness and support.
- Campus-based program.
- Hands-on training.
- Career placement assistance.
- High placement rates.
- Modern technology used.
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA - Public 2-Year - lbcc.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Long Beach City College's Vocational Nursing program is a three-semester, full-time campus-based course accredited by the BVNPT. It emphasizes critical thinking and practical skills through comprehensive training in pharmacology, mental health nursing, and specialized medical treatments. Students gain hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings, preparing them for LVN licensure and roles in home health, clinical care, and other healthcare environments. Admission requires prerequisites such as CNA certification and life science courses, with no mention of entrance exams. This program focuses on developing essential patient care abilities for entry-level nursing positions.
- 3-semester full-time program
- BVNPT accredited program
- Prepares for LVN licensure
- Comprehensive clinical training
- CNA certification required
- Multiple clinical practice locations
- Career paths in healthcare
Citrus College
Glendora, CA - Public 2-Year - citruscollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Citrus College's Vocational Nursing program offers a rigorous, one-year full-time certificate track designed to prepare students for the California State Board Examination and LVN licensure. With a small class size of 24 students, the program emphasizes hands-on training in direct patient care, equipping graduates for roles in hospitals, clinics, and home health agencies. Approved by the California Board, it provides a clear pathway to entry-level nursing careers without requiring an entrance exam, focusing on comprehensive skill development for diverse healthcare settings.
- One-year full-time program
- Prepares for LVN licensure
- California Board approved
- 24-student class size
- Full-time track recommended
- Direct patient care training
- Multiple healthcare career paths
Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA - Public 2-Year - mtsac.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Mt. San Antonio College's Vocational Nursing program in Walnut, CA, is tailored for noncredit adult students seeking swift entry into healthcare roles. It equips learners with essential nursing science skills for the NCLEX-PN exam, mandatory for California vocational nurse licensure. Graduates are prepared for diverse settings like hospitals, clinics, and skilled nursing facilities, with a strong emphasis on immediate job readiness. The program, regulated by the BVNPT, fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, requiring core course completion for admission and paving the way for future career advancements in health fields.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN examination.
- Regulated by BVNPT.
- Focuses on nursing science.
- Supports diverse student groups.
- Leads to vocational nurse licensure.
- Employment in various health settings.
- Noncredit program for adult students.
- Emphasizes immediate employment readiness.
- Requires passing core courses.
- Offers future health career ladders.
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove
Garden Grove, CA - Private 2-year - concorde.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical / Vocational Nursing Diploma Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove offers a Practical/Vocational Nursing Diploma Program that prepares students for healthcare careers with a focus on comprehensive patient care from infancy to elderly populations. The program includes 66.5 credit hours over 13-month full-time or 20-month part-time schedules, featuring 198 lab and 757 clinical hours for practical experience. Curriculum covers anatomy, pharmacology, and mental health nursing, with NCLEX-PN review integrated for licensure. Daytime or evening/weekend options provide flexibility, and financial aid and scholarships are available for eligible students. Approved by BVNPT, it emphasizes hands-on skills without requiring entrance exams, making it accessible for aspiring nurses.
- 13 or 20-month program options.
- 66.5 credit hours required.
- 198 lab hours for hands-on practice.
- 757 clinical hours for real-world experience.
- Daytime or evening/weekend schedules.
- NCLEX-PN review included.
- Covers anatomy and pharmacology.
- Financial aid available.
- Scholarships for qualifying students.
- Approved by BVNPT.
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA - Public 4-Year - riohondo.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Rio Hondo College's Vocational Nursing Program offers an intensive two-semester curriculum approved by the California State Board, preparing students for LVN licensure through the VN-NCLEX exam. This program emphasizes hands-on patient care skills applicable in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA, recent coursework in human anatomy and psychology, CPR certification, a background check, and a physical exam. Graduates can pursue an Associate of Science degree by completing additional general education courses, enhancing their career prospects in diverse healthcare environments.
- Two-semester nursing program
- California State Board approved
- Multiple healthcare work settings
- 2.5 minimum GPA required
- Prerequisites: Anatomy, Psychology
- LVN licensure exam preparation
- Background check mandatory
- Physical exam required
- CPR certification needed
Downey Adult School
Downey, CA - Public 2-Year - das.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Downey Adult School's Vocational Nursing Program is a 12-month, BVNPT-approved course that combines 576 theory hours with 960 clinical hours for a total of 1536 hours. It prepares students for the NCLEX-PN exam through hands-on training in diverse nursing fields. The estimated cost is $17,499, covering books and fees. Admission requires an entrance exam, with top candidates proceeding to a mandatory orientation and Pre-VN course. This full-time day program is designed for those passionate about entering healthcare, offering a direct path to various nursing roles.
- 12-month program duration.
- BVNPT-approved curriculum.
- 1536 total hours.
- 576 theory hours.
- 960 clinical hours.
- Covers diverse nursing fields.
- Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
- Estimated cost $17,499.
- Includes books and fees.
- Entrance exam required.
Long Beach LVN Program Overview
Licensed Vocational Nurses play a frontline role in Long Beach, delivering bedside care, monitoring vital signs, administering medications under supervision, and coordinating with registered nurses and physicians. In a city served by major hospitals, community clinics, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies, LVNs help expand access to essential nursing services and support patient flow across acute, post-acute, and community settings.
Long Beach’s healthcare landscape includes large acute care centers such as MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach, St. Mary Medical Center, the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, and College Medical Center, along with numerous skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health providers. These environments commonly employ LVNs for direct patient care, chronic disease management support, and transitional care tasks.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area is among the nation’s largest markets for LVN employment, reflecting broad opportunities across hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, physicians’ offices, and home health organizations. Local demand is influenced by the region’s population size, an aging demographic, and ongoing needs in long-term and community-based care.
In California, LVN programs approved by the state typically range from about 12 to 18 months for full-time cohorts and 18 to 24 months for part-time study. State requirements include at least 1,530 total instructional hours, with a minimum of 576 hours of theory and 954 hours of supervised clinical practice. Programs serving Long Beach students commonly place clinical rotations at area hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community clinics to build hands-on competencies.
LVN curricula in Long Beach are designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensure examination. The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians approves LVN programs, sets curriculum and clinical hour standards, and oversees the licensure process, including eligibility and authorization to test for the NCLEX-PN.
Employment Opportunities for LVNs in Long Beach
The healthcare employment landscape in Long Beach, California, presents a positive outlook for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), which is the designation for Licensed Practical Nurses in California. The demand for LVNs is projected to grow, with a variety of opportunities available across diverse healthcare settings in the Long Beach area.
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3% growth for LPNs and LVNs from 2022 to 2032. This growth is driven in part by the aging baby-boom population and an increased prevalence of chronic conditions, leading to greater demand for healthcare services in residential care facilities and home health environments. California specifically employs nearly 80,000 LVNs, with an annual mean wage of approximately $76,580. In Long Beach, the average annual salary for LVNs is around $62,946, which is higher than the national average. When adjusted for the local cost of living, which is about 19.5% higher than the national average, the adjusted annual earning is approximately $52,674.
LVNs in Long Beach can find employment across a diverse range of healthcare facilities:
- Hospitals:Major hospitals in Long Beach are significant employers for LVNs. Roles involve providing basic medical care, collecting samples, inserting catheters, taking vital signs, administering medication (oral and intravenous), and wound care, all under the supervision of Registered Nurses. Prominent healthcare systems like MemorialCare, which includes Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach, and City of Hope actively hire LVNs. Opportunities may also be found within the larger network of CommonSpirit Health.
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities:These long-term care settings are among the most common employers for LVNs. In these facilities, LVNs assist with day-to-day patient routines, personal care, activities of daily living, and navigation of social services. Examples in Long Beach include Beachside Post Acute, Long Beach Post Acute, Bel Vista Healthcare Center, Sunset Villa Post Acute, Intercommunity Care Center, Long Beach Healthcare Center, Catered Manor Nursing Center, Royal Care Skilled Nursing Center, Windsor Convalescent Center of North Long Beach, and Villa Serena Healthcare Center.
- Home Health Agencies:Home health care represents a growing sector for LVNs, offering a varied work environment where nurses travel to patients’ homes to provide personal medical care. Agencies in the Long Beach area that hire LVNs for home health services include Ivory Home Health Care, CHS Homecare, Excell Home Care, Haven Home Care, Distinctive Home Health, Oxford Healthcare, Bixby Knolls Home Health, All Care Home Health Provider, and Providence.
- Rehabilitation Centers:LVNs are integral to rehabilitation centers, including sub-acute and mental health rehabilitation facilities. Examples include Bixby Knolls Towers Health Care & Rehab Center, St Edna Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center, and La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center.
- Senior Living Facilities:Facilities such as Glen Park at Long Beach and Ivy Park at Seal Beach frequently employ LVNs, often in roles like Health Services Director.
- Private Practices and Clinics:LVNs can gain valuable clinical experience in physicians’ offices and outpatient care centers, which offer a fast-paced work environment. City of Hope, for instance, hires LVN II positions for direct patient care under supervision in clinics and for employee health screenings.
- Other Settings:Additional opportunities exist in specialized areas such as school-based healthcare settings, where LVNs assist students, and in hospice care, often on a per diem or part-time basis.
The demand for LVNs in Long Beach continues to be strong across these varied settings, offering numerous career paths for qualified professionals.
List of LVN Programs in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach, CA
Long Beach City College
- Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- 3-semester full-time program
- BVNPT accredited program
- Prepares for LVN licensure
- Comprehensive clinical training
- CNA certification required
- Multiple clinical practice locations
- Career paths in healthcare
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