Best LVN Programs in Oakland 2026
Find Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in Oakland, California with information on schools, curriculum, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing steps and career opportunities for vocational nurses in the Oakland area.
Other Cities in California
2026 Best LVN Programs in Oakland, CA
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Jose, CA - Private 4-year - gurnick.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nurse
Campus Based - Visit Website
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts offers a campus-based Vocational Nurse program that prepares students for essential roles in healthcare. The curriculum integrates nursing principles with behavioral and physical sciences, training students to provide comprehensive care to diverse patient populations under supervision. Through a blend of classroom education and extensive hands-on clinical experiences across multiple California campuses, graduates gain the practical skills needed for licensure and successful careers. This program emphasizes real-world application, ensuring readiness for the demands of vocational nursing without requiring entrance exams. Prospective students should contact the academy for specific admission details and costs.
- Vocational Nurse program
- Combines nursing, behavioral science
- Physical sciences principles
- Prepares for diverse patient care
- Under doctor or RN supervision
- Classroom and clinical training
- Multiple California campuses
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Prepares for licensure
- Comprehensive educational foundation
Madera Community College
Madera, CA - Public 2-Year - maderacollege.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Madera Community College's Licensed Vocational Nursing program is a comprehensive 3-semester campus-based course that blends theoretical instruction with extensive hands-on clinical training. Students must complete prerequisites in medical terminology, nutrition, and anatomy & physiology before admission. The program focuses on developing safe, caring nursing practices for structured healthcare environments and thoroughly prepares graduates for the LVN licensing examination. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and the program is accredited by the BVNPT, ensuring high educational standards for aspiring vocational nurses.
- 3-semester program.
- Combines theory and clinical skills.
- Prepares for LVN licensing test.
- Prerequisites required.
- Ongoing application acceptance.
- Accredited by BVNPT.
- Focuses on safe nursing practices.
- Hands-on clinical experience.
- Medical terminology prerequisite.
- Nutrition course required.
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA - Public 2-Year - losmedanos.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nursing Program
Campus Based - Visit Website
Los Medanos College's Vocational Nursing Program spans three semesters, blending theoretical instruction with hands-on clinical experience to equip students for LVN careers. It adheres to state guidelines, focusing on progressive skill development for patient care across diverse healthcare environments and age groups. Emphasizing ethical practice and practical abilities, the program prepares graduates to work under RN or physician supervision. No entrance exam is required, as it's a vocational-level program. Key aspects include mastery of nursing knowledge and detailed prerequisites outlined in the LVN Applicant Handbook, supporting the college's educational philosophy in a campus-based setting.
- Three semesters to complete.
- Meets state curriculum guidelines.
- Blends theory with clinical experience.
- Prepares for care in various settings.
- Focuses on progressive skill mastery.
- Requires supervision by RNs or physicians.
- Supports college's educational philosophy.
- Detailed prerequisites in handbook.
- Campus-based program.
- Focus on ethical practice.
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 a noncredit pathway tailored for adult learners seeking rapid entry into healthcare roles. It equips students with essential nursing science skills through a curriculum regulated by the BVNPT, focusing on practical training for diverse settings like hospitals and clinics. Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-PN exam for licensure, with admission hinging on passing core courses. The program fosters a supportive, inclusive environment and emphasizes immediate job readiness, while also offering avenues for career advancement in the health field.
- 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.
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA - Public 2-Year - ccsf.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Licensed Vocational Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
City College of San Francisco's LVN program delivers a comprehensive 18-month curriculum blending classroom theory with hands-on hospital training. Students earn a Vocational Nursing Certificate of Achievement and gain eligibility for the state licensure exam. Accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, the program emphasizes practical skills for diverse healthcare environments like hospitals, clinics, and home care. Financial aid and counseling services support student success, with 40.5 units of college credit enhancing career readiness. This full-time, campus-based pathway focuses on building foundational nursing competencies without requiring entrance exams, ensuring accessible education for aspiring vocational nurses.
- 18-month full-time program.
- Accredited by California Board.
- Eligible for state licensure exam.
- Hands-on hospital experience.
- 40.5 units of college credit.
- Prepares for various healthcare settings.
- Financial aid available.
- Counseling services offered.
- Classroom and lab instruction.
- Comprehensive nursing curriculum.
Oakland LVN Program Overview
In Oakland and across California, Licensed Vocational Nurses play a vital role by delivering direct, hands-on patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. LVNs support inpatient units, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and outpatient clinics, which helps meet day-to-day care needs and expands access for diverse communities throughout the East Bay.
Oakland’s healthcare landscape includes large acute care hospitals, safety-net services, pediatric specialty care, and extensive long-term care. Major employers in and around the city include county-operated hospitals and systems, integrated health systems, and pediatric centers, alongside numerous nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, community clinics, and home health and hospice agencies. These settings regularly employ LVNs for bedside care, wound care, medication administration within scope, patient education, and care coordination tasks.
California regulates LVN education and licensure at the state level. State-approved vocational nursing programs follow a structured curriculum that blends classroom instruction, skills lab, and supervised clinical rotations in local facilities. California requires a minimum of 1,530 total program hours, including at least 576 hours of theory and 954 hours of clinical practice. In the Oakland area, full-time LVN programs commonly run about 12 to 18 months, while part-time or evening and weekend options may take approximately 18 to 24 months depending on course load and clinical scheduling.
LVN programs in Oakland prepare graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN, the national licensing examination for practical and vocational nurses. The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians oversees program approval, applicant eligibility, and licensure, including background checks and verification of education. For current requirements, applicants should consult the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Employment demand for LVNs in the Bay Area is supported by ongoing needs in long-term care, post-acute and rehabilitation services, and community-based care, as well as hospital units that utilize LVNs within defined California scope of practice. Prospective students in Oakland benefit from access to a wide range of clinical placement sites and employer types, which can help build experience across acute, subacute, and ambulatory settings while preparing for entry-level LVN roles.
Employment Opportunities for LVNs in Oakland
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), also known as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in many other states, play a vital role in Oakland’s diverse healthcare landscape. The employment outlook for LVNs in California, and specifically in the Oakland area, remains positive. Nationwide, a 5% job growth is projected for LPN/LVNs between 2022 and 2032, driven by a national nursing shortage and the increasing healthcare needs of an aging population. California leads the nation in LVN/LPN employment, with an annual mean wage of approximately $76,580, making it an attractive region for nursing professionals.
LVNs in Oakland find opportunities across a wide spectrum of healthcare settings, providing essential patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. The job market caters to both experienced LVNs and new graduates entering the field.
Key Healthcare Settings Employing LVNs in Oakland:
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities:These facilities represent a significant sector for LVN employment, with many professionals providing assistance with daily activities and medication management for residents. Notable facilities in Oakland include Oakland Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation, McClure Post Acute, and Medical Hill Rehabilitation Center.
- Home Health Agencies:Home health is a growing area for LVNs, involving in-home patient care such as wound care, medication administration, and health monitoring. Leading employers include Amedisys, Aveanna Healthcare, and Maxim Healthcare Services.
- Assisted Living and Senior Living Facilities:LVNs are sought after for direct care roles in assisted living and memory care units. Examples include Mercy Retirement & Care Center and Lake Park Retirement Residence.
- Hospitals:LVNs in hospital settings typically assist Registered Nurses with fundamental patient care, vital sign monitoring, medication administration, and wound dressing. Major healthcare systems such as Kaiser Permanente frequently list LVN positions within their Oakland facilities.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities dedicated to rehabilitation services also employ LVNs. The Rehabilitation Center of Oakland is an example of such a facility actively hiring LVN Staff Nurses.
- Private Practices and Clinics:Some clinics and specialized practices, including those in the surrounding Bay Area like BAART Programs, employ LVNs for tasks such as administering medications and providing direct patient care.
- Other Opportunities:LVNs may also find roles in school districts surrounding Oakland, such as the Alameda Unified School District, and in mental and behavioral health facilities like Evolve Treatment Centers in nearby Walnut Creek.
Major Healthcare Employers in Oakland:
Several prominent healthcare systems and agencies consistently recruit LVNs in the Oakland area:
- Kaiser Permanente: A leading healthcare provider with hospitals and medical offices in Oakland, offering diverse LVN roles.
- Sutter Health: A large not-for-profit health system with a significant presence in the Bay Area, providing various nursing career paths.
- Amedisys: A major home health and hospice company, frequently hiring LVNs for home care positions.
- Aveanna Healthcare: One of the largest providers of pediatric and adult homecare nationwide, with LVN opportunities in Oakland.
- Maxim Healthcare Services: Offers private duty, skilled nursing, and home health positions for LVNs.
- Addus HomeCare: Provides home care services and staffing, hiring LVNs in Oakland and nearby Emeryville.
- Mercy Retirement & Care Center: An Oakland-based facility hiring LVNs for assisted living and skilled nursing.
- Oakland Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation: A local facility offering skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.
- The Rehabilitation Center of Oakland: Known for actively seeking LVN staff nurses.