Best LVN Programs in San Jose 2026
Find Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) programs in San Jose, California with information on schools, classes, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and career opportunities for vocational nurses in the San Jose area.
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2026 Best LVN Programs in San Jose, 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 in San Jose delivers a comprehensive Vocational Nurse program that integrates nursing fundamentals with behavioral and physical sciences. Students gain essential skills to provide diverse patient care under medical supervision through both classroom instruction and extensive clinical rotations. The curriculum prepares graduates for licensure and immediate entry into healthcare roles, with multiple California campus locations offering flexible access. This military-friendly institution emphasizes hands-on training to ensure clinical competency. Prospective students should contact the academy directly for specific admission requirements and tuition details.
- 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
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 adult education pathway focused on immediate employment readiness for the NCLEX-PN exam. Regulated by the BVNPT, it emphasizes nursing science skills applicable in hospitals, clinics, and skilled nursing facilities. The program fosters a supportive, diverse learning environment and requires passing core courses for admission, paving the way for vocational nurse licensure in California and future career advancement in healthcare without requiring entrance exams.
- 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 robust 18-month, full-time curriculum blending classroom learning with direct hospital experience. Students earn a Vocational Nursing Certificate of Achievement and qualify for the state licensure exam upon completion. 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. Support services include financial aid and counseling to aid student success. This campus-based training requires no entrance exams, focusing on hands-on preparation for immediate entry into the nursing field.
- 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.
San Jose LVN Program Overview
In California, Licensed Vocational Nurses play a vital role in delivering hands-on, practical nursing care across hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and home health. In San Jose, LVNs support the city’s large and diverse healthcare network by monitoring patients, administering medications within California’s LVN scope, assisting with procedures, and coordinating care under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. Their work helps expand access to timely, team-based care in high-demand settings, especially in post-acute and community-based services.
San Jose’s healthcare landscape includes major hospitals and systems such as Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, Regional Medical Center of San Jose, and Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, along with numerous skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies. These settings create consistent demand for LVNs to support bedside care, chronic disease management, and patient education across Santa Clara County.
Employment outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates steady national demand for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, with projected employment growth from 2022 to 2032 driven by the needs of an aging population and ongoing demand in long-term and ambulatory care. In California, LVN education and licensure are regulated by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, which approves vocational nursing programs and determines eligibility for the licensure exam.
Typical LVN program timelines in San Jose mirror statewide patterns. Full-time programs commonly range from about 12 to 18 months, combining classroom instruction with supervised clinical rotations at local facilities. Part-time or evening/weekend options, where available, often extend to approximately 18 to 24 months to accommodate working students. Program curricula are designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN, the national licensing examination required for LVN licensure in California. After completing a Board-approved program, graduates apply for Authorization to Test and, upon passing the NCLEX-PN and meeting all other requirements, become licensed to practice as LVNs in the state.
Employment Opportunities for LVNs in San Jose
The healthcare employment landscape in San Jose, California, offers diverse and active opportunities for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), known as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in many other states. LVNs play a critical role in delivering patient care across various settings throughout the city and surrounding Santa Clara County. According to current data, the hourly wage for LVNs in San Jose typically ranges from $31 to $54, reflecting a robust job market for these essential healthcare professionals overseen by California’s licensing board.
LVNs are highly sought after in numerous healthcare environments, from large hospital systems to specialized home health agencies. The demand for skilled nursing care, particularly with an aging population, ensures a steady need for qualified LVNs in San Jose.
- Hospitals and Medical Centers:Major hospitals in the San Jose area, including those with behavioral health units, are consistent employers for LVNs. Prominent healthcare providers like Kaiser Permanente careers frequently list LVN positions in San Jose and Santa Clara. Other large networks like CommonSpirit Health careers, which includes Dignity Health facilities in California, also offer nursing opportunities. While many positions at larger facilities like Stanford Health Care are often for Registered Nurses, LVN opportunities can arise within their broader allied health and nursing categories.
- Skilled Nursing Facilities and Rehabilitation Centers:These facilities represent a significant sector for LVN employment, with roles such as Licensed Vocational Nurse – Skilled Nursing and Charge LVN positions. Vasona Creek Healthcare Center and Mountain View Healthcare Center in Santa Clara County are examples of facilities that actively seek LVNs for their skilled nursing services, as is Herman Healthcare Center.
- Home Health Agencies and Hospice Care:This sector offers a wealth of opportunities, often with competitive hourly rates and flexibility. Companies like Amedisys job openings, Soleil Hospice LLC, and Blize Healthcare frequently hire LVN Visiting Nurses and Home Health/Hospice LVNs. Additionally, Sutter Health career opportunities‘s Sutter Care at Home division is a major employer for home health LVNs in the Bay Area, including San Jose. Maxim Healthcare also provides private duty nursing for patients in their homes, and other agencies like Bayhealth, Inc., ProRehab HealthCare Group, and Health Link Home Health and Hospice are active recruiters.
- Senior Living Facilities (Assisted Living and Memory Care):LVNs are crucial in senior living and assisted living communities, including those with memory care units. Westgate Villa Assisted Living in San Jose and Brookdale Senior Living jobs often have openings for LPNs/LVNs to provide care for residents. HumanGood, a large operator of senior living communities, also offers services implying LVN involvement.
- Mental Health Facilities:Facilities specializing in mental health and psychiatric care actively recruit LVNs. Organizations such as Telecare Corporation careers and Momentum for Mental Health list LVN and Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) positions in San Jose. Psynergy Programs also seeks LVN/LPTs to provide direct patient care to individuals with mental illness.
- Private Practices and Clinics:Some private practices, such as Allergy and Asthma Associates in San Jose, hire entry-level LVNs. Various healthcare organizations also advertise clinic LVN roles.
- School Districts:The San José Unified School District employs Licensed Health Technicians, which include LVNs, to provide essential health services to students.
- Developmental Disability Care:Facilities like Tupaz Home #7 in San Jose hire LVNs to provide specialized nursing care for developmentally disabled clients.
The dynamic San Jose healthcare market for LVNs offers a wide array of full-time, part-time, and on-call positions across these diverse care settings, providing numerous pathways for a rewarding nursing career.
List of LVN Programs in San Jose, CA
San Jose, CA
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
- Certificate/Diploma - Vocational Nurse
Campus Based - Website
- 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
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