Best LPN Programs in Irvine 2026

Long Beach City College's Vocational Nursing Program delivers a rigorous, full-time curriculum spanning three semesters, designed to prepare students for LVN licensure. Coursework includes Fundamentals of Nursing, Pharmacology, Maternal-Infant Nursing, and Common Health Deviations, blending theoretical instruction with clinical practice. With cohorts capped at 30 students and two start dates per year, the program ensures personalized attention and a supportive learning environment. Daytime weekday classes and tutoring services accommodate focused study. Admission requires a CNA license, and graduates earn a certificate or associate degree. Accredited by the BVNPT, the program equips students for entry-level nursing roles in hospitals, clinics, and home health settings, emphasizing critical thinking and patient care skills.

• BVNPT accredited
• 3-Semester program
• Full-time enrollment
• 2 start dates per year
• Prepares for LVN licensure
• Admits 30 students twice a year
• Daytime weekday classes
• CNA license required
• Certificate and AS degree options
• Tutoring available

Chaffey College's Vocational Nursing Certificate, accredited by the BVNPT since 1955, delivers a comprehensive path to becoming an LVN. Students engage in classroom instruction, hands-on lab work, simulation, and clinical rotations across ten affiliated healthcare facilities. The curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, patient care, nursing skills, medical terminology, gerontology, and communication, preparing graduates for roles in acute care, long-term care, doctors' offices, and urgent care. With two start terms annually and advanced placement options for transfer students, the program offers flexibility. According to California EDD data, LVNs earn between $52,000 and $70,000 per year, reflecting strong demand. Prospective students are encouraged to attend an information session.

• BVNPT accredited
• According to California EDD Labor Market Data for 2020, Licensed Vocational Nurses can expect to earn between $52,000 and $70,000 annually
• Prerequisite courses required
• BVNPT accredited since 1955
• Hands-on classes and simulation
• Clinical partnerships with 10 facilities
• Faculty expertise across specialties
• Prepares for rewarding healthcare careers
• Advanced placement for transfer students
• Information sessions for applicants

Riverside City College offers a 12-month Vocational Nursing certificate that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN. The curriculum interweaves theory with clinical practice, covering patient care, medication administration, anatomy, psychology, and nursing concepts. Students gain hands-on experience through supervised clinical rotations and a self-paced nursing lab. Graduates are equipped for roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The program is BVNPT-approved and an ACEN accreditation candidate. Admission requires a CNA certificate, CPR certification, and completion of prerequisites, with a minimum 2.0 GPA. The randomized selection process begins each fall. Tuition is $46 per credit, totaling approximately $2,000 for 51 credits. Financial aid and scholarships are available. Kaplan Test Prep and fingerprint submission are required.

• BVNPT, ACEN accredited
• $46 per credit
• 12-Month program
• 51 total credit hours
• Starts fall
• 2.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available

Citrus College offers a campus-based Vocational Nursing certificate of achievement through its Health Sciences division. The program emphasizes social, technical, and professional competencies for licensed vocational nursing, covering medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmacology, and nutrition. Students gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations in local hospitals and clinics, developing patient care, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-VN licensure exam. A notable advantage is that coursework may apply toward an associate degree, providing flexibility for career advancement. This focused curriculum builds a strong foundation for entry-level nursing practice in diverse healthcare settings.

• Prepares for NCLEX-VN
• Develops skills required for licensed vocational nurse
• Clinical experience in local hospitals and clinics
• Coursework applies toward associate degree
• Certificate of Achievement awarded
• Learning outcomes include problem-solving skills
• Offered by Health Sciences division

Rio Hondo College's Vocational Nursing Program is a two-semester certificate leading to LVN licensure. The curriculum covers fundamental nursing skills, patient assessment, medication administration, and care coordination, with clinical experience in acute hospitals, extended care, home health, and medical offices. Prerequisites include anatomy, psychology, and math, and applicants need a 2.5 GPA. Approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, the program prepares students for the VN-NCLEX. Additional requirements include criminal background check, drug screening, physical exam, and CPR certification. The program starts once per year in spring; applications for Spring 2027 are open until August 28, 2026. Graduates can pursue entry-level nursing positions in diverse healthcare settings.

• California State Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians accredited
• 2-Semester program
• Apply by 2026-08-28
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts spring
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for VN-NCLEX
• Approved by California BVNPT
• Prerequisites include Anatomy and Psychology

Homestead Schools offers a campus-based Vocational Nursing Program in Torrance, California, designed to prepare students for Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) licensure. The curriculum emphasizes essential patient care, vital signs monitoring, and health education, with hands-on clinical training. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED, demonstrate English proficiency, achieve a preadmission test score of 76% or higher, and pass background checks. The program includes NCLEX-PN preparation, tutoring, and scholarship opportunities. It is approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and accredited by ABHES. Financial aid is available for eligible students. With a projected 21% job growth for LVNs and a median salary of $39,030, graduates enter a promising healthcare field.

• Campus-based program.
• Prepares for LVN licensure.
• Entry-level nursing skills.
• High school diploma required.
• English proficiency needed.
• Preadmission test score 76%.
• Background check clearance.
• Physical exam required.
• Immunizations and CPR card.
• Financial aid available.

Career Networks Institute offers a 12-month Vocational Nursing Diploma Program designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN and a career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). The curriculum integrates classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, mental health, and leadership. Students train in a state-of-the-art simulation lab with high-fidelity manikins, practicing skills such as medication administration and wound care. Clinical rotations occur in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and home health settings. The program requires an entrance exam (TEAS or HESI) for admission. With small clinical groups of 8-10 students, evening theory classes, and weekend clinicals, it offers flexibility for working adults. ATI resources are used for NCLEX-PN preparation, achieving a 100% licensure pass rate. Career services, job placement assistance, and financial aid including Pell Grants and Direct Loans are available.

• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS, HESI
• 12-Month program
• 100% licensure pass rate
• Cohort-based structure
• 71% job placement rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN
• Military benefits accepted
• Financial aid available

Concorde Career College-Garden Grove's Vocational Nursing Diploma Program delivers an accelerated pathway to LVN licensure. Approved by the California BVNPT, the 66.5-credit curriculum covers anatomy, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and mental health, blending on-campus lab practice with 757 clinical hours across hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and home health. Students can choose a 13-month full-time daytime track or a 20-month part-time evening/weekend option. The program embeds NCLEX-PN review, and financial aid and scholarships are available to eligible students. Graduates emerge ready for entry-level LVN roles in diverse healthcare settings.

• BVNPT accredited
• Complete in as few as 13-months
• Full-time and part-time options
• 757 clinical hours
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• NCLEX-PN review included
• Real-world clinical rotations
• Daytime or evening/weekend options

North-West College's Vocational Nurse program at its Long Beach campus is a campus-based pathway to California LVN licensure. The curriculum spans more than 1,530 clock hours and includes nursing fundamentals, anatomy, pharmacology, and supervised clinical externships in diverse healthcare settings. Students develop hands-on patient care skills while meeting state and college admission requirements. Financial aid is available for eligible students. The program holds accreditation from the BVNPT and prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination. With multiple campus locations across the region, North-West College offers a career-focused education designed to launch students directly into practical nursing roles.

• Program length: Over 1,530 clock hours.
• Campus-based program only.
• Meets California LVN licensure requirements.
• Includes clinical externships.
• Covers nursing fundamentals and anatomy.
• Pharmacology training included.
• Multiple campus locations available.
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam.
• Career-focused curriculum.
• Hands-on patient care training.

At North-West College-West Covina, the Vocational Nursing program delivers hands-on training for aspiring LVNs seeking NCLEX-PN/VN success. The campus-based curriculum blends nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and specialty rotations covering child health, maternal health, and medical-surgical nursing. Students develop practical skills in direct patient care, from recording vital signs and patient history to preparing lab samples, assisting examinations, and administering injections. Day and evening schedules accommodate working learners, while the modern facilities and family-like atmosphere foster career-focused growth. Accredited by ACCSC, this program emphasizes technical proficiency and compassionate comfort care, preparing graduates for entry-level nursing positions in diverse healthcare settings.

• Vocational Nursing program available.
• Prepares for NCLEX-PN/VN exam.
• Day and evening classes offered.
• Hands-on clinical experience included.
• Curriculum covers nursing fundamentals.
• Includes anatomy and physiology.
• Pharmacology training provided.
• Child health nursing covered.
• Maternal health nursing included.
• Medical surgical nursing taught.