Licensed vocational nurses in California are required to provide proof of a high school diploma or GED equivalent as a prerequisite to applying for an LVN license. Individuals who wish to become LVNs are required to take mathematics and science courses in high school, including biology, chemistry, health, anatomy and algebra.
California LVN license applicants are required to complete an accredited LVN training program. One such program, available at CNI College in Orange County, Calif., offers a 52 week nursing course with classroom, lab and clinical components. Students take courses in several body systems including musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive, renal and urinary. Students also complete classes in immunology, oncology, leadership and supervision.
Although completing a LVN nursing program is the most common route of fulfilling California's training requirements for LVNs, the state does accept alternative methods. To fulfill the training requirement through work experience, applicants must have completed 51 months of paid general bedside nursing duty in an acute care facility approved by California's board of nursing. The 51 months must have been completed within 10 years prior to the applicant's licensing application, with at least half of the experience completed within five years prior to the application.
The 51 month experience requirement must include the following specialties and timelines: 48 months of medical/surgical nursing, five weeks of pediatric nursing, and five weeks of genitourinary nursing or maternity nursing. The following can be substituted for a maximum of eight months of the medical/ surgical requirement: public health nursing, communicable disease nursing, industrial nursing, psychiatric nursing, medical office nursing, operating room nursing, private duty nursing, hemodialysis, emergency room nursing, outpatient clinic nursing or recovery room nursing. California LVN applicants with alternative training are also required to submit proof of passing a 54 hour course in pharmacology.
California LVN applicants who have served in the armed forces may have both the primary and alternative requirements waived if they submit proof of the following: serving a minimum of 12 months active duty providing bedside patient care in the medical corps, in addition to completing a basic nursing class during active enlistment. Candidates must also provide proof of receiving an honorable discharge.
California LVN license applicants are required to prove their depth of knowledge and training by passing the National Council Licensing Examination-Practical (Vocational) Nursing (NCLEX-PN), or the National League for Nursing Test Pool Practical (Vocational) Nursing Examination (NLN).