The BRN lists the schools that are approved by the State of California which provide nursing students degree programs. The list includes schools that provide associate's degrees, baccalaureate degree programs and master's degrees. The associate degree schools range from community colleges to technical colleges authorized to train RNs and licensed vocational nurses (LVN). The schools authorized to provide prospective nursing students bachelor's degree are four-year colleges or universities. Only universities with a graduate program for nursing are authorized by the BRN to give master's degrees. All of the qualified schools listed on the BRN website have information on whether the school provides just weekday classes during the day or evening classes and weekend classes.
Another type of school approved by the California BRN are advanced practice programs. This type of program is for those who want to specialize in a particular discipline. The BRN website breaks down the approved schools into clinical nurse specialist programs, nurse anesthesia programs, nurse-midwifery programs, nurse practitioner programs and public health nursing programs. Most of the approved schools are universities with the exception of Samuel Merritt College which is approved by the California State board to train nurses in anesthesiology.
The schools that the board approves to train an RN seeking a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree in nursing is also listed on the BRN website. These schools are only allowed to educate nurses who already have their state licenses and are registered nurses in the state. The schools only admit RN students and offers these students an opportunity to get four-year degree. All of these approved schools are at the university level with the exception of Pacific Union College.
This category of nursing school is for programs authorized to train nurses online and that are located outside the state of California. The schools that have partnered with out-of-state schools that provide the nursing student with distance learning are broken down into what type of nursing degree is authorized by the BRN. For example, Sonoma State University is parntered with Indiana State University and authorized to educate an LVN seeking to get a BSN online. Other approved schools include Southwestern College and San Diego State University, which both partner with the University of Oklahoma; both partnerships offer degree programs which can be achieved online.