How to Become an LPN/LVN in California
To become an LPN in California (which is known in the state as an LVN) you will need to:
- Attend a nursing school approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
- Get licensure application forms from the director at your nursing school. Complete and sign both the Application for Vocational Nurse Licensure and Record of Conviction forms and attach the appropriate application fee in the form of a check made out to BVNPT.
- Submit fingerprints from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the Board. You can use the Live Scan or manual fingerprinting options, but the Board prefers California residents to use the Live Scan method.
- Register for the NCLEX-PN exam online here and pass it. The exam fee is $200.
- Apply for licensure with the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians and pay the appropriate license fee. This is in addition to the application fee.
- Receive your license from the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Licenses are generally processed in 4-6 weeks.
Did you know that LPNs in California earn a mean hourly wage of $23.27 or a mean annual wage of $48,400?
*Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008
