Practical Nursing · California

Practical Nursing colleges in California

CampusPin lists 320 U.S. colleges in California that offer Practical Nursing programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Practical Nursing trains you to deliver bedside nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or physician and to sit for the practical nurse licensure exam.

Schools in California that offer Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing programs in California: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 320 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

320

Public / private

15 / 35

Universities / 2-year

38 / 12

Cities represented

34

In-state tuition range

$1,104–$63,255

Median in-state tuition

$15,977

Lowest published in-state tuition

Barstow Community College

$1,104

Most selective

California Institute of Technology

3% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Ashford University

31,389 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Practical Nursing program

  • Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
  • Fundamentals of nursing and patient-care skills
  • Taking and recording vital signs and reporting changes
  • Basic pharmacology and safe medication administration
  • Sterile technique, dressing changes, and basic wound care
  • Infection control, aseptic technique, and patient safety
  • Patient and family health education
  • Assisting with examinations, treatments, and specimen collection
  • Supervised clinical rotations in real care settings

Where a Practical Nursing degree can lead

  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
  • Home Health Nurse
  • Long-Term Care Nurse
  • Clinic Nurse
  • Nursing Care Coordinator

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses median $62,340).

A Practical Nursing program prepares you to provide hands-on, general nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. Coursework grounds you in anatomy and physiology, basic pharmacology and safe medication administration, infection control, and the fundamentals of nursing practice, then puts those skills to work in supervised clinical settings. You learn to take and record vital signs, apply sterile dressings and perform basic wound care, collect specimens, assist with examinations and treatments, monitor patients and document changes in their condition, and reinforce patient and family health education. Where a Registered Nursing program centers on independent assessment, care planning, and broader clinical decision-making, Practical Nursing focuses on delivering direct, supportive bedside care within a defined scope under an RN's or physician's direction.

Most students enter through a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program offered by a community college, technical school, or hospital, completing classroom instruction together with supervised clinical hours before graduating. Graduates are typically eligible to sit for the national licensure examination for practical nurses and must meet their state board's requirements to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse; titles, scope of practice, and rules vary from state to state, so verify them before you enroll. Many graduates work in nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, physician offices, home health, and clinics, and some later bridge into a registered nursing program to advance their practice. A program is preparation for the licensure exam and supervised practice, not a guaranteed job, and pay and demand vary by employer, region, setting, and experience.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $62,340 and projects employment to grow about 2.6% from 2024 to 2034; a postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Practical Nursing in other states

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