If you are interested in becoming a vocational nurse, and live in San Francisco, the South Bay, or the East Bay, there are numerous LVN programs in Bay Area communities worthy of your consideration. With 32 different locations offering fully-accredited programs from highly-regarded schools, your choices are many. This article provides a quick overview of some of the area’s top LVN programs in each of the three aforementioned regions.
About LVN Programs in Bay Area Cities
It’s no secret that the nursing profession is one of the fastest growing in the country, with a projected 21% increase in new jobs created over the next 10 years. Licensed vocational nurses will be a major part of that explosion, and demand for new LVNs is expected to be especially high in the San Francisco Bay Area. Fortunately, some of the top LVN programs in California are available in the region to anyone interested in entering this exciting career path.
The Peninsula
From Palo Alto to the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Peninsula boasts some of the finest LVN programs in the Bay Area. Chief among these are the programs offered by the City College of San Francisco, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (San Mateo), and NCP College of South San Francisco.
Over the last three years, each of these three programs has seen better than 70% of its graduates pass the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt. Each is fully accredited by the California BVNPT, offers online classes in addition to on-campus instruction, and is well-regarded in the local health care community.
The South Bay
The Santa Clara Valley, and the city of Santa Clara in particular, is home to a few of the more successful programs in the area. Unitek College and Mission Community College (both located in Santa Clara), as well as San Jose’s campus of the Carrington College of California, have all produced NCLEX-PN pass rates of over 80% among their graduates since 2009.
In addition to their outstanding track records in gaining students licensure, these programs are also considered to be on the cutting edge when it comes to teaching students new medical technology. Their relatively central location to the City and East Bay attracts students from throughout the area, and places them among the largest LVN programs in the region.
The East Bay
There are 18 fully-accredited programs in the East Bay, giving it one of the highest concentrations of top-notch LVN schools in California. From the outstanding community college program at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, to the superior training and career placement records offered by several of the local professional schools, the East Bay is just as long on quality as it is on quantity.
Carrington College of California (Antioch campus), NCP College of Hayward, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (Concord) and Unitek College’s Fremont campus all rank among the state’s annual leaders in NCLEX-PN pass rates. Meanwhile, Los Medanos’ perfect 100% graduate pass rate over the past two years ties for the best performance of any California community college.
Choosing from the LVN Programs in Bay Area Communities
This article reviewed only the top performing vocational nursing programs in the Bay Area, but that does not mean that the area’s other accredited schools are not also worth a look. For contact information on the LVN programs in Bay Area communities mentioned in this article, and all other accredited programs in the state, see our LVN schools in California directory page.
Recommended LVN Programs in California!
Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Programs:
- Licensed Vocational Nurse
- Certified Nursing Assistant
American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.
Programs:
- Vocational Nursing
- Medical Assistant
Programs:
- Vocational Nursing
- Medical Assistant
For over 35 years, Keiser University has provided student-centered, quality career education. Keiser University Online offers degree programs online to prepare students for in-demand professions.
Programs:
- Nursing, MS
- Medical Assisting, AS (Online)
Programs:
- AS in Vocational Nursing
- Certificate in Vocational Nursing
- Certificate in Medical Assisting
- And more...
Pursue your education with The University of Texas Arlington. We offer a number of certificate, bachelors, and master's degree programs in the fields of education and nursing, plus general education courses for bachelor's degree completion.
Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
You can prepare for a new career with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.
Programs:
- Diploma - Vocational Nursing
- Diploma - Medical Assistant
- Certificate - Medical Assistant
Take a new step in your education with Chamberlain College of Nursing. We offer associate, bachelor, and master's degree programs in nursing, plus a doctorate in nursing practice.
Programs:
- Doctorate of Nursing Practice
- Master of Science in Nursing
You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.iot.edu/disclosure.
Programs:
- Vocational Nursing-Diploma
- Professional Medical Assistant
Related Articles
What Is The Difference Between A Vocational Nurse And A CNA?: At first glance, the duties of a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, and those of a licensed vocational nurse, or 
California LVN License Verification: If you’re a licensed vocational nurse who wants to work in the state of California, you’ll have to go through 
Maximizing Your LVN Salary: If you are a vocational nurse, or thinking of becoming one, you will be happy to know that there is 
The Importance Of Licensed Vocational Nursing: The importance of licensed vocational nursing is apparent when one considers that a nurse is the first person you see - What Is Vocational Nursing?: When trying to decide on which nursing degree to pursue, many students ask the question “What is vocational nursing and
