Vocational Nurse is a Diploma program offered by North-West College in Riverside, CA. The program takes 64 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $39,195.
Program Overview
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide direct patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse or a licensed physician. Vocational Nurses provide individual- and family-centered nursing care, and help assess the basic physical, emotional, spiritual, and sociocultural needs of the patient.
Vocational Nursing professionals are employed in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, physicians’ offices, clinics, correctional facilities and home health care agencies.
The Vocational Nurse program offered by North-West College meets the education requirements for a program of study designed to lead to licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the State of California. The California BVNPT has approved North-West College, and the College’s Vocational Nurse program exceeds the 1,530-clock hour requirement. The student must also pass the NCLEX-PN exam to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Vocational Nurses routinely perform a variety of important tasks, including:
- Monitoring patients’ health and vital signs (for example, by checking blood pressure).
- Providing basic patient care, including administering medications and injections, changing bandages and inserting catheters.
- Providing for the basic comfort of patients, such as helping them bathe or dress.
- Discussing the care they are providing with patients and listen to their concerns.
- Reporting patients’ status and concerns to registered nurses and doctors.
- Recording patient health and medical information.
Program objectives. The Vocational Nurse program provides students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to function as a vocational nurse in a variety of settings. The student will receive classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction in nursing areas of fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical/surgical nursing, mental health, maternity, pediatric, and leadership nursing. After successful completion of the program, the student is required to take the NCLEX-PN® examination for licensure as a vocational nurse. Graduates of the Vocational Nurse program may be employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse upon application to the State Board of Nursing and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN® examination. This person may serve patients and clients in many settings including hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, extended-care facilities, and other medical facilities.
Admission Requirements and Process
North-West College seeks students who are interested in practical career training and who are motivated to succeed in their chosen career fields. Admissions representatives are available at each campus to assist potential students in the admissions process. All courses offered at North-West College are in English.
Applicants for this program must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED®, HiSET™, TASC™, a California High School Proficiency Exam certificate, or a homeschool transcript) and provide verifiable documentation; students who do not possess a high school diploma or equivalent may not apply for admission to this program.
Applicants complete the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) during the enrollment process; the catalog addendum sets a minimum score of 18 for this program. Vocational Nurse applicants must also score 32% on the National League of Nursing (NLN) Nursing Entrance Examination (NEX).
In some programs, students will be subject to criminal background checks, physical examination, and drug screening prior to being assigned an externship or clinical site.
Programs offered at North-West College are only offered to residents of the State of California.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalentYou must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and provide verifiable documentation.
- Scholastic Level Exam (SLE)You must achieve a minimum score of 18 on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) for this program.
- Nursing Entrance Examination (NEX)You must achieve a score of 32% on the National League of Nursing (NLN) Nursing Entrance Examination (NEX).
- Admissions interview and tourYou must complete an admissions interview and tour of the College, and this program may require an additional interview with the Campus Director, Program Director, Director of…
- State residencyPrograms are only offered to residents of the State of California; you attest to your physical address on the Enrollment Agreement.
- Registration feeYou must pay the $100 Registration Fee on or prior to the start date, or make arrangements to pay.
Application Process
- 1Contact AdmissionsReach out to the College by calling 1-888-408-4211, filling out an information form on the website, or emailing admissions@success.edu.
- 2Interview and tour the CollegeSchedule an appointment with an Admissions Representative to complete an admissions interview and tour of the College.
- 3Submit your applicationComplete one of the College’s applications; an Admissions Representative will contact you to set up an appointment and answer any questions you may have.
- 4Provide documents and take the entrance assessmentProvide or request official high school graduation or equivalent documentation and take the standardized basic skills assessment for your program.
- 5Meet with a Financial Aid AdvisorInterview with a Financial Aid Advisor prior to completing the enrollment process.
- 6Complete enrollmentReview the College’s catalog and required disclosures, complete the Enrollment Agreement, and pay the $100 Registration Fee on or prior to the start date.
Program Schedule
The College can enroll cohorts on a weekly basis for the Dental Assistant, Massage Therapist, Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Biller and Coder, and Pharmacy Technician programs of study. Enrollment cohorts for Vocational Nurse, Surgical Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, and the Associate of Science in Healthcare Administration are limited to several times each year. Specific start dates can be obtained from your Admissions Representative.
The majority of our weekday classes meet Monday through Thursday, while others meet Monday through Friday and/or include weekend classes. Programs scheduled to meet evenings and/or weekends may have a longer program length than the day programs.
No start dates are published online for this campus; classes begin throughout the year, so contact your local North-West College campus to learn when the next program is scheduled to start.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Program charges.
- Tuition, 1st academic year: $21,375
- Tuition, 2nd academic year: $17,820
- Books and supplies: $700
- Registration fee (non-refundable): $100
- STRF: $0.00
- Total program charges: $39,995
Books and Supplies consist of Uniforms, Textbooks, Supplies, and Tutoring. Also, Review Courses where License or Certification is required. For Federal Financial Aid purposes, an academic year is a minimum of 30 weeks, 900 clock hours, or 24 semester credits.
Cost of attendance. The cost of attendance (COA) is an estimate of expenses and costs for a typical student to attend a college or university for one academic year. It includes estimated costs you may incur for housing, food, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses. For informational purposes, the average monthly estimated costs for a student who lives off-campus for the 2025-2026 school year is $3,015 per month.
Financial aid. North-West College participates in federal and state financial aid programs. All applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and meet with the Financial Aid Office either by telephone or in person on campus to complete the financial aid process. Programs available to students who qualify include: Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans and Cal Grant B and C awards. Federal School Code (FAFSA): 012872.
Veterans Administration (VA) educational benefits may be available to those individuals who qualify. North-West College is approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) and is approved to train State Vocational Rehabilitation students; certain campuses are approved to train students eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding.
Payment plans. Students may also choose to make payments towards their tuition and fees directly to the College. North-West College offers a credit extension option, which includes a payment plan without interest where the balance must be paid within 12 months. Students who have limited financial aid assistance may qualify for alternative educational loans through a private lender.
Net Price Calculator: https://nw.edu/net-price-calculator/
Curriculum
The Vocational Nursing program is divided into a series of class modules and clinical externships where students apply the skills they learn in the classroom in actual health care practice settings.
All programs are systematically divided into courses making it easy for the student to enter at multiple times during the year and begin their program of study.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the Vocational Nursing program routinely discover entry-level employment opportunities in a variety of health care related facilities, including:
- Medical clinics
- Physicians’ offices
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Residential care facilities
- Hospitals
- HMOs
- Correctional facilities
- Government health organizations
- Home health agencies
Careers. Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Licensure and certification. Vocational Nurses must become licensed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of California. Vocational Nurses will become licensed by taking and passing the NCLEX-PN®.
North-West College cannot guarantee employment.
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). The Vocational Nurse program is approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
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