Vocational nursing (LVN) training ยท Sacramento, CA
LVN Programs in Sacramento, CA
LVN programs in Sacramento include public college, adult school and private campus options that prepare you for California licensure. Compare the five programs below by prerequisites, published costs, clinical hours and the time you can set aside for classes.
Required training1,530 hours: 576 theory and 954 clinical
Licensing examNCLEX-PN, plus BVNPT application requirements
Public college tuitionSCC: $46 per unit for California residents, 2026-27
Dated adult school startCharles A. Jones: January 4, 2027
Compare Sacramento LVN training programs
These campuses publish entry-level vocational nursing programs for adults. The check line names California BVNPT approval and links to the Board's approved-program records; confirm your cohort's schedule directly with the school.
Next application window: February 1-28, 2027. Prerequisites and ATI TEAS Version 7 are required; selection uses a lottery. BVNPT's undated school fee/status list records continued approval and ongoing admissions; checked October 27, 2026.
Published dates: January 4-December 17, 2027; application deadline December 4, 2026. The stated week count and calendar dates differ; confirm the attendance calendar. Active CNA certification and prerequisites required. BVNPT fee list shows continued approval; checked October 27, 2026.
Current catalog lists Sacramento terms beginning September 14, 2026 and January 11, 2027; ask which admits new students. Use the current 61-credit curriculum, rather than the older 52-credit version marked no longer enrolling. BVNPT lists continued approval; checked October 27, 2026.
48 weeks, not including breaks; 1,530 contact hours
Campus-based
$45,900 tuition and specified learning materials for the 61-credit certificate; catalog lists $46,066 as the potential estimated cost with screening charges (2026 catalog, California rates effective July 8, 2026)
Sacramento tab lists part-time core start November 9, 2026 and AM/PM core start January 4, 2027. BVNPT's February 2026 meeting materials record approval of continued program approval; checked October 27, 2026.
Sacramento AM/PM core tuition $39,168; published total including EMB prerequisite $41,343. Part-time core tuition $38,251; published total including EMB $40,426 (program page, checked October 27, 2026)
The Sacramento page currently invites applicants but does not publish a cohort date or tuition amount; request both before committing. Listed as Unitek College, Sacramento in BVNPT's approved-program records; fee list states continued approval and ongoing admissions. Checked October 27, 2026.
Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center Sacramento, CA
This adult education center requires current CNA certification throughout vocational nursing training and publishes separate classroom and clinical schedules.
48 weeks, not including breaks; 1,530 contact hours
Schedule
Campus-based
Published cost
$45,900 tuition and specified learning materials for the 61-credit certificate; catalog lists $46,066 as the potential estimated cost with screening charges (2026 catalog, California rates effective July 8, 2026)
Sacramento AM/PM core tuition $39,168; published total including EMB prerequisite $41,343. Part-time core tuition $38,251; published total including EMB $40,426 (program page, checked October 27, 2026)
Address
8810 Cal Center Drive, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95826
Follow the BVNPT program-list instructions to DCA License Search and select Vocational Nurse Approved Program. Match the school and campus before paying a deposit.
2
Finish your admission requirements
Requirements differ by school. SCC requires completed prerequisites and a qualifying TEAS score; Charles A. Jones also requires active CNA certification.
3
Complete theory and clinicals
BVNPT lists 1,530 training hours, including 576 theory hours and 954 clinical hours. Ask how your program places those hours around holidays, work shifts and travel to clinical sites.
4
Submit your licensing documents
For California approved-school graduates, the Board's application instructions direct the nursing program director to submit the application. Complete the required fingerprint process and review the fees with your director.
5
Pass the licensing examination
Take the NCLEX-PN after receiving authorization to test. BVNPT requirements include the examination, background review and a separate initial license fee before the license is issued.
LVN employment and wages around Sacramento
The BLS May 2025 OEWS estimates report 4,760 jobs in the LVN occupation (SOC 29-2061) in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area. Median wages were $39.22 per hour and $81,570 per year. These are regional occupation figures covering workers at different experience levels.
The Board's LVN overview lists workplaces including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, home care agencies and outpatient clinics. Use the wage data when weighing tuition against your budget. When reviewing an opening, ask about starting pay, scheduled hours, supervision, benefits and any extra pay for evenings or weekends. BLS methodology explains the employment and wage estimates.
Published LVN tuition and funding routes
SCC lists resident tuition at $46 per unit for 2026-27. Charles A. Jones publishes $25,100 plus books and materials. Gurnick's Sacramento page lists AM/PM core tuition of $39,168. Carrington's 2026 catalog lists $45,900 for its 61-credit certificate, including specified materials, and a potential estimated cost of $46,066 with listed screening charges. Request a written breakdown of prerequisites, screening, supplies and licensing charges.
Ask each financial aid office about FAFSA and Pell eligibility. Carrington publishes Pell options for qualifying students and veterans benefits for selected programs; confirm the exact campus and course. The local Elk Grove Sacramento Works Job Center offers partial training scholarships for people meeting WIOA eligibility. Ask your employer about written tuition assistance benefits before you count them toward your budget.
The calendar depends on the school and attendance pattern. SCC lists three full-time semesters, while Unitek's Sacramento page lists as little as 12 months for days, 17 months for full-time evenings and 20 months for part-time evenings. Add time for any prerequisites you still need. Request the clinical calendar before you choose a work schedule.
Do I need to be a CNA first?
Some local programs require it. Charles A. Jones requires active CNA certification at enrollment and throughout training. Other schools set their own entry rules. Carrington's current catalog says it evaluates prior CNA education for transfer credit. Ask the nursing admissions office to review your credentials before you pay for an extra course.
Are evening LVN classes available in Sacramento?
Yes. Gurnick publishes full-time and part-time evening options for Sacramento, and Unitek lists both evening patterns too. Clinical attendance can follow a different schedule from classroom instruction. Get the required clinical availability in writing, including early starts and weekends, before arranging child care or changing your work hours.
Does finishing the program give me an LVN license?
You still need to complete California's licensing process. BVNPT requires a qualifying education route, proof of general education, fingerprints, fees and the licensing examination. The minimum licensing age is 17. Your program director handles the California approved-school application route. Confirm when to register for testing and when the Board will collect your initial license fee.
Can I complete California LVN training entirely online?
BVNPT's unapproved-program notice says it does not approve distance learning programs for vocational nursing. Check a provider's exact format and campus approval before you pay. The local options on this page include in-person training and clinical work. Ask how much time you must attend on campus and where required patient-care rotations take place.