LVN to RN programs in California?

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Hello all, I am in the NorCal area/Bay Area. I have just completed my LVN program and am currently studying for the NCLEX-PN. Afterwards, I plan on obtaining my RN license. Whether it is ADN or BSN does not matter to me as long as it as an approved and accredited program. Does anyone know which ADN nursing programs have higher acceptance rates? I am looking into Mission College and Carrington College's LVN-RN program. For California ADN students, what college do you go to and what were your stats? How long did it take you to finish your prerequisites? Also, I plan on working full-time (3 x 12 hour shifts) while completing my prerequisites. Is this doable? 

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Quick disclaimer: I have been out of school for about 6-7 years now and I was a "traditional" RN student. That being said, a few of my classmates were LVN-RN upgrade path students. I attended Sacramento City College's RN program. The related program at American River College likely runs their LVN-RN program similarly. SCC does offer a "30 unit option" but they HIGHLY discourage this option. None of my classmates went down this path. They ALL took the full RN prerequisites. I don't know how competitive that particular program is, but I do know that they joined my group for the 3rd Semester, and there were around 4 or 5 of them. I guess you could say that they joined an existing class on a "space available" basis, so the number of "seats" could vary from class to class. 

I did refresh my prerequisites going into RN school (as I'd done most of them unwittingly a few years prior while doing a different healthcare program) and that took me a couple years. I was working full-time - 40 hrs/week and I was able to fit my school schedule around work schedule. Depending upon your particular work schedule, doing school around that may be quite doable. 

Congratulations on finishing your LVN program, and hope you do well in your NCLEX-PN exam and continue on to RN and beyond if you desire! Just, whatever you do, stay away from the "30 unit option." You want to graduate from a program with a DEGREE as this will forever avoid the "30 Unit Option" notation on your license. 

Unfortunately, I don't have much info beyond my local area, but you might want to look into Delta College to see if they have the type of program you need. There should be a grid somewhere on the CA BRN website that shows what colleges and universities have RN programs. Just be careful about the private colleges as their tuition will be MUCH higher than the public colleges and universities, though their for-profit status doesn't necessarily mean they're bad. They're just expensive. 

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7 hours ago, akulahawkRN said:

Quick disclaimer: I have been out of school for about 6-7 years now and I was a "traditional" RN student. That being said, a few of my classmates were LVN-RN upgrade path students. I attended Sacramento City College's RN program. The related program at American River College likely runs their LVN-RN program similarly. SCC does offer a "30 unit option" but they HIGHLY discourage this option. None of my classmates went down this path. They ALL took the full RN prerequisites. I don't know how competitive that particular program is, but I do know that they joined my group for the 3rd Semester, and there were around 4 or 5 of them. I guess you could say that they joined an existing class on a "space available" basis, so the number of "seats" could vary from class to class. 

I did refresh my prerequisites going into RN school (as I'd done most of them unwittingly a few years prior while doing a different healthcare program) and that took me a couple years. I was working full-time - 40 hrs/week and I was able to fit my school schedule around work schedule. Depending upon your particular work schedule, doing school around that may be quite doable. 

Congratulations on finishing your LVN program, and hope you do well in your NCLEX-PN exam and continue on to RN and beyond if you desire! Just, whatever you do, stay away from the "30 unit option." You want to graduate from a program with a DEGREE as this will forever avoid the "30 Unit Option" notation on your license. 

Unfortunately, I don't have much info beyond my local area, but you might want to look into Delta College to see if they have the type of program you need. There should be a grid somewhere on the CA BRN website that shows what colleges and universities have RN programs. Just be careful about the private colleges as their tuition will be MUCH higher than the public colleges and universities, though their for-profit status doesn't necessarily mean they're bad. They're just expensive. 

Thank you so much for your response! I greatly appreciate it. 

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I went to city college in San Francisco for my ADN and they have an LVN to RN program

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Thank you I am in the San Diego area but would travel to the program.

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Specializes in Outpatient Clinic, LTC.

Hi Jane Gavan,

I just turned my application in for Palomar’s LVN to RN Bridge program. Did you happen to apply? 

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