CNA to LVN Program
Our program is structured to thoroughly prepare students for the NCLEX-PN through two semesters, including a Pharmacology course and an NCLEX-PN Review course. Along with practice exams, test-taking strategies, resources, and personalized feedback, students gain the confidence and readiness needed to succeed on the exam and launch their careers as Licensed Vocational Nurses.
California Preparatory College CNA to LVN Program Overview
At California Preparatory College, we offer a CNA to LVN program that allows you to use your CNA experience to qualify for the NCLEX-PN licensing Exam in just 23 weeks. Our flexible schedule and supportive instructors make it easy for you to balance your studies with your personal and professional commitments. Whether you choose to attend physical classes in Riverside, CA or opt for our online classes, we're here to help you succeed.
- Duration: 23 weeks
- Format: Flexible online classes or in-person sessions in Riverside, CA
- Semester 1: Pharmacology (10 weeks)
- Knowledge of commonly used drugs and their actions
- Computation of dosages
- Preparation of medications
- Principles of administration
- Semester 2: NCLEX-PN Review (12 weeks)
- Focused on test-taking strategies and nursing interventions to prepare for the Next Generation NCLEX-PN exam.
- CA BVNPT Application Seminar (1 week)
- Guidance on completing the application for the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).
- Weekly Modules: New modules are released every Saturday at 8 AM Pacific Time.
- Quizzes: Assignments are due every Friday. Late submissions are accepted with prior notice; however, please note that this may extend the program duration beyond 23 weeks, depending on the student’s ability to complete the required modules.
CA BVNPT BOARD REQUIREMENTS: TRANSITION FROM CNA TO LVN
Our Admissions Department is happy to review all requirements, including your experience in detail with you; BEFORE YOU APPLY. Call us at 909-534-4812. To help you leverage your CNA experience towards LVN licensure using the California BVNPT's Method #5 through California Preparatory College, we have outlined the necessary California BVNPT requirements below:
Requirements of the BVNPT to be able to take the NCLEX-PN Exam:
ACUTE CARE: This setting provides intensive care, such as for heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, and certain surgeries. It may include a multidisciplinary healthcare team, daily progress assessments, and round-the-clock care by registered nurses.
SUBACUTE CARE: This setting provides a specialized level of care that's less intensive than acute care, but more intensive than most skilled nursing facilities. It may include therapy sessions that last two hours or less, frequent meetings with the patient, family, and care team, and a focus on regaining strength and mobility.
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY: This setting provides medical and personal services to help people live as independently and safely as possible.
See our Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Requirements of the BVNPT to be able to take the NCLEX-PN Exam:
- 54 Hour Pharmacology class (Included in your 1st Semester with our Program)
- High School diploma / GED / Equivalency from another country (Let us know if you need help!)
- Live Scan Fingerprinting, DOJ & FBI Background Check (Please note that this is a California requirement, and requirements in other states may differ.)
- 51 months of paid general duty inpatient bedside nursing experience.
- Including 48 months of medical/surgical nursing (This can be a combination of acute, sub-acute, and a Skilled Nursing Facility.) *A minimum of 40 months must have occurred in an acute care facility.
ACUTE CARE: This setting provides intensive care, such as for heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, and certain surgeries. It may include a multidisciplinary healthcare team, daily progress assessments, and round-the-clock care by registered nurses.
SUBACUTE CARE: This setting provides a specialized level of care that's less intensive than acute care, but more intensive than most skilled nursing facilities. It may include therapy sessions that last two hours or less, frequent meetings with the patient, family, and care team, and a focus on regaining strength and mobility.
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY: This setting provides medical and personal services to help people live as independently and safely as possible.
- 6 weeks (240 Hours) maternity (Example: pregnant mothers) or genitourinary (Example: patients with foley catheters) nursing.
- 6 weeks (240 Hours) of pediatric nursing. (Example: Children 17 and under)
- Ambulation techniques
- Bedmaking
- Urinary catheter care
- Collection of specimens
- Diabetic testing
- Administration of a cleansing enema
- Feeding patient
- Hot and cold applications
- Intake and output monitoring
- Personal hygiene and comfort measures
- Positioning and transfer techniques
- Range of motion exercises
- Skin care procedures
- Vital signs assessment
- Communication skills (verbal and written), including communication with patients with psychological disorder
- Asepsis
- Techniques for strict contact, respiratory, enteric, tuberculosis, drainage, universal, and immunosuppressed patient isolation
See our Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
