LVNs in San Diego currently earn an average of $66,451 annually, and salaries continue to climb!
Suppose you desire to enter the lucrative and fulfilling field of nursing. In that case, it is worthwhile to check out accredited Licensed Vocational Nursing programs in your area. LVNs are in high demand across the United States, and LVNs in San Diego County can expect to earn a median income of $67,000 per year.
A good LVN program offers a quick path to a healthcare career, where you can work in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, physician's offices, and skilled nursing facilities. LVN demand is likely to grow by at least 9% in the next year.
Various accredited programs are available in San Diego county, from public colleges to for-profit institutions, designed to help you achieve your goal in as few as 12 months.
LVNs (or LPNs, depending on what part of the country you live in) are licensed to provide primary nursing care to patients in many settings, such as hospitals, surgical centers, long-term care facilities, or physician's offices.
Working under the supervision of an R.N. or physician, LVNs are an integral part of the healthcare team. Typical LVN duties include checking vital signs, assisting with medical equipment, and feeding patients. In hospital settings, LVNs might directly supervise CNAs and other medical technicians.
While an accredited LVN program can get you started in your healthcare career in as few as 12 months, many LVNs decide to continue their education through one of the many LVN-to-RN programs available.
Located in the heart of San Diego, Concorde Career College offers training for a variety of healthcare careers, including a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) program.
Concorde has options for both full-time and part-time students. The 13-month LVN program includes daytime classes and clinical rotations, while the 21-month program takes place in the evenings and on weekends. The LVN program has multiple start dates for both the full-time and part-time tracks.
Concorde's LVN program is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants must be high school graduates or hold a GED.
The cost for Concorde's LVN program is approximately $33,000.
Things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program 2020 Pass Rate: 98%
Grossmont Health Occupations Center is located in eastern San Diego County. The Health Occupations Center offers a variety of certification and licensure programs, including medical assistant, nursing assistant, dental assistant, and vocational nursing (LVN).
The 18-month LVN program is accredited by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. This is a full-time program, and Students should expect to spend 5 - 8 hours in class or clinical rotations Monday through Friday.
Tuition for the program is $5,000, which is broken up over the three semesters. Students can expect to spend an additional $3000 on things like scrubs, textbooks, background checks, and exam fees.
Prerequisites to the LVN program include holding an active Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) license, ATI TEAS score, and completion of an Anatomy & Physiology course. Students can complete prerequisites at Grossmont Health Occupations Center.
Things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program 2020 Pass Rate: 98%
Mira Costa is a diverse community college district serving northern San Diego County. With multiple campuses in the coastal cities of Oceanside and Cardiff by the Sea, Mira Costa offers more than 150 associate degree and certificate programs.
Mira Costa's 24-month, part-time LVN program is an excellent choice for working students, with classes offered primarily in the evenings and on weekends.
The LVN program is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Some things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program 2020 Pass Rate: 100%
The Nurse Academy is a private nursing school located in sunny, southern San Diego county. The Nurse Academy’s course offerings include a Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program.
The 13-month, full-time LVN program gives students a fast track to a career working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician’s offices, or home residential care facilities. The Nurse Academy’s LVN program is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Some things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program Pass Rate: 85.7%
Southwestern College (SWC) is a mid-size public college located in southern San Diego County. Students at SWC can choose from several healthcare degrees and certificate programs, including a degree in Vocational Nursing.
SWC’s LVN program takes place over three semesters and includes supervised clinical care in local health care facilities. About 30 students are accepted into SWC’s LVN program every 18 months. Prospective students should be aware of the prerequisites, including Anatomy, Physiology, CNA certification, college composition, and intermediate Algebra.
SWC’s LVN program is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Some things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program Pass Rate: 89.7%
Summit College opened its El Cajon campus in 2015. Students looking for a healthcare career can complete a program in as few as 12 months at Summit College.
Summit College’s LVN program is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians. The program adapts to your lifestyle, with day or evening/weekend classes that can be completed in 12 months (full time) or 18 months (part-time).
Graduates of Summit’s LVN program are qualified to take the Vocational Nurse License Exam; passing the exam opens up the opportunity to work in various healthcare facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, correctional institutions, physician offices, and more.
Some things to note before applying:
Vocational Nursing Program Pass Rate: 75.6%
The typical LVN program takes around 12-18 months to complete. Keep in mind that LVN programs at some public institutions are impacted and have long waiting lists. The private institution might come with a heftier price tag, but it can get you working in the field in less time. Program costs vary widely, from $3,000 at some public institutions to $42000 at some private schools.
Keep in mind that many programs do require prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, and CNA certification.
Whether you choose a public or private school for your LVN program, financial aid might be available. You should first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college. There are various federal and state aid programs available, such as Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
Keep in mind; there are scams out there. As it says on the Fed's financial aid website, you should never be asked to pay a fee to apply for financial aid. Look to individual schools' Financial Aid pages to learn about financial aid, including how and when to apply.
There are three accredited, private LVN programs in San Diego County. While the price tag is higher at private institutions, you will likely not find yourself on a waiting list. If you plan to follow an LVN-to-RN or LVN-to-BSN path, you will want to consider cost and time. The sooner you complete your program, the sooner you make R.N. wages. Overall, there's something for everyone regarding our local LVN programs.
Every year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes average wage and salary estimates for over 800 occupational specialties, including the field of nursing. In 2021, the average pay nationally for LVN/LPNs was $48,800 annually. That works out to about $23.00 per hour. However, the salaries for nurses in California are significantly higher.
For example, California's Employment Development Department just released its numbers for 2021. The average salary for a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California is $63,676. That works out to an hourly rate of $30.62. The EDD also breaks the salaries of nurses in all 58 California counties. The average salary for an LVN/LPN in San Diego County is $67,000.
In 2021, there are more than 5 million nurses in the U.S. There are over 4 million Registered Nurses and 930,000 Licensed Vocational Nurses. Demand has never been higher for nurses of all stripes. As a result, pay has been steadily increasing over the years. The average annual salary for LVNs currently sits at $48,800. For R.N.s, it's $75,330.
In California, the salary differences between LVNs and RNs are even more remarkable. In 2021, the average salary for RNs in the state was $120,813, according to California's Employment Development Department. Fortunately, there are many LVN to R.N. programs available. Students can complete some LVN to R.N. programs in as little as 12 to 18 months.
In San Diego County, Mira Costa College has a 30 unit LVN to R.N. program. The cost of the LVN to R.N. program is less than $4,000. It covers tuition, books, student fees, the NCLEX exam, and California's Nursing license application fee.