Launch your nursing career with Unitek College of Nursing’s Vocational Nursing (VN) program.
Unitek College of Nursing’s Vocational Nursing (VN) program is a comprehensive, campus-based learning experience designed to prepare you for real-world patient care. Offered across eight California campus locations—Bakersfield, Concord, Fremont, Hayward, Ontario, Sacramento, San Jose, and South San Francisco—the program integrates compassionate, patient-centered nursing principles with practical clinical training and technical skill development. Students complete their education entirely on campus, allowing for a focused, immersive environment that includes skills labs, high-fidelity simulation, and virtual reality (VR) training designed to mirror modern healthcare settings. In addition to on-campus instruction, students participate in hands-on clinical rotations across a range of healthcare environments, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other patient care settings. Built for busy adults, the program also offers three scheduling options (not available at every campus) to help students balance school with personal commitments. You may complete the program in as little as 12 months through the full-time day track, 17 months through the full-time evening track, or 20 months through the part-time evening track.
THREE FLEXIBLE PATHWAYS
Choose the schedule that works best for you with full-time day, full-time evening, and part-time evening program options.
BVNPT
This program is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).
CAREER-FOCUSED TRAINING
VN Graduate Placement Rate*
95%
View all
By the time I finished at Unitek, I scheduled and took my NCLEX within a month. I passed on my first time, all thanks to Unitek.
Almoss M. Unitek College Graduate
By the time I finished at Unitek, I scheduled and took my NCLEX within a month. I passed on my first time, all thanks to Unitek.
Almoss M.Unitek College Graduate
Enroll in our VN program in California before the next start date.
Submit proof of high school education or equivalent
Receive a score of at least 19 on the Scholastic Level Exam – Q (SLE-Q) to begin the application and ranking selection process
Submit a copy of a government-issued photo ID
Complete an interview with the program director
Score a minimum of 58.7% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
Complete a background check and drug screen before starting your clinical
Complete all financing arrangements
Vocational Nursing Curriculum
We know that flexibility matters. That’s why we offer full-time and part-time schedules, including day and evening options, to help you balance school with your other responsibilities. Whether you’re a working adult, a parent, or someone ready for a new start, you can find a program track that fits your life and keeps your goals within reach.
Course Totals
Course
Credit Hours
VN 100 - Nursing Fundamental
VN 101 - Nursing Fundamental Clinical/Skills
VN 200 - Introduction to Pharmacology
VN 201 - Medical-Surgical I
VN 202 - Medical Surgical Clinical I
VN 300 - Maternal and Newborn
VN 301 - Maternal and Newborn Clinical
VN 302 - Pediatrics
VN 303 - Pediatrics Clinical
VN 304 - Medical-Surgical Nursing II
VN 305 - Medical-Surgical Clinical II
VN 306 - Professional Development
Pass the NCLEX-PN with confidence
From your first day to graduation, vocational nursing students will have the guidance and resources to help them succeed. Our Vocational Nursing program includes dedicated NCLEX-PN preparation, personalized coaching, and practice exams designed to strengthen your knowledge and boost your confidence. Our mission is to help you prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam and take the next step toward a career in vocational nursing.
Explore tuition and financial aid options
Your future is worth the investment, and we’re here to help make it possible. Our Financial Aid team will guide you through available options for those who qualify, including grants, scholarships, federal aid, and flexible payment plans, so you can focus on your studies without financial stress.
Career-ready training
Train with purpose in modern labs and simulation centers that replicate real-world healthcare settings. You’ll gain practical experience in patient care, medication administration, and communication, all while developing the confidence and professionalism to thrive as an LVN in today’s healthcare field.
A Career in Vocational Nursing
Launching a career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) opens the door to providing core medical care in a wide variety of settings—nursing homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and private homes. As an LVN, you’ll monitor vital signs, report reactions to medication or treatment, support patient care plans and documentation, and play an essential role in a patient’s daily care journey. According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for LVNs was $64,150* in May 2024, illustrating that this role can deliver meaningful compensation and a solid foundation for your career.
Your training as an LVN also positions you for upward mobility. With experience, many LVNs step into supervisory roles or pursue additional credentials, such as certifications in gerontology or IV therapy, or advance into registered nursing. As of August 2025, the BLS projects that employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses will grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Tuition varies by campus and program track. Your Admissions Representative can walk you through the current cost breakdown, financial aid opportunities, and any additional fees before you apply.
Unitek College of Nursing offers several financial aid options for those who qualify, including federal grants, student loans, and scholarships. Our Financial Aid team will help you explore every option to make your nursing education affordable.
Yes! We offer flexible payment plans to help you manage your education costs and stay focused on your goals.
Our student services team provides support at every step—from financial counseling and tutoring to career placement assistance after graduation.
We recommend completing your FAFSA application as early as possible, ideally before your program start date, to maximize your funding opportunities.
Applicants must provide proof of high school education or equivalent, complete the Unitek VN prerequisite course within 12 months of their start date, pass a background check, and interview with the Program Director.
No previous experience is required. Our program is designed to teach you everything you need to know to become a successful Vocational Nurse.
Depending on your schedule, the program is 12 months (full-time day program), 17 months (full-time evening program), or 20 months (part-time evening program).
You’ll have access to faculty mentorship, tutoring, and NCLEX-PN preparation tools to help you succeed from your first class to your final exam.
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide essential bedside care under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses. They monitor patient health, administer medications, assist with procedures, and support patients and their families in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
LVNs are needed in a wide range of healthcare environments, including nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, and home health care.
Absolutely. Many LVNs move into supervisory roles or pursue advanced education to become Registered Nurses through bridge programs. Others specialize in areas like gerontology or rehabilitation nursing.
Our program integrates NCLEX-PN preparation throughout the curriculum with practice exams, study tools, and personalized guidance from experienced instructors.
According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for LVNs was $64,150* in May 2024, illustrating that this role can deliver meaningful compensation and a solid foundation for your career.
According to the BLS, as of August 2025, employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Tuition varies by campus and program track. Your Admissions Representative can walk you through the current cost breakdown, financial aid opportunities, and any additional fees before you apply.
Unitek College of Nursing offers several financial aid options for those who qualify, including federal grants, student loans, and scholarships. Our Financial Aid team will help you explore every option to make your nursing education affordable.
Yes! We offer flexible payment plans to help you manage your education costs and stay focused on your goals.
Our student services team provides support at every step—from financial counseling and tutoring to career placement assistance after graduation.
We recommend completing your FAFSA application as early as possible, ideally before your program start date, to maximize your funding opportunities.
Applicants must provide proof of high school education or equivalent, complete the Unitek VN prerequisite course within 12 months of their start date, pass a background check, and interview with the Program Director.
No previous experience is required. Our program is designed to teach you everything you need to know to become a successful Vocational Nurse.
Depending on your schedule, the program is 12 months (full-time day program), 17 months (full-time evening program), or 20 months (part-time evening program).
You’ll have access to faculty mentorship, tutoring, and NCLEX-PN preparation tools to help you succeed from your first class to your final exam.
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide essential bedside care under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses. They monitor patient health, administer medications, assist with procedures, and support patients and their families in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
LVNs are needed in a wide range of healthcare environments, including nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, and home health care.
Absolutely. Many LVNs move into supervisory roles or pursue advanced education to become Registered Nurses through bridge programs. Others specialize in areas like gerontology or rehabilitation nursing.
Our program integrates NCLEX-PN preparation throughout the curriculum with practice exams, study tools, and personalized guidance from experienced instructors.
According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for LVNs was $64,150* in May 2024, illustrating that this role can deliver meaningful compensation and a solid foundation for your career.
According to the BLS, as of August 2025, employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Accreditation
Unitek College is institutionally accredited by the ACCSC, and our Vocational Nursing program is approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
*These placement rates are based on program-specific and campus-specific data reported to our institutional accreditor(s) in 2024. While the figures shown here are not separately reported to our accreditor, they are derived from those outcomes. For full details by program and campus, please visit our Disclosures page.
*Please note that wage data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other third-party sources may not be an accurate reflection of all areas of the country, may not account for the employees’ years of experience, and may not reflect the wages or outlook of entry-level employees, such as graduates of our program (accessed on 3/16/2026).