Launch your nursing career with confidence through our Sacramento Vocational Nursing program, an accelerated, hands-on pathway built for recent graduates, working adults, and career changers alike. In as little as 12 months through our full-time day schedule, or 17–20 months with flexible evening options, you’ll train under experienced faculty who blend professional instruction with immersive lab work and simulation exercises. Students complete all coursework on campus, building hands-on nursing skills through classroom instruction, simulation-based lab training, and clinical rotations that mirror real healthcare environments. This career-driven approach equips you with the clinical skills, real-world experience, and unwavering support needed to succeed on the NCLEX-PN and step into a meaningful role as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Whether you’re starting fresh or forging a new direction, Sacramento offers a bold, supportive environment designed to help you thrive.
THREE FLEXIBLE PATHWAYS
Choose the schedule that works best for you with full-time day, full-time evening, and part-time evening program options.
CAREER-FOCUSED TRAINING
Sacramento VN Graduate Placement Rate 93%*
BVNPT Accredited
This program is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).
94.31
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What you'll learn.
Our Vocational Nursing program is designed to prepare you for the NCLEX-PN and equip you with the practical skills needed for entry-level work as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Through a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and real-world clinical experience, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate patient care. You’ll learn how to:
Gather patient information and recognize changes in their condition
Administer medications safely and accurately
Provide care for adult, pediatric, and maternal/newborn patients
Support long-term care patients with individualized plans
Educate patients and families on essential health topics
Collaborate with healthcare teams and supervise nursing aides
Admissions Requirements for the Sacramento VN Program
Applying to the Sacramento VN program is simple, guided, and built to help you move forward with confidence.
Provide your high school diploma or equivalent to start your application
Complete the Unitek VN prerequisite course within 12 months of your intended start date
Finalize your background check during the prerequisite course to prepare for clinical training
Meet with the Program Director for a friendly, goal-focused admissions interview
Work with our team to review financial options and finalize your plan
Enroll in classes and take your first step toward a rewarding career as a Vocational Nurse
Vocational Nursing Program with a Career-Driven Curriculum
At Sacramento, we’re dedicated to helping you progress confidently from the classroom to licensure. Our curriculum integrates NCLEX-style questions and ATI-based test-taking strategies throughout your coursework, strengthening your readiness for the NCLEX-PN and supporting strong pass rates. Alongside academic rigor, you’ll train in modern skills and simulation labs that prepare you for clinical rotations and real-world patient care. This hands-on, comprehensive approach equips graduates with the experience to pursue entry-level roles in long-term care, urgent care, hospitals, clinics, schools, pediatric facilities, and other healthcare settings.
Core Nursing Subjects
Nursing Fundamentals—Theory and Skills
Pharmacology
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Maternal and Newborn Care
Pediatric Nursing
Mental Health Concepts
Professional Development
Clinical Practicum and Simulation Labs
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
I really appreciate the care and effort that was put in by Career Services. Towards the end of the program, I was beginning to feel some doubts about getting a job, but the whole process (with mock interviews) made me feel a lot more confident.
Victoria G.Unitek College Graduate
Sacramento Campus Amenities for Vocational Nursing Students
At Unitek College in Sacramento, Vocational Nursing students learn in an environment designed to support both academic development and hands-on training. Purpose-built classrooms, dedicated nursing labs, and collaborative study spaces create a setting where students can strengthen their clinical knowledge while preparing for the realities of patient care.
Classroom learning environment
Coursework at the Sacramento campus combines traditional lectures with active learning strategies that encourage student participation and critical thinking. Instructors incorporate case discussions, group activities, presentations, and applied exercises to help students engage with course material and develop a deeper understanding of nursing concepts.
Classroom learning environment
Coursework at the Sacramento campus combines traditional lectures with active learning strategies that encourage student participation and critical thinking. Instructors incorporate case discussions, group activities, presentations, and applied exercises to help students engage with course material and develop a deeper understanding of nursing concepts.
Simulation and skills labs
Hands-on training takes place in nursing simulation and skills labs designed to reflect real patient care environments. Students practice clinical procedures using equipment commonly found in healthcare settings, including patient care units with hospital beds, overbed tables, and privacy curtains. Labs also include simulated oxygen and suction systems, mobility devices, vital sign equipment, and a variety of clinical training models. The program utilizes Laerdal basic, mid-fidelity, and high-fidelity manikins to support realistic patient scenarios, along with specialized models used for wound care, nasogastric tube insertion, and diabetic foot care. Some campuses may also incorporate maternity simulators such as the Laerdal Sim-Mom or Gaumard Noelle birthing manikin.
Student learning and collaboration spaces
Outside of lab environments, the Sacramento campus offers computer labs, study areas, and student lounge spaces that support both independent study and group collaboration. These areas provide students with access to academic resources and a comfortable environment for preparing coursework throughout the program.
Campus Location
Located in Northern California’s leading healthcare corridor and easily accessible from major routes such as I-80, Highway 50, and Business 80, the Sacramento campus places you within minutes of the region’s top hospitals, medical offices, and clinical partners. This prime location offers excellent proximity for networking, hands-on training, and meaningful clinical exposure. The surrounding area provides convenient dining, shopping, and everyday amenities that make student life simple and supportive. Beyond the immediate neighborhood, Sacramento blends the energy of a state capital with the warmth of a diverse, community-focused city, offering sunny weather, historic districts like Old Sacramento, vibrant arts venues, museums, and a celebrated farm-to-table food culture. Whether you’re grabbing coffee before class, exploring local parks, or connecting with the city’s expansive healthcare network, Sacramento delivers an engaging and dynamic backdrop for your nursing education.
At our Sacramento campus, you can complete the full-time day program in as little as 12 months. We also offer full-time evening and part-time evening schedules, which can be completed in as little as 17 and 20 months, giving you flexibility to balance school, work, and family responsibilities.
Tuition varies based on your chosen schedule and individual circumstances. Our Admissions and Financial Aid teams will walk you through the complete cost breakdown, including available financial aid options, scholarships, and payment plans, so you can plan with confidence.
The Sacramento VN program prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, the required step to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in California. NCLEX preparation is built directly into the curriculum to help you feel confident and ready for exam day.
Our Sacramento campus serves students from across the greater Sacramento region and surrounding communities, including Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Davis, Woodland, and other areas throughout Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and El Dorado counties.
Sacramento students benefit from modern simulation and skills labs, computer labs, dedicated study spaces, and comfortable student lounges. The campus also offers faculty mentorship, tutoring opportunities, NCLEX-PN preparation support, and comprehensive career services to help you succeed from your first class through graduation and into the workforce.
The VN program prepares you to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse, qualifying you for entry-level nursing roles. If your goal is to become a Registered Nurse (RN), you can continue your education through our BSN program, which provides the broader training and preparation needed for RN licensure and expanded career opportunities.
At our Sacramento campus, you can complete the full-time day program in as little as 12 months. We also offer full-time evening and part-time evening schedules, which can be completed in as little as 17 and 20 months, giving you flexibility to balance school, work, and family responsibilities.
Tuition varies based on your chosen schedule and individual circumstances. Our Admissions and Financial Aid teams will walk you through the complete cost breakdown, including available financial aid options, scholarships, and payment plans, so you can plan with confidence.
The Sacramento VN program prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, the required step to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in California. NCLEX preparation is built directly into the curriculum to help you feel confident and ready for exam day.
Our Sacramento campus serves students from across the greater Sacramento region and surrounding communities, including Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Davis, Woodland, and other areas throughout Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and El Dorado counties.
Sacramento students benefit from modern simulation and skills labs, computer labs, dedicated study spaces, and comfortable student lounges. The campus also offers faculty mentorship, tutoring opportunities, NCLEX-PN preparation support, and comprehensive career services to help you succeed from your first class through graduation and into the workforce.
The VN program prepares you to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse, qualifying you for entry-level nursing roles. If your goal is to become a Registered Nurse (RN), you can continue your education through our BSN program, which provides the broader training and preparation needed for RN licensure and expanded career opportunities.
*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).
