Compare accredited vocational nursing schools by cost, NCLEX pass rates, and program length near North Hollywood.
Where can you find accredited LVN programs near North Hollywood that balance affordability, strong NCLEX pass rates, and a fast track to California licensure? California LVNs earn a median annual wage of $67,010, well above the national average, making vocational nursing a practical entry point into healthcare. North Hollywood's central location in the San Fernando Valley puts several accredited programs within a manageable commute, spanning public community colleges, private institutions, and hybrid-training options. Program lengths, total costs, and first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates differ sharply, so weighing these factors early prevents costly missteps.
North Hollywood nursing students can choose from several accredited LVN programs across the greater Los Angeles area. The following list highlights schools that combine strong outcomes, accessible locations, and training focused on California licensure. Each entry includes key details to help you compare costs, formats, and campus environments.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose, CA | $30,000 – $35,000/yr | Valley career changers targeting strong graduate earnings | |
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts operates multiple California campuses, including a Van Nuys location just minutes from North Hollywood. The Vocational Nurse program combines nursing principles with behavioral and physical sciences, and students train through hands-on clinical experiences in local healthcare settings. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 64% and median graduate earnings of $66,844, Gurnick delivers strong outcomes for career-focused learners. The program is approved by the California BVNPT and offers flexible start dates across its Southern California sites.
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| #2 | Glendale Career College | Glendale, CA | $49,000/yr | Proximity-focused LA students needing placement support | |
Glendale Career College sits about 10 miles from North Hollywood, making it one of the closest BVNPT-approved LVN providers in the area. The campus-based Vocational Nursing program emphasizes modern technology and practical experience, with career placement assistance that boasts high rates. The institution reports a 63% graduation rate and a median graduate debt of just $9,500, reflecting an accessible pathway into nursing. Students benefit from hands-on training and professional instructors focused on job-ready skills.
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| #3 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $22,000/yr | Urban learners preferring small student-faculty ratios | |
The Chicago School at Los Angeles offers a Certificate in Vocational Nursing at its Koreatown campus, commutable from North Hollywood. The 51-week full-time program emphasizes hands-on learning and critical thinking, with clinical rotations at Los Angeles area facilities. The institution serves a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients (62%) and reports a median graduate debt of $20,000, with median earnings of $56,899 a decade out. Small class settings are supported by an 11:1 student-faculty ratio.
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| #4 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Riverside City College provides a highly affordable, 12-month Vocational Nursing program that holds both BVNPT and ACEN accreditation. The program requires an active CNA certificate and uses a random selection admission process with no waitlist, making it accessible to qualified applicants statewide. With an approximate total cost of $2,000 plus $46 per unit, and options for a certificate or associate degree, it is one of the most cost-effective pathways into nursing within driving distance of North Hollywood.
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| #5 | Career Networks Institute | Santa Ana, CA | $50,000/yr | ||
Career Networks Institute in Santa Ana offers a 21-month Vocational Nursing Diploma that blends classroom learning with extensive clinical training. The program features high-fidelity simulation labs and small clinical groups of 8 to 10 students. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 89% and a 100% retention rate, CNI demonstrates strong student engagement, though its Orange County location requires a longer commute from North Hollywood.
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| #6 | College of the Redwoods | Eureka, CA | $7,000/yr | ||
College of the Redwoods in Eureka provides a low-cost, three-semester LVN program far from the Los Angeles area. The approximate total cost of $6,500 makes it one of the more affordable public options in California, and the program includes both a certificate and an associate degree pathway. Admission requires a TEAS score of 62% or higher and prerequisite courses with a C or better. While the location is distant, the program's no-waitlist policy and financial aid availability may appeal to students willing to relocate.
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| #7 | Madera Community College | Madera, CA | ~$4,000/yr (est.) | ||
Madera Community College in the Central Valley offers a BVNPT-accredited Licensed Vocational Nursing program with ongoing admission acceptance. The three-semester program combines theory and clinical skills and focuses on safe nursing practices. Prerequisites include medical terminology, nutrition, and anatomy courses. With a low net price of $4,179, Madera provides an affordable public option, though the distance from North Hollywood may limit its accessibility for local students.
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We used five distinct metrics to rank LVN programs in the North Hollywood area, consistent with our top LPN programs methodology. This approach highlights schools that balance affordability with strong graduate outcomes, details most directory pages simply leave out.
Two of these measures, graduation rate and net price, apply to the whole school, not just the LVN program. That means they speak to the learning environment and financial accessibility overall. Meanwhile, program-level earnings and debt data (where available) give a direct look at how LVN graduates fare in the job market.
NCLEX-VN pass rates from the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) are critical for any nursing student, but we treat them separately. You’ll find a full breakdown of recent pass rates in the section below. We excluded them from the ranking formula because a high pass rate alone doesn’t guarantee low cost or a strong payoff, and that’s what this list is designed to surface.
We built this transparency into the page because no other North Hollywood LVN resource maps all these outcomes side by side.
Tuition and net price vary dramatically across LVN programs in the Los Angeles area. For public community colleges, in-state tuition is under $1,500 per year, but private institutions often cost over $30,000 annually. The bottom line, net price after grants and scholarships, ranges from about $4,200 to nearly $50,000, so it pays to compare. Median graduate debt figures, where reported, fall between $8,000 and $25,899. Complete the FAFSA, ask about school scholarships, and look for workforce development grants to cut your costs. Statewide cost comparisons are available on the California LVN programs page.
NCLEX-VN pass rates are the single most telling indicator of how well an LVN program prepares its graduates for licensure and clinical practice. In California, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) publishes annual exam results for every approved program, giving prospective students a clear, transparent benchmark to evaluate schools.
Concorde Career College, the primary LVN program located directly in North Hollywood, has demonstrated a rising trajectory in its NCLEX-VN pass rates over recent years.
This upward trend is encouraging: the program’s first-time pass rate has improved by 30 percentage points from 2020 to 2024. For 2025, BVNPT has not yet released results, so applicants should check back later this year for the latest data.
To gauge program strength, compare each school’s rate against the California statewide average for the same year. While yearly figures fluctuate, a pass rate consistently at or above the state average signals reliable instruction. A program’s multi-year trend matters more than a single strong or weak year, because cohort sizes and student demographics can shift results. When touring schools or speaking with admissions, ask for three-year pass rate aggregates and how the program supports repeat test-takers.
Pass rates reflect not just teaching quality but also student selection and support services. A program that admits larger cohorts may see dips in some years, while smaller, selective programs often post higher percentages. Look closely at cohort size alongside pass rates: a 100% pass rate on a cohort of 8 students tells a different story than 90% on 100 students. Use these rates as one piece of a larger due-diligence conversation about curriculum, clinical placements, and job placement support.
The path to becoming a licensed vocational nurse in California requires completing an accredited program, passing the NCLEX-PN, and applying for state licensure through the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). Check school websites and contact admissions directly for the latest admission prerequisites and program schedules.
Licensed vocational nurses in California earn well above the national norm. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, California LVNs had a median annual wage of $67,010 in 2024, which is roughly 12% higher than the national median of $59,730. The top 10% of earners in the state made more than $80,510, highlighting the potential for higher pay with experience and specialization.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area, which includes North Hollywood, employed over 28,280 LVNs in 2022. The median annual wage here was $68,520 in 2024, edging slightly above the statewide median. This premium reflects the region's high cost of living and the concentration of large healthcare employers. Entry-level LVNs in the metro area can expect to earn closer to the 10th percentile, while seasoned nurses in acute care or home health settings often reach the upper end of the range.
While Los Angeles wages are solid, several other California metros pay LVNs even more. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara leads with a median of $76,830, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley at $74,130 and Vallejo at $72,640. Settings also matter: LVNs in California typically earn the highest wages in home health care services, hospitals, and outpatient care centers, where evening and weekend shifts can boost pay further.
Nationally, employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. California's aging population and the expansion of outpatient services are expected to sustain demand, particularly in long-term care and rehabilitation facilities. LVNs who pursue additional certifications in gerontology or intravenous therapy may find the strongest job prospects.
Program-level earnings data for LVN graduates in the North Hollywood area is not yet available from federal education outcome databases. Prospective students should speak directly with schools about recent graduate employment rates and typical starting salaries. Many local programs maintain placement data and can connect applicants with alumni to share real-world earnings insights.
Get answers to common questions about vocational nursing programs in North Hollywood, from program length and costs to California job demand. We have gathered key details from area schools to help you make an informed choice.
