RN BRIDGE

Nursing schools in California allow licensed vocational nurses to become registered nurses with just one to two years of additional training. Now, through the use of LVN to RN bridge programs most LVNs can become registered nurses in two to three years. Today it is difficult to get accepted into a nursing program. With prerequisites and the waiting lists it takes an average student up to six years to become a registered nurse with an associate’s degree. Most vocational nursing programs are less difficult to get into and only take 12 to 16 months to complete.

Working as an LVN is certainly rewarding, but when you are ready to move to a different level in your career, you can join the ranks of more than one-quarter million working registered nurses (RNs) in California. BRIDGE programs offer degree pathways such as LVN to ADN and LVN to BSN. Professional Medical Careers Institute in Westlake Village offers an academically strong vocational nursing program with about 600 hours of theory in all areas of nursing science and nearly 1000 hours of hands-on clinical experience. The program at PMCI is designed to prepare students for licensure, employment and advancement in nursing. Completion of an LVN to RN bridge program is recommended after successful completion of the vocational nursing program at PMCI and licensure.

• Los Angeles County College of Nursing & Allied Health — Their Advanced Placement Option I specifically for LVNs. Health Services Los Angeles County
• Ventura College (Ventura County) — They have an Advanced Placement option for LVNs to enter their ADN program. venturacollege.edu
• Ventura College — 30-unit option — They also offer a 30-unit option (non-degree) for LVNs. venturacollege.edu+1
• Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC) — Their “LVN to ADN Advanced Placement” program lets LVNs join later semesters and requires a challenge exam. lasc.edu
• East Los Angeles College (ELAC) — They have an LVN → RN path (30-unit “non-graduate” option, plus prerequisite requirements). ELAC
  

• If you already have many of the prerequisites done (biology, anatomy, chemistry, etc.), a bridge / advanced placement program might take 2–3 semesters (1–1.5 years) to complete the needed nursing coursework and be eligible to take NCLEX-RN.
• If prerequisites are still pending, add extra time (a year or more) to finish those.
• Some programs (especially non-degree or condensed ones) may allow a quicker turnaround, but they’re rare and highly competitive.

1. List target colleges in your area (Ventura + LA) that offer LVN → RN/ADN/bridge.
2. Meet with a nursing counselor/academic advisor at those colleges, specifically about the LVN → RN track, advanced placement, challenge exams, etc.
3. Map out all prerequisite courses those programs require and enroll in them or see which ones you’ve already completed.
4. Prepare for the TEAS (or whatever entrance exam your target school uses).
5. Apply broadly to multiple programs to increase your chances.
6. Confirm your LVN license, work experience, and transcripts are in good order and ready to submit.

• Los Angeles Southwest College — https://www.lasc.edu/academics/aos/nursing/lvn-rn-bridge LASC
  
• Pasadena City College — https://pasadena.edu/academics/divisions/health-sciences/nursing-programs/career-ladder/index.php Pasadena City College
  
• Evergreen Valley College — https://www.evc.edu/nursing-allied-health/associate-degree-nursing/lvn-rn Evergreen Valley College
   
• American River College — https://arc.losrios.edu/lvn-to-rn-career-mobility-program American River College
   
• San Bernardino Valley College — https://www.valleycollege.edu/academics/pathways/hwa/nursing/lvn-to-rn.php San Bernardino Valley College
   
• Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science — https://www.cdrewu.edu/academics/program/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-lvn-to-bsn-track/ CSU Drew
   
• National University (San Diego) — https://www.nu.edu/degrees/nursing/programs/licensed-vocational-nurses-to-registered-nurse-30-unit-option-certificate/ National University
   
• San Diego State University — https://nursing.sdsu.edu/academics/lvn-to-rn SDSU Nursing
   
• San Joaquin Valley College — https://www.sjvc.edu/program/registered-nursing-lvn-to-rn-bridge/ San Joaquin Valley College
   
• Carrington College (California) — https://carrington.edu/program/nursing-bridge/ Carrington College
   
• Gurnick Academy of Medical Sciences — https://www.gurnick.edu/programs/lvn-rn/ Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
   
• Cuesta College — https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/divisions/nah/nursingdept/registered_nursing_info/lvn_rn-info/index.html Cuesta College
   
• City College of San Francisco — https://www.ccsf.edu/academics/schools/allied-health-physical-education-social-services/registered-nursing-department/rn-program-admissions CCSF
   
• College of San Mateo — https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/nursing/ College of San Mateo
   
• Chaffey College — https://www.chaffey.edu/acc/hwa/hwa-academics/adn-lvn-rn.php Chaffey College
   
• Cerritos College — https://www.cerritos.edu/registered-nurse/option-c.htm Cerritos College
   
• Citrus College — https://www.citruscollege.edu/academics/programs/adn/pages/default.aspx Citrus College
   
• East Los Angeles College — https://www.elac.edu/academics/pathways/hs/nursing-dept/lvn-rn elac.edu
   
• Foothill College (general nursing info; no LVN→RN page) — https://www.foothill.edu/programs-archive/programs.html Foothill College | Home
   
• Los Angeles Mission College (general nursing info) — https://missioncollege.edu/academics/health-occupations-nursing/ Mission College
   
• MiraCosta College — https://www.miracosta.edu/academics/degree-and-certificate-programs/health-sciences/nursing/lvn-rn-nursing-program.html miracosta.edu
   
• Moorpark College — https://www.moorparkcollege.edu/departments/academic/nursing-science/advanced-placement Moorpark College
   
• Mt. San Antonio College — https://catalog.mtsac.edu/programs/programsaz/licensed-vocational-nurse-rn/ Mt. San Antonio College
   
• Orange Coast College (general allied health; LVN→RN is typically at nearby Golden West) — https://orangecoastcollege.edu/academics/consumer-health/allied-health/index.html Orange Coast College
   
• Riverside City College — https://www.rcc.edu/assets/documents/pathways/health-related-science/nursing/Advanced%20Placement%20Info%20Sheet.pdf Riverside City College
   
• Sacramento City College — https://scc.losrios.edu/academics/nursing-program-details Sacramento City College
   
• Saddleback College — https://www.saddleback.edu/sites/default/files/2024-11/Saddleback_College_ADN_Information_Packet_11_15_24_0.pdf Saddleback College
   
• Ventura College — https://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/nursing-science/advanced-placement Coast College Catalogs
   
• West Valley College (no RN program page; district LVN→RN is at Mission College) — https://www.westvalley.edu/academics/ westvalley.edu
   
• California State University, San Bernardino (LVN 30-Unit Option) — https://www.csusb.edu/nursing/programs/lvn-thirty30-unit-option CSUSB
   
• California State University, Long Beach (LVN 30-Unit Option info in handbook) — https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-health-human-services/school-of-nursing/bsn-program (see 30-unit option note in handbook) California State University Long Beach+1
   
• Azusa Pacific University — https://www.apu.edu/programs/lvn-to-bsn/ Azusa Pacific University
  
• Mount Saint Mary’s University — https://www.msmu.edu/departments/nursing/undergraduate-programs/lvn-to-rn-/ MSMU

✅ Note: This is a partial list. Hundreds of accredited schools nationwide offer LVN/LPN → RN bridge options.
📞 Tip: Always call each program’s admissions office to confirm current prerequisites, clinical hour requirements, and start dates — they can vary yearly.

• Indiana State University — https://www.indstate.edu/academics/academic-program-finder/nursing-lpnlvn-bsn
• AMG School of Nursing (Brooklyn, NY) — https://www.amg.edu/rn-bridge-program/
• University of Arkansas (Eleanor Mann School of Nursing) — https://online.uark.edu/programs/licensed-practical-nurse-bachelor-science-nursing.php
• Georgia State University — https://admissions.gsu.edu/program/nursing-lpn-to-bsn-bridge-program/
• Saint Xavier University — https://www.sxu.edu/academics/programs/lpn-bsn/index.html
• The Ohio State University — https://nursing.osu.edu/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-science-nursing/bsn-admissions/lpn-bsn
• University of South Alabama — https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/bsn/lpn-to-bsn.html
• Albertus Magnus College — https://www.albertus.edu/lpn-bsn/
• Madonna University — https://www.madonna.edu/academics/programs/nursing-bsn/lpn-to-bsn/
• Wilson College — https://online.wilson.edu/programs/bachelors-degrees/lpn-to-bsn/
• Cumberland University — https://www.cumberland.edu/programs/lpn-to-bsn/
• Fitchburg State University — https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/academics/programs/lpn-bs-nursing-bridge-program-bs
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke — https://www.uncp.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-health-sciences/academic-departments/nursing/bsn-programs/lpn-bsn
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette — https://online.louisiana.edu/programs/undergraduate/lpn-bsn-online
• University of Maryland Global Campus — https://www.umgc.edu/online-degrees/bachelors/nursing-bsn.cfm
• Florida A&M University — https://nursing.famu.edu/bsn-program.php
• Chamberlain University — https://www.chamberlain.edu/nursing/lpn-to-rn-bridge
• Davenport University — https://www.davenport.edu/academics/areas/health/lpn-bsn-completion-program
• Regis University — https://www.regis.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/lpn-bsn
• Herzing University — https://www.herzing.edu/nursing/lpn-to-rn
• Mercy College of Health Sciences — https://www.mchs.edu/academics/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing/lpn-to-bsn
• Kent State University — https://www.kent.edu/nursing/lpn-bsn
• University of Texas at Arlington — https://academicpartnerships.uta.edu/programs/lvn-to-bsn.aspx
• Western Governors University — https://www.wgu.edu/online-nursing-health-degrees/bachelor-science-nursing-prelicensure.html
• Grand Canyon University — https://www.gcu.edu/degree-programs/registered-nursing-bsn
• University of Phoenix — https://www.phoenix.edu/degrees/nursing/bachelor/lpn-lvn-bsn.html
• Southern New Hampshire University — https://www.snhu.edu/online-degrees/bachelors/bsn-online
• Nova Southeastern University — https://nursing.nova.edu/programs/bachelor/lpn-bsn.html
• Liberty University — https://www.liberty.edu/online/nursing/bachelors/lpn-to-bsn/
• Capella University — https://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/bachelors-bsn-lpn/
• Purdue University Global — https://www.purdueglobal.edu/degree-programs/nursing/lpn-rn/
• Galen College of Nursing — https://galencollege.edu/nursing-programs/lpn-lvn-adn-bridge
• Collin College (Texas) — https://www.collin.edu/nursing/LVNtoRN/index.html
• Navarro College (Texas) — https://www.navarrocollege.edu/academics/lvn-bridge/index.html
• Weatherford College (Texas) — https://wc.edu/programs/all-programs/lvn_rn_transition/index.php
• Howard College (Texas) — https://howardcollege.edu/academics/health-professions-programs/health-professions-big-spring/transition-lvn-to-rn-big-spring/
• Blinn College (Texas) — https://www.blinn.edu/nursing/transition.html
• Lee College (Texas) — https://www.lee.edu/programs/nursing/lvn-rn/
• Florida Gateway College — https://www.fgc.edu/academics/nursing/lpn-rn/
• Jersey College — https://www.jerseycollege.edu/nursing-programs/lpn-to-rn-bridge
• Tidewater Community College — https://www.tcc.edu/programs/nursing/
• Chattahoochee Technical College — https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/lpn-rn-bridge-program/
• Goodwin University — https://www.goodwin.edu/glossary/lpn-to-rn-bridge-program
• Cape Fear Community College — https://cfcc.edu/lpn-rn/
• Pennsylvania College of Technology — https://www.pct.edu/nursing-lpn-rn
• Community College of Rhode Island — https://www.ccri.edu/nursing/lpn-rn.html

✅ Note: This is a partial list. Hundreds of accredited schools nationwide offer LVN/LPN → RN bridge options.
📞 Tip: Always call each program’s admissions office to confirm current prerequisites, clinical hour requirements, and start dates — they can vary yearly.