8 Best 6-Month LVN to RN Programs Online in California 2025

Students who want to progress from the entry-level role of licensed practical nurse (LPN), or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) as they're called in California, can return to school to earn a nursing degree. This can qualify them to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and earn their RN license.

While California doesn't have any 6-month LPN to RN programs, several schools allow students with an LVN license to finish their nursing degree faster than average. Keep reading to learn more about accelerated and 6-month LVN to RN programs in California.

Are There Any 6-Month LVN to RN Programs in California?

Unfortunately, there are no 6-month LVN to RN programs online or in person in California. The 6-month LVN or LPN to RN programs are incredibly rare, but many schools offer an accelerated pathway for students with their LVN or LPN license.

Most associate degrees in nursing take at least two years to complete, while bachelor's degrees tend to take around four. However, with an advanced placement option or bridge program, you can often earn your degree in less than one year.

Accelerated LVN to RN Programs in California

Several colleges and universities in California offer accelerated LVN to RN programs. We've highlighted the best, fastest options below.

All programs listed are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. All schools as a whole are accredited by the WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

Note that the time frames given refer to the amount of time the program takes after students have completed the necessary prerequisite courses. Some colleges in California offer a 30-unit option, which does not require most prerequisites. However, while this leads to RN licensure in California, it does not lead to a degree, and as a result, your license may not be accepted in other states.

1. Cerritos College

Cerritos College is a public community college in Norwalk. It offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree that LVN students can finish in just two semesters.

Students in this program take courses on mental health, pharmacology, and nursing care. While the nursing courses must be done in person, some prerequisites for this program are available online if you still need them.

The college had a 100% pass rate on the most recent batch of NCLEX-RN scores. California residents pay $46 per credit, while non-residents pay $397 per credit.

2. Cypress College

At Cypress College, students with an LVN license can complete an associate degree in nursing in two semesters. The college had a pass rate of 100% on the most recent round of NCLEX-RN exams.

Nursing coursework in this program covers topics like medical/surgical nursing, pharmacology, geriatric nursing, and child/family nursing. Though the nursing courses are all in person, online options are available for many prerequisites.

The public college, located in Cypress, charges $46 per credit for in-state students. Out-of-state students pay an additional $362 on top of that, for a total of $408 per credit hour.

3. San Diego City College

San Diego City College offers an LVN to ASN pathway that allows licensed LVNs to jump into the second year of the two-year associate degree. SD City is a public community college in San Diego.

Nursing courses, labs, and clinical experiences are all in person for this program. However, some of the non-nursing requirements, like psychology and anthropology, are available online.

Tuition for California residents is $46 per credit, while the total tuition for non-residents is $402 per credit. The college had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 100% in the most recent year.

4. Golden West College

The LVN-RN program at Golden West College allows licensed LVNs to finish their degree in as few as two semesters. This program also prepares students for a seamless transition into a bachelor's program if they're interested.

Students cover topics like women's health and newborn nursing, pediatric nursing, and medical/surgical nursing. Although nursing courses are on-campus only, some prerequisites and general education courses can be completed online.

Golden West had a first-time pass rate of 97.09% on the NCLEX-RN for 2024. Tuition here is $46 per credit for California residents and $434 per credit hour for non-residents.

5. Glendale Community College

Glendale Community College is a public school in Glendale that offers an LVN-RN advanced placement program, which nursing students can complete in two semesters.

Students take seminars on nursing practice and also cover psychiatric nursing and medical-surgical nursing. Those who still need to complete prerequisites will find some available online.

California residents pay $46 per credit, while non-residents pay $452 per credit. The college had a pass rate of 96.55% on the most recent NCLEX-RN exams.

6. Mt. San Jacinto College

Nursing students at Mt. San Jacinto College can finish their ASN in one year if they already have their LVN degree. The college most recently had an NCLEX_RN pass rate of 95.74%.

Nursing coursework covers primarily medical/surgical nursing and family nursing. These must be done in person, but some prerequisites are offered online.

MSJC, a public community college, is located in Riverside. Tuition is $46 for California residents and $364 for out-of-state residents.

7. College of the Desert

College of the Desert (COD) offers an advanced placement option for LVNs that allows them to finish their ASN in two to three semesters, depending on prior coursework. COD is a public community college in Palm Desert.

Students cover basic and more complex topics in nursing practice. These courses are all on-site, but prerequisites and general edudation courses are available online.

While tuition for California students is $46 per credit, tuition for out-of-state students is $352 per credit. COD most recently had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 95.65%.

8. Imperial Valley College

The LVN to RN bridge program at Imperial Valley College allows students to finish their ASN in less than a year. Imperial Valley College is a public community college in Imperial County.

Students in the bridge program will cover subjects like pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, and medical/surgical nursing. Nursing courses aren't offered online, but some prerequisites and general education courses are.

Imperial Valley College had a pass rate of 95.16% on the most recent NCLEX-RN. In-state residents pay $46 per credit here, while non-residents pay $367 per credit hour.

FAQs About the Fastest LVN to RN Programs in California

We've answered some frequently asked questions about fast LVN to RN programs in California below to help you better understand how to reach your RN goals.

How Long Does It Take To Go From LVN to RN in California?

Unfortunately, there are no 6-month LVN to RN programs in California, but there are several that allow you to finish your degree in a year or a little less. In order to do this, you'll need to have a valid LVN license from the [Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians as well as all prerequisites and most general education courses completed before entering the program.

How Long Is an LVN to RN Bridge Program?

LVN to RN bridge programs can range from just under one year to a little over two years. The amount of time it takes to complete your program will depend on multiple factors, including the registered nursing program you choose, whether you study full-time or part-time, and whether you have all non-nursing courses and prerequisites completed.

What Should I Expect To Learn in an LVN to RN Program?

LVN to RN programs help LVNs advance their knowledge of patient care and nursing practice. They often cover specific specialties within nursing, such as:

• family nursing
• geriatric nursing
• medical/surgical nursing
• mental health nursing
• pediatric nursing

Nursing programs include lecture-style courses, labs, and clinical experiences in local healthcare settings.

What Are the Admission Requirements for 6-Month LVN to RN Programs in California?

Admissions requirements for accelerated LVN to RN programs can vary slightly but generally include:

• a valid, unencombuered LVN license
• a minimum GPA
• a minimum score on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS)
• passing a background check
• up-to-date immunizations
• completion of prerequisite courses, which often include microbiology and human anatomy and physiology

You can usually find out more information about the eligibility requirements and application process on the individual program websites.

Discover Nursing Programs

Although there aren't 6-month LVN to RN programs online or in person, you can still fast-track your nursing career by exploring the accelerated degree programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual nursing schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.