California LPN Licensing Guide

The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) licenses Practical Nurses (LPNs), which are known in California as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). California’s BVNPT has detailed instructions on how to apply for a California vocational nursing license that includes very specific education requirements. Through the fair and consistent application of the regulations and statutes governing nursing education and practice in California, the BVNPT strives to protect the public’s health, safety, and well-being.

BreEZe is the Department of Consumer Affairs's licensing and enforcement system and the easiest way for nursing students to apply for their California LVN license. The California BVNPT highly recommends applying online through this portal, but it also accepts paper applications at the BVNPT Public Counter. BVNPT staff accepts and date stamps applications but won’t review applications or documents submitted or approve applications for exams or licensure.

New licensees’ first California LVN license is issued for two birthdays, not two years. It expires on the last day of the month following their birth date, then every two years from that date. As a courtesy, notices of California LVN license renewal deadlines are mailed approximately three months before the expiration date on the license. However, LVNs are responsible for renewing their licenses before expiration even if they didn’t receive a notice.

California LVN license renewal requires licensees to submit fingerprints if they weren’t previously fingerprinted by the BVNPT or a record of fingerprint submission no longer exists. All LVNs licensed by exam or endorsement before January 1, 2014, who submitted fingerprints through Live Scan or hard card must resubmit fingerprints. If the BVNPT doesn’t currently have an electronic record of a licensee’s fingerprints on file with both DOJ and FBI levels of service, fingerprints must be resubmitted.

If fingerprinting is required, licensees must furnish the DOJ with a full set of fingerprints for both DOJ and FBI background checks. Licensees residing in California must submit fingerprints via Live Scan. Those who don’t live in California may resubmit fingerprints using a hard card or come to California to resubmit fingerprints via Live Scan. The fingerprint requirement is waived if renewing to Inactive status.

During renewal, licensees must disclose whether they’ve had any disciplinary actions or criminal convictions since they last renewed. All California LVNs are required to complete continuing education (CE) as part of the license renewal process.

Continuing Education Requirements

LVNs must complete 30 contact hours of CE every two years. However, LVNs renewing for the first time after passing their licensure exam within the past two years are exempt from the CE requirement. All CE courses must be taken through a CE provider recognized by the BVNPT. To ensure a CE provider is approved, check to see if their CEP number is still active on the BreEZe License Verification system. Courses aren’t eligible for contact hours if a CE provider’s CEP number is in expired status.

Acceptable courses include Continuing Medical Education (CME Category 1), home study, and college courses. The BVNPT will also accept courses approved by other in-state and out-of-state professional health and licensing boards and state, regional, and national health professional associations if the content meets the BVNPT’s requirements. Licensees with concerns over whether a course’s content meets requirements should contact the BVNPT’s Continuing Education Program.

California isn’t part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so LVNs with a multistate license must apply for an endorsement to practice in the state. Part of the application process includes very specific education requirements. Currently, the nursing curriculum must consist of no less than 58 semester units that include a minimum number of units in specific course areas. These include at least: 

• 36 semester units of art and science in nursing with 18 units in theory and 18 in clinical practice concurrent in medical-surgical, geriatric, pediatric, obstetric, and mental health/psychiatric nursing

• 6 semester units in communication skills covering principles of written, oral, and group communication

• 16 semester units of natural sciences (anatomy, microbiology, and physiology courses with labs) and related behavioral and social sciences

Applicants for a California nursing license who lack any educational requirements must complete an approved course before taking the nurse licensing exam. Those who apply for a California LVN license by endorsement and who haven’t completed an educational program meeting all California requirements must apply for licensure by examination.

Fingerprinting Requirements

All applicants must submit one set of fingerprints to complete criminal history checks through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fingerprinting can be done electronically through Live Scan or by using a paper fingerprint card. However, using Live Scan can speed up licensure because the BVNPT receives fingerprint results much quicker compared to the manual fingerprint card process. On average, Live Scan results take one to two weeks, while manual fingerprinting can take one to two months.

Processing through Live Scan:

Applicants must use a Live Scan site in California. The BVNPT can’t receive Live Scan results taken at locations outside the state. California nurse licensing candidates can use the online request form to have Request for Live Scan Service Applicant Submission forms sent to them via email. They take this form to a Live Scan site for processing.

Processing fees for Live Scan service vary and are paid directly to the Live Scan operator, not to the BVNPT. Operators at California DOJ Live Scan agencies scan the applicant’s fingerprints and complete the required sections of the Live Scan form. They keep one copy and give the remaining two copies to the applicant, who keeps one copy for themselves and submits the other copy to the BVNPT, but only if requested. The California DOJ keeps applicants’ fingerprints on file to provide ongoing reports of any future convictions to the BVNPT.

Processing through Applicant Fingerprint Card:

Applicant Fingerprint Cards, also called Hard Cards, may be requested by applicants outside California or those unable to access Live Scan. Applicants must complete all items marked with a black “X” with black ink only, or the card will be rejected, and they’ll need to submit a new one.

Fingerprints must be rolled onto the card in black ink at a local law enforcement agency. There may be a fee for fingerprinting services. Completed cards must not be folded, or applicants will have to complete and submit a new one. Cards with the completed application and applicable fees should be returned to the BVNPT in a 9” x 12” envelope.

Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive
Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
[email protected]
(916) 263-7800

LVNs applying for licensure by endorsement must have a current, active license in another state, U.S. territory, or Canada. They also must have completed an education program that meets all California requirements and passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-PN), the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE), or an acceptable five-part Canadian exam. The Canadian Comprehensive Examination isn’t acceptable. Applicants who don’t meet all these qualifications can’t apply for licensure by endorsement; they must apply for licensure by exam. The steps for applying online for licensure by endorsement include:

• Registering for a BreEZe account

• Selecting "LVN Endorsement" from the dropdown menu on the homepage

• Disclosing U.S. Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (mandatory)

• Submitting fingerprints using either Live Scan or fingerprint card

• Completing the Nursys Verification Application for states that participate in this program or the Verification of License form for states that don’t

• Attaching any documents and/or letters explaining prior disciplinary action, rehabilitation, and/or convictions, if applicable

• Paying applicable fees using a valid credit card

LVNs applying for a California nursing license by endorsement also must mail a Request for Transcript form to all nursing schools where they completed the coursework required to earn their nursing degree. Each education facility must mail official transcripts that reflect the degree awarded and the date conferred directly to the BVNPT. Transcripts aren’t accepted from applicants.

Applicants should attach as much information as possible to their online applications to reduce paperwork and speed up the review process. During the online application process, applicants also may apply for a temporary license that allows them to practice nursing while they wait for their permanent license.

Graduate nurses who apply for a California LVN license by exam must have completed an education program approved by the BVNPT. Applicants lacking any educational requirements must complete an approved course before taking the NCLEX-PN. Nursing students who completed one of the unapproved nursing programs operating in California won’t be qualified to take the NCLEX-PN or be licensed.

New California nursing graduates shouldn’t submit their applications any sooner than two weeks before their graduation date. Applications are processed by the whole cohort, meaning the entire graduating class. When applying online,the steps include:

• Registering for a BreEZe account

• Selecting “LVN Initial Exam Application” from the dropdown menu on the homepage

• Completing the Request for Accommodation of Disabilities form, if applicable

• Disclosing U.S. Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (mandatory)

• Submitting fingerprints using either Live Scan or fingerprint card

• Attaching any documents and/or letters explaining prior disciplinary action, rehabilitation, and/or convictions, if applicable

• Paying applicable fees using a valid credit card

The BVNPT also must receive applicants’ transcripts. California Board-approved nursing programs automatically submit transcripts to the BVNPT electronically for graduates upon program completion. Applicants of out-of-state nursing programs may have their transcripts sent directly from their school or sent electronically from a certified third-party electronic transcripts vendor, such as National Student Clearinghouse or Parchment, to BVNPT. Graduates of international nursing programs must have their official transcripts mailed directly to the BVNPT.

New graduates must take the NCLEX-PN. Once they’re found eligible, the BVNPT sends them detailed instructions on the registration process with Pearson VUE, the NCLEX testing service. California nursing license candidates should wait until they’re made eligible for the NCLEX and receive their testing eligibility letter in the mail before registering with Pearson VUE.

During the online application process, applicants may also apply for an interim permit that allows them to practice nursing under the direct supervision of an LVN while they await their NCLEX results. Applicants can check the progress of their online application on their BreEZe accounts.

Applicants who received their training from a school of nursing in a country outside the U.S. must have completed education and training equivalent to that required in California, including courses of instruction that are equivalent to the minimum requirements established for an accredited program in California.

Foreign-educated applicants must send the Breakdown of Educational Program for International Nursing Programs form with the Request for Transcript form to the school(s) where they were educated. Transcripts must include all completed theoretical and clinical practice coursework and come directly from the school. If the official transcript isn’t in English, applicants must provide a Certified English Translation form to a certified translator who’s not related to the applicant. The BVNPT refers applicants with non-English academic credentials to translators accredited by the American Translators Association or certified or registered court interpreters for translations.

Foreign-educated applicants also must submit:

• An application for licensure by examination

• An application and fees to take the NCLEX-PN 

• A copy of the diploma or license that allows them to practice professional nursing in the country where they were educated

• Verification of License form from the board of nursing where they took their exam

• Copies of certificates for psychiatric nursing or midwifery, if applicable

• Fingerprint clearance

• Social Security number and tax information

• Appropriate fees

The BVNPT doesn’t require international applicants to pass the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam to be licensed in California. However, if they’ve taken the CGFNS, the BVNPT will accept official copies of the applicant’s nursing transcripts from this organization.

The BVNPT requires international applicants to pass an English comprehension exam if it doubts their ability to comprehend English sufficiently enough to safely perform their duties as professional nurses. Applicants can take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum passing TOEFL scores include a 26 in speaking and a 22 in reading, listening, and writing.

California processes applications in the order they are received. The following processing times are provided as a general guideline. The Board strives to stay within these timeframes, but due to the individual evaluation of each application, processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Licensure by Examination (School): 4-6 weeks
Licensure by Examination (Equivalency): 26 weeks
Licensure by Endorsement: 3-4 weeks
Re-Examination: 3-4 weeks
Initial License Application: 3-4 weeks
NCLEX-PN Results: 3-4 weeks
License Renewals: 6-8 weeks (Online renewals are in real time)
Address Changes: 6-8 weeks (Online changes are in real time)
Name Change: 2-4 weeks
Inactive to Active Status: 2-4 weeks
Verification of Licensure (Endorsement to Another State or Country): 4-8 weeks NOTE: Additional processing time is required to verify licenses that have been expired 7 years or longer.

Please note that a temporary license can only be issued upon request after your evaluation has been completed and your application has been approved for licensure. It is important to note that the Department of Justice (DOJ) fingerprint clearance must be received before a temporary license can be issued. We advise applicants to remember this requirement when submitting their application.

Applicants submitting a California LVN license application and paying through the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) BreEZe Online Services must use a credit card. BreEZe accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Payments are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Current California BVNPT licensing fees and other related costs include:

• Exam – California School Graduate*: $300.00

• Exam – Equivalency/Non-California School Graduate*: $330.00

• Re-Examination Applications*: $300.00

• Interim Permit: $50.00

• Initial License: $300.00

• Biennial Renewal for 2 years**: $305.00

• Delinquent Fee: $150.00*

• Duplicate Wall Certificate (Duplicate pocket cards discontinued as of September 15, 2017): $50.00

• License Endorsement (Licensed in another state coming to California): $300.00

• Verification of Licensure (Licensed in California going to another state): $150.00

• Copy of Records/Documents (transcripts, certification letter, etc.): $2.00

• Reinstatement of a License (plus any applicable delinquent fees): $300.00

• Intravenous (IV), Blood Withdrawal (BW), or Intravenous with Blood Withdrawal (Combo) Certification Fee: $50.00

• Continuing Education Provider: $250.00

• Intravenous (IV), Blood Withdrawal (BW), or Intravenous with Blood Withdrawal (Combo) Course Provider Approval/Renewal: $250.00

• Dishonored Check Fee: $25.00

• DOJ Fingerprint Fee: $32.00

• FBI Fingerprint Fee: $17.00

*Examination Administration Fee - This fee amount is for the evaluation of your application materials only. It does not include the examination administration fee charged by the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Upon written notification of exam eligibility, applicants must submit their NCLEX registration fee directly to the NCLEX Data Center to register for their vocational nursing examination.

**Vocational Nurse Education Fund - Effective July 1, 2004, Business & Professions Code, Section 2895.5 (i.e., Senate Bill 358, Chapter 640, Statutes of 2003), establishes the Vocational Nurse Education Program within the Health Professions Education Foundation. The Law requires the Board to collect a $5.00 fee from Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) at the time of license renewal to fund a scholarship and educational loan program for vocational nurse education.

An individual who has a criminal conviction may apply for licensure and take the licensure examination if they meet all education and experience requirements. However, the final decision regarding the application with a criminal conviction is made after the applicant passes the licensure exam. The Board retains the right to deny licensure based on the criminal conviction, even after passing the exam. Applicants should review the California Vocational Nursing Code of Regulations.

The Board assesses the official criminal records and supporting information to determine whether to grant or deny the license application. If licensure is denied, the applicant will receive a Statement of Reasons (Denial Notice) outlining their right to request a hearing within 60 days of the Denial Notice.

If the applicant requests a hearing, the Attorney General's Office receives the application and supporting documentation, and a Statement of Issues document is prepared. The Statement of Issues is then sent to the applicant at their registered address, and a formal administrative hearing is scheduled before an Administrative Law Judge.

After the administrative hearing, the Administrative Law Judge will prepare and submit a proposed decision to the Board for review. The Board has the authority to accept or reject the proposed decision of the Administrative Law Judge. Ultimately, the Board makes the final decision on the licensure application, not the Administrative Law Judge.