Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Be at least 17 years old; and
- Graduate from an accredited high school or acceptable equivalent (furnish proof); and
- Successfully complete a Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician (BVNPT) approved Vocational Nursing Program. Contact the program director for application forms and instructions; and
- Complete and sign the "Application for Vocational Nurse Licensure" and the “Record of Conviction" form; and
- Submit the required Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprints.
***Note: A License will not be issued until the board receives the background information from DOJ.
- In order to be licensed in California, applicant must submit an application fee along with the required forms to the BVNPT (visit the BVNPT website for current fee schedule). One of these forms is called a “Record of Conviction.”
- Applicants will need to be fingerprinted for the Department of Justice and FBI to process the fingerprint card. Additional information regarding the current fee schedule is available on the BVNPT website.
- You will also receive an application to the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for the Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Please visit the BVNPT website for current information regarding the fee to register by mail. Once you have submitted this form, you will receive an Authorization to Test and the information to take an exam.
- Once you have successfully completed the NCLEX-PN, you will need to submit an application for licensure to the Board of Vocational Nursing with an initial license fee (visit the BVNPT website for current fee schedule).
- Further information on becoming registered may be obtained on the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians website, http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/.
- Graduates must satisfy all requirements for certification at the time of Application.
