Bakersfield's healthcare market is one of the Central Valley's largest and fastest-growing. Adventist Health Bakersfield and Kern Medical — home of the region's only Level II Trauma Center — have partnered to form Kern County's biggest healthcare network, with more than 30 locations and 4,500 healthcare professionals.

Dignity Health's Bakersfield Memorial and Mercy hospitals, plus an extensive base of skilled nursing facilities and clinics, add further demand for licensed vocational nurses across the county.

For Kern County students, LVN licensure offers a proven, fast route into that market — with clear advancement paths toward RN later.

Imagine America has partnered with High Desert Medical College (HDMC) at its Bakersfield campus — more than 26,000 square feet of medical education space in downtown Bakersfield, open since 2008. HDMC's Vocational Nursing program is BVNPT-approved with NLN CNEA pre-accreditation status.

About Imagine America Foundation (IAF)

The Imagine America Foundation (IAF) is a nonprofit organization supporting students pursuing career-oriented education at recognized trade schools and career colleges across the U.S. Since 1982, the Foundation has helped students navigate the financial aspects of technical and vocational training.

IAF provides scholarship programs including the Imagine America High School Scholarship for graduating seniors, the Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP) for adult learners, and the Military Award Program (MAP) for veterans. The Foundation also offers financial literacy guidance, career exploration tools, and resources for choosing the right program.

Over $10 million in tuition assistance is provided annually to students attending career and technical colleges nationwide.

Start Your Vocational Nursing Career with High Desert Medical College

HDMC's Vocational Nursing program in Bakersfield prepares students for LVN licensure in 61 weeks full-time (84 weeks part-time) — 1,530 clock hours including a 680-hour clinical externship. Tuition includes the NCLEX-PN exam fee, BVNPT licensure application, and IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal certification.

• 61 weeks full-time (84 weeks part-time), in-person with day and evening schedules
• BVNPT-approved with NLN CNEA pre-accreditation status
• NCLEX-PN exam fee and licensure application included
• IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal certification included

What You'll Learn

Students complete 850 classroom hours covering nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, and patient care across the lifespan, then apply those skills in a 680-hour supervised clinical externship at area healthcare facilities.

Licensure and Credentials

Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing and sit for the NCLEX-PN with the exam fee already covered. An Associate of Applied Science degree-completion track adds online general education for students who want the degree credential.

Extra Skills Built In

IV Therapy Certification and Blood Withdrawal training are included — practical add-on credentials that broaden an LVN's scope in California and strengthen job applications from day one.

Career Outlook in Kern County

Between the Adventist Health–Kern Medical network, Dignity Health's two hospitals, and the county's long-term care sector, Bakersfield LVN graduates enter one of the Central Valley's most reliable healthcare job markets.

Training Services

• Nursing Fundamentals & Patient Care
• Pharmacology
• Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts
• Maternal & Pediatric Nursing
• IV Therapy Certification
• Blood Withdrawal Training
• Supervised Clinical Externship (680 hours)
• NCLEX-PN Exam Preparation (exam fee included)

Specialized Training

• Vocational Nursing AAS degree-completion track available

Frequently Asked Questions

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