The Antelope Valley needs registered nurses. Antelope Valley Medical Center — a 420-bed district hospital handling 220,000+ patient visits a year — is the valley's only full-service acute care facility, and Kaiser Permanente and Palmdale Regional Medical Center both compete for the same limited RN workforce.

High desert communities have historically depended on nurses commuting from Los Angeles; a local ADN program helps the valley grow its own.

For Lancaster and Palmdale students — and especially working LVNs — earning RN licensure locally means clinical training inside the same systems that will hire them.

Imagine America has partnered with High Desert Medical College (HDMC), whose Associate Degree Nursing (ADN/RN) program is offered exclusively at the Lancaster campus — HDMC's original home, training Antelope Valley healthcare professionals since 2003. The program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

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 Registered Nursing Career with High Desert Medical College

HDMC's ADN program prepares students for RN licensure through three tracks: a generic six-semester program (96 weeks full-time), a three-semester LVN to RN track for licensed vocational nurses, and California's 30-Unit Option. All tracks lead to NCLEX-RN eligibility.

• Three entry tracks: generic ADN, LVN to RN (3 semesters), and the CA 30-Unit Option
• California BRN-approved program at the Lancaster campus
• NCLEX-RN preparation throughout — 2,168 clock hours, 85.5 semester credits
• Military medic advanced-placement pathways available

Program Tracks

The generic track is a six-semester, 96-week full-time program for new nursing students. Licensed LVNs with a valid California license and prerequisites can enter the three-semester LVN to RN track, with challenge credit available. The 30-Unit Option offers a California-specific non-degree path to NCLEX-RN eligibility.

Licensure and Credentials

Graduates earn an Associate Degree in Nursing and are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Admission requires passing the HESI entrance exam at 85% — reflecting the program's focus on producing licensure-ready graduates.

Built for the Antelope Valley

HDMC has trained valley healthcare workers for over two decades and was voted Antelope Valley Press 'Best Career College' five years running. Clinical experiences connect students to the region's hospitals and care facilities.

Career Outlook

California employs more registered nurses than any other state, at some of the nation's highest wages. In the Antelope Valley's supply-constrained market, new RNs are recruited across acute care, emergency, and specialty settings.

Training Services

• Nursing Fundamentals
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Maternal-Child Health Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• LVN to RN Advanced Placement Track
• Supervised Clinical Rotations
• NCLEX-RN Exam Preparation

Specialized Training

• LVN to RN Track (3 semesters, for licensed LVNs)
• California 30-Unit Option
• Military Medic Advanced-Placement Pathways

Frequently Asked Questions

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