Take the first step towards a career in Vocational Nursing

In as little as 12 months you’ll receive hands-on clinical training and NCLEX-PN preparation at Gurnick Academy’s Concord campus.

BVNPT-approved Institutionally accredited by ABHES

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Speak with the Concord campus about starting your Vocational Nursing training.

Step 1 of 2 — about you

You already have the instinct. This program gives it the education.

  • Maybe you’re the one people call when something goes wrong
  • Maybe you’re ready to leave a job that never felt like yours
  • Either way, this is that instinct, with training behind it

Gurnick Academy’s Concord campus trains vocational nurses who know how to change a dressing, read a chart, and sit with a scared patient at 2am.

Gurnick Academy vocational nursing student standing in a clinical skills lab

Program at a glance

Program length
12 months, 48 approved instructional weeks
Exam prep
NCLEX-PN preparation built into final module
Start schedule
Prerequisite courses start weekly, core program starts January 4, 2027
Class schedule
Day & Evening Classes Offered

Why Gurnick Academy Concord

Hands-On Skills Lab Training

You practice in a patient-care lab with hospital beds and high-fidelity simulation mannequins before you ever touch a patient.

Small Clinical Ratios

During skills lab and clinical externships. Not one of forty faces in a lecture hall.

NCLEX-PN Preparation

NCLEX-PN preparation is built into your final module, so you finish the program ready to sit the exam.

Financial Aid Available for Those Who Qualify

A Concord-based advisor walks you through your options one-on-one.

Career Placement Support

Resume and portfolio help, one-on-one coaching and mock interviews, and job placement assistance when you graduate.

Clinical Hours Provided

An externship will be provided for all of our students through Gurnick Academy’s affiliated clinical facilities — you’re not left to find a placement on your own.

Vocational nursing students practicing a clinical skill on a simulation mannequin
Instructor demonstrating a clinical skill to a small group of vocational nursing students

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Hear it from someone who sat where you’re sitting.

“Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a different way of understanding. It takes empathy, compassion, hard work, tenacity, and, of course, lots of coffee! Gurnick has allowed me to pursue my education and develop the values and responsibilities it takes to become the best nurse I can be.”

Caitlin G.Vocational Nurse Program

Approved by the California BVNPT. Institutionally accredited by ABHES.

ABHES, BPPE, U.S. Department of Education, and BVNPT approvals for the Vocational Nurse program

Questions people actually ask

What does the program cost?

Full tuition and fee details for the Vocational Nursing Concord campus can be found here. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Do I need healthcare experience to apply?

No. A roughly four-week prerequisite course comes first. No prior experience required.

How long is the whole program?

12 months of core training after the prerequisite course.

Is financial aid available?

Yes, for those who qualify. Concord has a dedicated advisor on staff.

Will I be ready to work when I graduate?

You’ll leave with clinical hours, NCLEX-PN preparation, and career services support, including job placement assistance.

What’s the difference between an LVN and an RN?

An LVN provides direct patient care under a physician’s or RN’s supervision. It’s a shorter path into healthcare, and for many students, it becomes a first step toward becoming an RN.

We’ve got your back.

Speak with the Concord campus about the next start date.

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or call (925) 387-6879
Two Gurnick Academy vocational nursing students on campus
  • Institutionally Accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.*
  • Approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.**
  • Approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

*Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts holds institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). ABHES accreditation does not include continuing education or international courses.

ABHES Contact Information
6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730, North Bethesda, MD 20852
(301) 291-7550  |  [email protected]

**Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Information about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education can be found at www.bppe.ca.gov.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts · Concord Campus
1401 Willow Pass Road, Suite 100, Concord, CA 94520 · (925) 387-6879