Nursing and patient care programs in California

231 nursing and patient care programs in 5 fields of nursing and patient care, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

145 schools offer these programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 5 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs train you to care for patients directly: in a hospital, a nursing home or their own home. They run from short courses for nursing assistants (CNA), patient care technicians, home health aides and medication aides to LPN programs and RN degrees.

All job training programs in California, every line of work

Accredited nursing schools in California, each school with its accreditor

Nursing and patient care programs by state, to compare California with other states

Compare nursing and patient care programs in California: cost, pay and results

CNA classes (nursing assistant)
122 programs at 109 schools
Most cost
$759 to $1,900
Earned a year, estimated
about $34,900
Working 6 months later
83%
Finished
93%
LPN programs (licensed practical nurse)
43 programs at 41 schools
Most cost
$2,857 to $33,400
Earned a year, estimated
about $54,600
Working 6 months later
86%
Finished
74%
Home health aide training
33 programs at 32 schools
Most cost
$246 to $612
Earned a year, estimated
about $33,500
Working 6 months later
87%
Finished
96%
RN programs (registered nurse)
31 programs at 23 schools
Most cost
$1,842 to $4,900
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
90%
Finished
85%
Patient care technician training (hospital patient care)
2 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in California may offer more. How these figures are made

Are there free nursing programs in California?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most home health aide programs in California cost $246 to $612, and most LPN programs $2,857 to $33,400. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in California, by line of work

Programs approved in California in each line of work.

Where the California nursing and patient care numbers come from

Which California programs are counted?

Programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about nursing and patient care programs in California

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources