LVN 45 Unit Option
1. The LVN 45 Unit Option is mandated by California Administrative Code, Title 16, Article 3, Section 1429. California law for nurses requires that every school make possible the award of credit to make it possible for a LVN to receive enough credit to sit for the RN-NCLEX examination in the state of California. The LVN 45-unit option was designed as a career ladder for California Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) wishing to become registered nurses. While most states do not recognize California’s LVN 30- or 45-Unit Options and will not issue RN licenses to these LVNs, the Board of Nursing (BRN) in California mandates that every California school make the option available to licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). The number of units (30 or 45) depends on quarter or semester options. AUHS is on a quarter unit system and therefore a 45-unit option is mandated by law.
2. The applicant must be a licensed vocational nurse in the state of California.
3. Course work will be evaluated to determine transfer status in clinical nursing classes.
4. The L.V.N. may elect to complete a 45-unit option to become eligible to sit for the State Board RN licensure exam, or NCLEX-RN. The LVN may be awarded credit for 17 units of lower division nursing following assessment of their transcripts. Following admission, the student electing this option must complete the following 45-unit option program consisting of the following courses:
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
| Biology 200A & 200AL | Human Anatomy with Laboratory | 4 |
| Biology 200B & 200BL | Human Physiology with Laboratory | 4 |
| Microbiology 201& 201L | Microbiology with Laboratory | 4 |
| N310 | Human Life Cycle | 3 |
| N300 & 300L | Older Adult Health Nursing Care | 6 |
| N370 & 370L | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Care | 8 |
| N380 & 380L | Critical Care Nursing | 8 |
| N430 & 430L | Basic Leadership/ Management Nursing | 6 |
| N460 | Transition to Professional Practice | 2 |
| TOTAL | 45 | |
Critical thinking, decision making and the development, implementation, and evaluation of care plans for the client/patient populations encountered during the practice of safe and competent nursing as a licensed RN in California must master the content found in these courses. These courses may be challenged by these students selecting these options.
Any nurse considering the LVN 45-Unit Option is required to meet with the Dean/Director or the Asst. Dean/Asst. Director to discuss this option and constraints associated with this choice prior to beginning any course work at AUHS.
Please note for Students Considering this Option: Completion of this course work does not fulfill all requirements for a baccalaureate degree in nursing and the student is NOT considered a graduate of the nursing program. Students are admitted to this option on a space- available basis only.
*For information and assistance regarding entrance, the applicant is invited to contact the Office of Admissions.