Licensed Practical Nurse License Cost in California
In California, documented LPN license fees total $800 — exam $200, application $300, license $300. Always confirm the current schedule with California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians before paying.
Figures below come from the same dataset as the full guide and list only what the state publishes. Anything not published is marked “varies — check the board” rather than guessed.
LPN license cost — California at a glance
| Pre-license education | Varies — check the board |
| Exam fee | $200 |
| Application fee | $300 |
| License fee | $300 |
| Documented fees total | $800 |
| BLS median annual wage | $64,400 (licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses) |
Official source: California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians ↗
Fees vs. median pay
The BLS median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is $64,400.The BLS median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is $64,400. Documented LPN fees in California are $800 — about 1.2% of one year's median pay. The bigger investment is usually tuition and time.
Frequently asked questions
What does a LPN license cost in California?
Documented fees in California total $800: exam $200, application $300, license $300. Pre-license education is the biggest variable cost and is set by each school, not the board.
Are the exam fee and the license fee the same thing in California?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the test, while the application and license fees cover processing and issuing the credential. Each is listed separately in the table above where the state publishes it.
How much does LPN training cost in California?
Training-hour requirements for California are not published here — ask California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians for the approved programs and their costs.
Is a LPN license in California worth the cost?
The BLS median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is $64,400, so documented fees are roughly 1.2% of one year's median pay. Earnings vary widely by state and market — treat this as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Budget your LPN licensing in California
Turn the fees above into a dated budget, then check what the California board charges on top.
Keep going — LPN in California
You are on the license cost angle. Here is what most people check next on the same licensing road.
This page is informational and not legal advice. Fees, pass rates and retake rules change frequently — verify all figures with California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians and your exam vendor before paying (retrieved 2026-08-20).