Find Nursing Colleges

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California

22 Colleges

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate School for You

In 2020-2021, practical nursing and nursing assistants students earned 1,055 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 2nd in the state.

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 22 schools in California to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California

Check out the practical nursing basic certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools

#1

Butte College

Oroville, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Butte College the best school in California for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their basic certificate. Butte College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Oroville.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Butte College

Request Information
#2

Merced College

Merced, CA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Merced College is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their basic certificate. Merced Community College District is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Merced.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Merced College Report

Request Information
#3

California Career Institute

Garden Grove, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California Career Institute. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. California Career Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Garden Grove.

Read More…

Request Information

Out of the 22 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Nurses Educational Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Palm Springs, California Nurses Educational Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at California Nurses Educational Institute

Request Information
#5

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Sequoias. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. College of the Sequoias is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Visalia.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Sequoias Report

Request Information
#6

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. SRJC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Santa Rosa.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Santa Rosa Junior College Report

Request Information
#7

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cuesta College

Request Information

High Desert Medical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. High Desert Medical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

Read More…

Request Information
#9

Angeles College

Los Angeles, CA

Angeles College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Angeles College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Request Information
#10

Clovis Adult Education

Clovis, CA

Clovis Adult Education ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Clovis, Clovis Adult Education is a public college with a small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Clovis Adult Education

Request Information

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 113
Nevada 0

Practical Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 22 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free matching tool for schools matches students with nursing schools across the U.S.