Pending state approval, the anticipated January 2027 launch would bring vocational nursing to all six of Gurnick's California campuses.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is excited to announce plans to bring its Vocational Nurse (VN) diploma program to its Van Nuys campus, with an anticipated first cohort beginning in January 2027. The expansion requires approval from the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), which the school cannot guarantee.

The Vocational Nurse program prepares students for rewarding careers as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) through a 12-month diploma. Over 48 instructional weeks, they move from classroom coursework into skills-lab practice and supervised clinical rotations at partner medical facilities, then sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) that California requires for LVN licensure. A short Essential Medical Bioscience course precedes the core curriculum.

Since opening in 2019, the Van Nuys campus has specialized in imaging and allied health training. Vocational Nursing would be the campus's first nursing program and round out Gurnick's statewide reach across all six campuses once the BVNPT signs off.

"We've wanted to offer the Vocational Nurse program in Van Nuys for a long time," said Samantha Manlosa Sanchez, RN, PhD, Dean of Nursing Programs at Gurnick Academy. "For students across the San Fernando Valley, it would open a local route into nursing and into the LVN workforce the region needs. I'm eager to meet our first cohort there."

"Launching the Vocational Nursing program at our Van Nuys campus marks an exciting expansion of Gurnick Academy's academic offerings. This is in line with our commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in healthcare," said Fred Faridian, Vice President of Campus Operations at Gurnick Academy. "We look forward to welcoming the inaugural cohort and creating new opportunities for students to enter the nursing profession, advance their careers, and make a meaningful impact in their communities."

Gurnick invites prospective students in the San Fernando Valley to learn more and express interest through the Vocational Nurse program page and the Van Nuys campus page. Because the January 2027 start is pending BVNPT approval, dates and availability are subject to change.

About Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Founded in 2004, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private, ABHES-accredited institution offering nursing, medical imaging, and allied health programs at six California campuses in Concord, Fresno, Modesto, Sacramento, San Jose, and Van Nuys, along with online and distance education. It is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

Nick Colombo
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
+1 408-850-3816
ncolombo@gurnick.edu

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SOURCE Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts