FAQ - California Nurses Educational Institute

A high school diploma or GED is required for all programs at the California Nurses Educational Institute (CNEI). An entrance test is also required for admission into the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. In addition, CNEI and most clinical healthcare sites require a background check. If you have felony crime convictions, please bring it to the attention of the admissions office so we can help you address it with the state licensing authority and determine if it will affect your ability to receive your nursing certification or license.

Tuition and fees vary depending on the length of each healthcare program—from $700.00 for the Certified Home Health Aide program to $35,900.00 for the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. Individual program fees are available on the Program Overview page. Please call (760) 416-5955 for more details about tuition and payment options.

The California Nurses Educational Institute (CNEI) is approved by the Department of Education for Title IV Financial Aid programs available to students who qualify. Financial aid is offered for the following accredited healthcare and nursing programs:

• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
• Alcohol & Drug Addiction Counseling (ADAC)
• Pharmacy Technician (PT)

Students may be eligible for Pell Grants, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans, and other funding opportunities. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more details. Other types of assistance include scholarship opportunities from professional healthcare organizations, as well as programs through the Veterans Administration, Department of Rehab, WIOA, and MyCAA.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs is the best place to begin. CNEI’s Admissions Department can also provide a list of required documents to help certify your enrollment in one of our healthcare or nursing programs.

Please call the Admissions Office at (760) 416-5955 or contact us online for more details about our healthcare and nursing programs in Palm Springs, California.

Visit the individual program page for detailed information about the LVN program or any other healthcare training program offered by CNEI.

Yes. If you decide to pay out-of-pocket for any CNEI healthcare or nursing program, we will arrange a flexible payment plan that suits your budget.

On a case-by-case basis, the California Nurses Educational Institute may accept prior course credit from other accredited nursing schools or healthcare colleges. Please discuss any prior education you would like evaluated for transfer credit with our admissions staff.

CNEI allows one Leave of Absence (LOA) for up to 180 days during your program. Please refer to the student catalog for our official LOA policy applicable to all healthcare and nursing students.

Please call CNEI to schedule an appointment with our professional Admissions Team at (760) 416-5955, or visit our How to Enroll page to begin your application process.

Yes. CNEI prepares graduates for licensing exams through comprehensive reviews and predictor testing at no additional cost for LVN and other healthcare programs.

Yes. The State of California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education requires all students to have a high school diploma or GED before enrolling in any CNEI healthcare or nursing program, including the LVN program. If your diploma or degree is from outside the U.S., it may need to be translated and/or evaluated.