LVN scope of practice in California: what the BVNPT says
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
California LVNs work under the direction of a physician, registered nurse or naturopathic doctor and cannot practice independently. IV therapy and blood withdrawal each need board certification, and since October 1, 2025, LVNs may not adjust oxygen liter flow or concentration or manipulate a ventilator, according to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Who regulates and directs California LVNs
California LVNs are licensed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), not by the Board of Registered Nursing. The BVNPT describes the LVN as practicing under the direction of a physician or registered nurse and states that the licensee is not an independent practitioner.
The board's respiratory care notice adds that the Vocational Nursing Practice Act lets LVNs work under the direction of only licensed physicians, registered nurses including nurse practitioners, and naturopathic doctors. LVNs work alongside respiratory care practitioners, but a respiratory therapist cannot be the LVN's directing practitioner.
IV therapy and blood withdrawal certification
A California LVN must be certified by the board before performing IV therapy or blood withdrawal. The board issues three separate certificates under Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, and the certification appears on your license once approved.
| Certificate | Covers | Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| IV | Intravenous therapy | 16 CCR 2542 to 2542.5 |
| BW | Blood withdrawal | 16 CCR 2544 to 2544.4 |
| IVBW | IV therapy and blood withdrawal combined | 16 CCR 2547 to 2556 |
There are two routes. Most LVNs take a board-approved course, usually with the provider filing the application. The other route is verification: you apply through BreEZe, pay the fee, which is $50 on the board's schedule effective September 21, 2022, and a qualified California RN or physician verifies your skills.
Can LVNs in California give IV meds?
The board's published pages describe IV certification in terms of starting and superimposing intravenous fluids, the phrase used in Business and Professions Code section 2860.5. The board's site does not publish a list of IV medications or a rule on IV push for certified LVNs.
Because of that gap, confirm three things before giving any IV medication in California: that your IV or IVBW certification shows on your license, what your employer's IV policy allows, and, if still unclear, the board's answer. The BVNPT takes questions at (916) 263-7800.
Can LVNs titrate oxygen? The October 2025 respiratory changes
No. Respiratory Care Board regulations that took effect October 1, 2025 bar LVNs from adjusting oxygen liter flow or oxygen concentration. The BVNPT posted a summary of what LVNs can and cannot do under these rules and expects licensees, employers and educators to comply.
| LVNs can | LVNs cannot |
|---|---|
| Apply and monitor a pulse oximeter | Adjust oxygen liter flow or concentration |
| Give aerosol medications that do not require ventilator manipulation | Manipulate an invasive or non-invasive ventilator |
| Replace the oxygen tank and heat moisture exchanger for non-invasive ventilation | Set up, change or replace a breathing circuit |
| Replace tracheostomy ties and gauze and clean the stoma | Do tracheal suctioning, cuff inflation or deflation, or replace the trach tube or inner cannula |
| Listen to the chest and record the data | Assess or evaluate chest auscultation, palpation and percussion findings |
| Use a manual resuscitation bag in an emergency | Use medical gas mixtures other than oxygen, or perform preoxygenation |
One exception applies in schools. The board notes that SB 389 continues Education Code section 49423.5, which lets LVNs under a credentialed school nurse perform suctioning and other basic respiratory services for students. The board also says the NCLEX-PN will keep testing respiratory content.
Sources
California BVNPT: Changes to Respiratory Care Scope of Practice Effective 10/01/2025. LVN can and cannot respiratory task lists, directing practitioners, school nurse exemption, NCLEX-PN content note
California BVNPT: VN Post-Licensure Certification. Three certificates and regulation ranges, course and verification routes, verifier requirements, section 2860.5 wording
California BVNPT: Frequently Asked Questions. Board certification required for IV and blood withdrawal, certification appears on license, board phone number
California BVNPT: Licensed Vocational Nurse fact sheet. LVN practices under direction of a physician or RN and is not an independent practitioner
California BVNPT: Fee Schedule and Laws and Regulations. $50 IV, BW or IVBW certification fee as of 09/21/2022; laws page at bvnpt.ca.gov/about_us/laws.html links the VN Practice Act and Title 16 Articles 8 to 10
Common questions
Is there a California LVN scope of practice PDF?
The BVNPT does not post a single scope PDF. Its Laws and Regulations page links to the Vocational Nursing Practice Act in the Business and Professions Code and to Title 16 regulations, including Articles 8 to 10 on IV therapy and blood withdrawal.
Can a California LVN draw blood without certification?
No. The board states that an LVN must be certified by the board to perform blood withdrawal. That means the BW certificate or the combined IVBW certificate; an IV-only certificate does not cover blood draws.
Who can verify my California IV skills if I skip the course?
A California physician or RN with six months of experience starting and superimposing IV fluids in an organized health care system within the last five years, or with experience teaching IV or blood withdrawal courses. They are not required to agree.