Nursing Assistant To Nurse Practitioner
The longest ladder and the steepest one. Every rung is a real job you can stop at.
Recent graduates and anyone with time to build
- 1Certified Nursing Assistant$44,7804 to 12 weeksMost earn $37,100 – $57,820
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$77,07012 to 18 monthsMost earn $61,050 – $89,850
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$99,5002 to 4 yearsMost earn $70,540 – $130,930
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$134,4202 to 3 yearsMost earn $104,400 – $173,270
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty