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$44,7904 to 12 weeksMost earn $38,660 – $53,870
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$73,69012 to 18 monthsMost earn $62,610 – $81,060
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$102,7402 to 4 yearsMost earn $80,350 – $134,870
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$138,4702 to 3 yearsMost earn $109,930 – $173,810
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty