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$38,3304 to 12 weeksMost earn $35,390 – $46,890
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$65,72012 to 18 monthsMost earn $50,550 – $77,220
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$83,5002 to 4 yearsMost earn $66,750 – $105,750
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$128,8302 to 3 yearsMost earn $101,790 – $155,260
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty