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$47,8704 to 12 weeksMost earn $39,140 – $59,660
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$77,11012 to 18 monthsMost earn $59,860 – $93,660
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$99,7002 to 4 yearsMost earn $75,610 – $123,190
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$137,5502 to 3 yearsMost earn $106,070 – $166,240
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty