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$39,8404 to 12 weeksMost earn $34,870 – $47,080
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$63,23012 to 18 monthsMost earn $37,480 – $77,540
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$84,6002 to 4 yearsMost earn $68,920 – $109,050
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$130,9202 to 3 yearsMost earn $102,980 – $175,220
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty