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$46,3704 to 12 weeksMost earn $39,450 – $58,430
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$80,80012 to 18 monthsMost earn $62,400 – $96,700
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$109,4802 to 4 yearsMost earn $85,030 – $149,070
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$155,1702 to 3 yearsMost earn $95,570 – $207,490
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty