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$45,3504 to 12 weeksMost earn $36,000 – $52,660
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$71,14012 to 18 monthsMost earn $59,620 – $88,340
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$136,3202 to 4 yearsMost earn $82,500 – $147,830
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$135,5702 to 3 yearsMost earn $106,450 – $174,350
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty