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$38,6504 to 12 weeksMost earn $28,380 – $47,430
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$63,80012 to 18 monthsMost earn $47,890 – $77,850
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$92,4602 to 4 yearsMost earn $71,210 – $121,230
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$132,5402 to 3 yearsMost earn $100,480 – $169,710
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty