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$38,0104 to 12 weeksMost earn $32,180 – $46,980
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$61,76012 to 18 monthsMost earn $49,780 – $77,290
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$79,3202 to 4 yearsMost earn $63,180 – $100,840
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$126,6502 to 3 yearsMost earn $98,330 – $158,080
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty