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$42,0304 to 12 weeksMost earn $36,530 – $48,080
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$68,71012 to 18 monthsMost earn $59,210 – $77,580
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$99,5202 to 4 yearsMost earn $78,340 – $123,860
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$131,0402 to 3 yearsMost earn $97,450 – $162,870
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty