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$37,6804 to 12 weeksMost earn $30,300 – $47,310
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$62,03012 to 18 monthsMost earn $46,010 – $76,690
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$93,5502 to 4 yearsMost earn $68,920 – $128,640
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$129,4302 to 3 yearsMost earn $99,160 – $166,060
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty