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$47,0704 to 12 weeksMost earn $39,100 – $58,120
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$73,20012 to 18 monthsMost earn $56,160 – $82,600
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$86,9902 to 4 yearsMost earn $74,160 – $106,950
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$130,2602 to 3 yearsMost earn $107,820 – $166,740
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty