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$39,5704 to 12 weeksMost earn $36,830 – $46,740
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$65,46012 to 18 monthsMost earn $56,160 – $77,780
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$94,3002 to 4 yearsMost earn $77,260 – $116,710
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$131,4502 to 3 yearsMost earn $101,640 – $165,870
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty