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$45,4904 to 12 weeksMost earn $36,940 – $50,680
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$76,16012 to 18 monthsMost earn $61,750 – $89,420
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$103,6702 to 4 yearsMost earn $79,500 – $133,270
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$140,6702 to 3 yearsMost earn $85,380 – $172,170
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty