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$48,5904 to 12 weeksMost earn $38,450 – $59,890
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$67,18012 to 18 monthsMost earn $54,480 – $81,530
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$109,4402 to 4 yearsMost earn $79,760 – $157,090
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$153,5102 to 3 yearsMost earn $112,730 – $198,060
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty