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$39,1604 to 12 weeksMost earn $33,390 – $49,610
State-approved CNA program, then the state exam
- 2Licensed Practical Nurse$63,46012 to 18 monthsMost earn $46,700 – $77,000
Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN
- 3Registered Nurse$83,7602 to 4 yearsMost earn $65,770 – $107,350
ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN
- 4Nurse Practitioner$132,2002 to 3 yearsMost earn $101,970 – $165,250
MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty