(How Fast Can I Become a Nurse Part 2 of 3)

The fastest nursing license that can be obtained is the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) also sometimes called Nurse Aide. This certification can be earned in as little as 3 months in most states.

How Much Can I Expect to Earn as a CNA?

Average CNA job salaries will be determined according to multiple factors: geographic location, experience, education level, economic demand, employer and interview/negotiation skills. While the current U.S. average pay for a CNA is around $20.45 per hour, that varies by state and in California a CNA can earn an average of $23.55 per hour and a high of $33.05 per hour.

How Fast Can I Become an LVN/LPN?

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) also commonly called a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) takes approximately one year of education. Certain programs take longer but one year is the fastest that the required curriculum can be completed. To complete the education requirements in your state you can ‘find LPN programs near you’ ( https://nurseslink.org/lpn-programs/ ) and apply for enrollment.

How Much Can I Expect to Earn as an LPN?

LPN salaries are higher than CNA but less than an RN. The LPN career is a nice stepping-stone to becoming a Registered Nurse and offers hands-on experience in the field of nursing. The average LPN salary in New York is $67,983 per year, while top earning LPNs are making up to $44 per hour in New York. On the other hand, LPNs working in Boise ID are earning an average salary of $60,423 per year ($29.05 per hour). More experience leads to higher salary, and working in major metropolitan areas also garners higher wages.

How Fast Can I Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

The Registered Nurse (R.N.) pre-licensure education can be completed in as little as two years if the applicant currently holds an Associates in Nursing degree or Bachelor of Science degree. Without either degree the applicant can expect pre-licensure education requirements to take approximately four years in most states. That will award the student with a four-year B.S. degree in Nursing and will simultaneously completely the RN pre-licensure requirements and allow the student to challenge the NCLEX-RN exam. You can find local RN programs near you by searching our extensive nationwide database.

How Much Can I Expect to Earn as an RN?

Registered Nurses with a B.S. degree earn far more than an LPN or CNA. Newly licensed RNs can earn an average salary of $82,743 per year in Chicago, while more experienced top-level RNs can earn an average of $76.15 per hour in California. The average RN salary across the United States is currently $45 per hour.

This is Part 2 of 3 and the next article in this series (Part 3) will describe the specific daily job functions and duties of each type of nurse. To be continued…..