For many healthcare workers, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is the first step toward a long-term career in nursing. CNAs gain essential patient-care experience, develop bedside skills, and build the clinical foundation needed for advanced roles. This hands-on training makes the CNA-to-LPN pathway one of the most efficient and affordable ways to enter the medical field.

Transitioning to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) unlocks significantly better salary potential, broader scope of practice, and increased job stability. LPN programs—often called practical nursing diploma programs—typically take 12–18 months and include high-value coursework such as pharmacology, patient assessment, medical-surgical nursing, and clinical rotations. Many states also offer bridge programs that let CNAs accelerate their training.

Once licensed, LPNs can work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health care, filling roles that are in high demand due to the nationwide nursing shortage. For those seeking further advancement, LPNs can continue to LPN-to-RN bridge programs, opening doors to higher wages, leadership opportunities, and specialized nursing fields such as acute care, pediatrics, or geriatric nursing.