Career change to nursing
11 nursing careers employ 5,937,800 people in the U.S. (BLS, May 2025). 2 of them usually take two years or less to prepare for. Below: the ways in, every nursing career with pay and jobs, and the jobs whose skills carry over best.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS CPS 2025 and O*NET 31.0 · How we match careers
- Nursing careers
- 11
- U.S. jobs
- 5,937,800
- Two years of prep or less
- 2
The nursing ladder, step by step
Step 1
- Nursing Assistants $42,260 · 1,448,910 jobs
Complete a state-approved nursing assistant program with supervised clinical work. Many states require a competency exam and placement on the state registry.
Step 2
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $64,400 · 648,410 jobs
Complete a state-approved practical nursing program, which typically takes about 1 year, then pass an exam to become licensed.
Source: BLS OOH: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Step 3
- Registered Nurses $97,550 · 3,379,720 jobs
Earn a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or a diploma from an approved nursing program, pass a qualifying exam, and hold a nursing license from the state where you work.
Source: BLS OOH: Registered Nurses
Step 4
- Nurse Anesthetists $236,590 · 51,840 jobs
- Nurse Midwives $134,040 · 7,920 jobs
- Nurse Practitioners $132,300 · 323,040 jobs
Hold an RN license first, then earn at least a master's degree in the specialty. Most states also require national certification.
Source: BLS OOH: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
Changing careers to nursing at 40
Yes. 42% of registered nurses are 45 or older and their median age is 42.3 (BLS Current Population Survey, 2025). A practical nursing (LPN) program typically takes about 1 year; registered nurses need a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or a diploma from an approved program, plus a state license (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
62% of workers are 45+ · median age 49.2
- Nurse Practitioners
47% of workers are 45+ · median age 43.3
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
45% of workers are 45+ · median age 42.9
- Registered Nurses
42% of workers are 45+ · median age 42.3
- Nursing Assistants
37% of workers are 45+ · median age 39.6
BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages (Table 11b). See also career change at 40.
Ways into nursing with two years of preparation or less
2 careers that usually need training, a certificate or an associate degree, highest pay first. Supervisor and manager jobs are left out because they are usually filled by promotion.
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation | U.S. jobs | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 648,410 | 45% |
| 2 | Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 1,448,910 | 37% |
Coming from another job? The best starting points
Jobs outside nursing whose skills carry over best into a nursing career, by our career-change match score.
All 11 nursing careers
Most jobs first. Included: Nursing assistants, LPNs and LVNs, registered nurses and their specialties, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nursing instructors.
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation | U.S. jobs | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nurses | $97,550 | A bachelor's degree | 3,379,720 | 42% |
| 2 | Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 1,448,910 | 37% |
| 3 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 648,410 | 45% |
| 4 | Nurse Practitioners | $132,300 | A graduate degree | 323,040 | 47% |
| 5 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | A graduate degree | 77,960 | 62% |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | $236,590 | A graduate degree | 51,840 | — |
| 7 | Nurse Midwives | $134,040 | A graduate degree | 7,920 | — |
| 8 | Acute Care Nurses | $97,550Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 42% |
| 9 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $97,550Broader BLS group | A graduate degree | — | 42% |
| 10 | Clinical Nurse Specialists | $97,550Broader BLS group | A graduate degree | — | 42% |
| 11 | Critical Care Nurses | $97,550Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 42% |
Workers 45+: BLS CPS 2025 (Table 11b). “Broader BLS group”: pay is published only for a wider group of jobs; its jobs are not counted. Methodology
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Questions about moving into nursing
Can I switch to nursing without a degree?
Often, yes. 2 nursing careers usually need two years or less of preparation. The best-paid are Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses ($64,400), Nursing Assistants ($42,260).
Can I change careers to nursing at 40?
Yes. 42% of registered nurses are 45 or older and their median age is 42.3 (BLS Current Population Survey, 2025). A practical nursing (LPN) program typically takes about 1 year; registered nurses need a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or a diploma from an approved program, plus a state license (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Which jobs make it easiest to move into nursing?
By our skill match, people coming from Genetic Counselors, Clinical Neuropsychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists have the closest nursing matches. Use the Career Change Tool to check your own job.
How many nursing jobs are there?
About 5,937,800 across the 11 careers on this page with their own BLS estimate (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Which careers count as this field?
Nursing assistants, LPNs and LVNs, registered nurses and their specialties, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nursing instructors. Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay and jobs, O*NET 31.0 preparation, BLS CPS 2025 worker ages.