---
title: "CNA vs LPN: Is the Extra Year of School Worth It?"
description: "Nursing assistants and practical nurses compared on training time, scope of work, May 2025 median pay and growth, with the path from one to the other."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/compare/cna-vs-lpn/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Compare · CNA or LPN

# CNA vs LPN Weeks of training or about a year.

Nursing ladder

Both work closely with patients, often in the same nursing home. The LPN carries a nursing license and a med cart; the CNA does most of the hands-on personal care. The question is whether the extra training and pay are right for you now.

In short

A CNA completes at least 75 hours of state-approved training and a competency test, while an LPN finishes a program of about a year and passes the NCLEX-PN. LPNs earn much more, with a May 2025 median of $64,400 versus $42,260 for nursing assistants. LPNs also give medications and handle more clinical tasks.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

| Side by side | [Nursing assistant (CNA)](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/cna/) | [LPN](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/lpn/) |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $42,260 | $64,400 |
| Hourly equivalent | $20.32 | $30.96 |
| Typical way in | Certificate | Certificate |
| On-the-job training | None listed | None listed |
| Jobs in the U.S. (2025) | 1,505,900 | 666,900 |
| Growth, 2025 to 2035 | 2.6% | 3% |
| Openings each year | 196,200 | 51,800 |

Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm), national medians. Not a promise of what you will earn.

## What changes when you move up

As a CNA, your day is bathing, dressing, feeding, moving and toileting residents, plus vital signs. As an LPN you may pass medications, do wound care, take orders from the RN or doctor, chart and supervise aides. The responsibility is real, and so is the pay jump.

## Doing both in order

Plenty of LPN programs like applicants with CNA experience, and some require it. Working as a CNA while you complete LPN prerequisites is a common way to keep earning and test whether nursing is right for you.

## Questions people ask

### How much more do LPNs make than CNAs?

In May 2025 BLS data, the median gap is roughly $64,400 versus $42,260 a year.

### Should I become a CNA before an LPN?

It is not always required, but it helps you know the work and can strengthen your application.

### Which is more stressful?

Both are demanding. LPNs carry more responsibility for medications and reporting.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [42 CFR 483.152: requirements for approval of a nurse aide training program](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/subpart-D/section-483.152)
- [NCSBN: NCLEX exams](https://www.nclex.com/)

## Where to go next

- [CNA](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/cna/)
- [LPN](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/lpn/)
- [LPN vs RN](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/lpn-vs-rn/)
- [Compare](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/)
- [Apprenticeship vs trade school](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/apprenticeship-vs-trade-school/)
- [Barber vs cosmetologist](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/barber-vs-cosmetologist/)
- [Certificate vs associate](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/certificate-vs-associate-degree/)
- [Community college vs trade school](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/community-college-vs-trade-school/)

---
Canonical page: https://careerdirecting.com/compare/cna-vs-lpn/