How to Become an RN If You Are a CNA

Registered nurses are in great demand in the 21st century. There has been a shortage of nurses in many areas of the country since the mid-1990s, and the aging of the baby boomer population in the U.S. means an increasing demand for nurses through at least 2020. If you are working as a certified nursing assistant, but are ready take a big step forward in your career, you should consider getting the training required to become an RN.

Earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree. While it is possible to get an associate's degree in nursing -- an ADN -- and still become licensed as an RN, many major hospitals require RNs to have a bachelor's degree. If you do take the ADN route to becoming an RN, you will probably have to go back to school to get a BSN at some point in the future if you want to continue to advance your nursing career. You will also undertake a student nursing rotation working with experienced nurses in all of the major medical specialties in your final semester of nursing school.

Take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, for RNs. This is a comprehensive exam covering all aspects of your nursing training, and includes written and practical sections.

Apply to your state nursing board to become licensed to practice nursing. Exact requirements vary slightly by state, but all states require that you pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed.

Registered nurses earned a median annual salary of $68,450 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, registered nurses earned a 25th percentile salary of $56,190, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $83,770, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 2,955,200 people were employed in the U.S. as registered nurses.