CNA to LPN: Your Next Step After Certification
The nursing career ladder in Memphis — salaries, programs, and how to get there.
The CNA-to-LPN path is the most common nursing career ladder in healthcare. In Memphis, CNAs earn $28,000–$38,000 while LPNs earn $38,000–$52,000 — a 40%+ salary jump with 9–18 months of additional training. Career Academy's CNA program is the first step on this path.
Last updated: October 2026
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Start Your Nursing Career — Apply to Career AcademyNursing Career Ladder
| Level | Role | Memphis Salary | Training Time | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | CNA | $28,000–$38,000/yr | 4–6 weeks | Career Academy program |
| Step 2 | LPN | $38,000–$52,000/yr | 9–18 months | CNA experience + LPN program |
| Step 3 | RN (ADN) | $55,000–$72,000/yr | 2 years | LPN bridge or ADN program |
| Step 4 | RN (BSN) | $60,000–$80,000/yr | 4 years (or bridge) | BSN program |
Salary ranges reflect Memphis MSA data. See CNA salary data for Memphis for detailed CNA compensation figures.
How CNA Experience Gives You a Head Start
LPN programs are competitive. Students with CNA experience consistently have an advantage — not just in admissions, but in the classroom and clinicals.
- Clinical hours: You already have hands-on patient care experience
- Medical terminology: You speak the language before day one of LPN school
- Patient communication: Bedside manner and empathy are already developed
- Time management: Healthcare workflows are familiar
- Confidence: You've worked in real clinical settings
Understanding CNA-to-LPN Bridge Programs
A CNA-to-LPN bridge program is an LPN track that gives students who already hold a CNA credential some credit for it. Bridge tracks exist in some states, but none of the Memphis-area Practical Nursing programs currently publishes credit for a CNA certificate (checked October 2026). Locally, CNAs complete the full LPN program. What a CNA does bring is hands-on patient-care experience going into clinical rotations.
Bridge program vs. starting LPN from scratch
| Path | Time to LPN | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard LPN program | 12–18 months | $5,000–$15,000 | No prior healthcare experience |
| CNA-to-LPN bridge | 9–14 months | $3,500–$10,000 | Active CNAs with 6+ months experience |
| Accelerated bridge | 9–12 months | $5,000–$12,000 | Working CNAs ready for full-time school |
Cost ranges reflect LPN programs nationally. For dated, Memphis-specific costs and pass rates, see the program table below.
How long does it take to become an LPN from a CNA?
Most CNA-to-LPN bridge programs run 9 to 14 months for the LPN coursework itself, plus 4–8 weeks to schedule and pass the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. Including your CNA training (4–6 weeks), the realistic full path from no certification to licensed LPN is roughly 12–18 months. Students who attend full-time and have the prerequisites ready in advance can finish closer to 12 months.
Online vs. in-person LPN bridge programs
LPN training requires hands-on clinical hours that cannot be completed online. "Online" bridge programs are hybrid — lecture and theory coursework runs online, while clinicals happen in person at partnered hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. Fully online LPN programs do not exist; any program advertising 100% online has misleading marketing.
- In-person bridge: traditional schedule, in-classroom theory + supervised clinicals on campus.
- Hybrid bridge: theory coursework online, clinicals on-site (typically 2–3 days/week).
- Evening/weekend bridge: designed for working CNAs — keep your hospital or nursing-home job while you train.
Eligibility for a CNA-to-LPN bridge
Most bridge programs require:
- Active CNA license in good standing (Tennessee or another state)
- Typically 6–12 months of paid CNA work experience (some programs accept new graduates)
- High school diploma or GED (LPN programs require this even when CNA programs do not)
- Passing score on a program entrance exam (TEAS or HESI is common)
- Clean background check and current immunizations
Where Career Academy fits: Career Academy's 4–6 week CNA program is a first step toward LPN school. You'll be eligible for the Tennessee CNA state exam and have hands-on patient-care experience before LPN clinicals. Each LPN program sets its own admission requirements (for example, TCAT Memphis lists Anatomy & Physiology and Administration of Medication as prerequisites, and Northwest Mississippi requires ACT and HESI scores), so check them before you apply. Start with the CNA program →
Memphis LPN Program Options
These are the Memphis-area Practical Nursing programs we could confirm are running, from each school's own pages and the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Checked October 2026; costs and dates change, so confirm with the school before you apply.
| School | Length | Published cost | NCLEX-PN pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCAT Memphis 550 Alabama Ave, Memphis, TN | 12 months (1,296 hours), day and night sections | $7,124 estimated total (2024–25 cost sheet); the current program page lists $7,423 tuition/fees + $2,800 books/supplies | 88% (2025) |
| TCAT Northwest — Covington Covington, TN (Tipton County) | 12-month day or 16-month evening | $8,670 day / $9,555 evening (2025–26 estimates) | 93% (2025, all TCAT Northwest campuses) |
| Northwest Mississippi CC — DeSoto Center Southaven, MS | 12-month day or 18-month evening/weekend | $10,210 day at in-state rates (2026–27); out-of-state adds $1,200 per fall and spring semester | 91% (2025, college-reported) |
Pass rates are first-time test takers in calendar year 2025 from the Tennessee Board of Nursing (Tennessee average 87.89%), except Northwest Mississippi, which is the college's own reported 2025 rate across all campuses. None of these programs currently publishes credit for a CNA certificate. Southwest Tennessee Community College does not offer a Practical Nursing program; its LPN Mobility Track is for licensed LPNs continuing to the RN.
Career Academy — Future LPN Pathway
Career Academy is researching an LPN program addition. CNA graduates here will be the first contacted when concrete plans are announced.
How to Pay for LPN School
The same funding sources that cover CNA training often apply to LPN programs too — especially at the TCATs, which accept Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect.
WIOA funding
Same American Job Center process as CNA funding. Visit the Memphis AJC at 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 668, Memphis, TN 38104 to ask about Individual Training Accounts for LPN programs.
Employer tuition reimbursement
Many Memphis healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing nursing education — check with your employer's HR department about available benefits.
Federal financial aid
FAFSA-eligible for LPN programs at community colleges. Community college LPN programs qualify for Pell Grants and subsidized loans.
Tennessee Promise / Reconnect
Tennessee Reconnect covers tuition at community colleges for adults returning to school. Tennessee Promise covers recent high school graduates.
Learn more about funding options on our tuition assistance page, or see our deep dive on funded CNA training in Memphis for the full WIOA, SNAP, and AJC voucher walkthrough.
Memphis nursing employment outlook: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5–8% growth for nursing assistants and 6% growth for LPNs through 2032. Memphis hospitals — including Baptist Memorial, Methodist Le Bonheur, and Regional One — employ thousands of nurses at every level of the career ladder.
Our Graduates Are Moving Up to LPN
“They made sure we had all the info we needed and helped us get ready for the state board exams. Now, I’m a licensed professional working in my field and excited to start my LPN program!”
“Amazing teachers! Will be back for my LPN.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to go from CNA to LPN?
Most LPN programs take 9–18 months. With Career Academy's 4–6 week CNA program, you could go from no certification to LPN-ready in under 2 years total.
Can I work as a CNA while in LPN school?
Yes, and most students do. CNA shifts (especially evenings and weekends) work well alongside LPN class schedules. Many Memphis employers offer flexible scheduling for employees in nursing school.
Do LPN programs accept CNA experience as credit?
Some programs offer credit for clinical experience, though policies vary by school. Your CNA certification and hands-on experience give you a significant advantage in LPN program admissions regardless.
What's the salary difference between CNA and LPN in Memphis?
CNAs in Memphis earn $28,000–$38,000/yr while LPNs earn $38,000–$52,000/yr — an increase of roughly $10,000–$14,000 per year, or about 40% more.
Is CNA a good first step toward becoming a nurse?
Yes. CNA is the most common entry point into nursing. It gives you paid clinical experience, helps you decide if nursing is right for you, and strengthens your application to LPN and RN programs.
Does Career Academy offer LPN training?
Career Academy currently offers CNA certification. An LPN program is in development. In the meantime, our CNA graduates can apply to Memphis-area Practical Nursing programs such as TCAT Memphis, TCAT Northwest's Covington campus, and Northwest Mississippi Community College's DeSoto Center in Southaven.
Are CNA-to-LPN bridge programs available online?
LPN bridge programs cannot be 100% online — clinical hours must happen in person. Many programs offer hybrid schedules where theory and lecture are online but clinicals are completed at partnered hospitals or nursing homes. Be cautious of any program advertising fully online LPN training; that is not how LPN licensure works.
How much does a CNA-to-LPN bridge program cost?
Published estimates for Memphis-area public Practical Nursing programs run about $7,100–$10,200 for the full program, including books and supplies (TCAT Memphis, TCAT Northwest–Covington, and Northwest Mississippi Community College–DeSoto; checked October 2026). The two TCATs are eligible for Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, and FAFSA. Costs change each year, so confirm the current cost sheet with the school.
Can I do a CNA-to-LPN bridge program near me in Memphis?
Yes, there are in-person Practical Nursing programs in the Memphis area. TCAT Memphis runs a 12-month, 1,296-hour program with day and night sections. TCAT Northwest's Covington campus offers a 12-month day program and a 16-month evening program. Northwest Mississippi Community College's DeSoto Center in Southaven offers a 12-month day program and an 18-month evening/weekend program. None of these programs currently publishes credit toward the LPN program for a CNA certificate, so you complete the full program either way. Southwest Tennessee Community College does not offer a Practical Nursing program; its LPN Mobility Track is for licensed LPNs moving on to the RN.
What is the fastest way to become an LPN from a CNA?
The fastest path is an accelerated CNA-to-LPN bridge program — typically 9 to 12 months for the LPN coursework plus 4–8 weeks to schedule and pass the NCLEX-PN exam. Including the 4–6 week CNA program upfront, the realistic minimum from no certification to licensed LPN is about 12 months. Full-time enrollment, prerequisite courses ready in advance, and starting your bridge immediately after CNA certification are the three biggest accelerators.
Can a CNA make $1,000 a week in Tennessee?
Reaching $1,000 per week as a Tennessee CNA is realistic but typically requires combining multiple income streams. At a base rate of $16/hour, a 40-hour week earns $640 before taxes. Adding a $2/hour night-shift differential, picking up overtime hours (paid at 1.5×), or working agency shifts ($17–$22/hour) is how most Memphis-area CNAs cross the $1,000/week threshold. Hospital CNAs combining nights with weekend differentials are most likely to hit that number consistently.
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Career Academy's CNA program is the first step. 4–6 weeks to certification, with classes starting every month in Memphis.
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Written by Career Academy staff — CNA educators with 10+ years of experience training nursing assistants in Memphis, TN.