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: April 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 accelerated LPN track designed for students who already hold an active Certified Nursing Assistant credential. Bridges give you credit for the clinical experience and patient-care fundamentals you earned as a CNA, so you finish LPN school faster and at lower cost than students starting from scratch.
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 community-college and private-school LPN programs nationally. Tennessee-specific options at TCAT and Southwest Tennessee tend to fall at the lower end.
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 designed as a clean step-1 onto any of these bridges. You'll graduate with a Tennessee CNA license, hands-on clinical experience, and a transcript that meets the prerequisites for every Memphis-area LPN bridge below. Start with the CNA program →
Memphis LPN Program Options
After earning your CNA at Career Academy, several local schools offer LPN programs:
TCAT Memphis (Tennessee College of Applied Technology)
State-funded, 12-month LPN certificate program. One of the most affordable LPN pathways in Tennessee. WIOA funding often applicable.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
LPN certificate program with flexible scheduling options. FAFSA and Tennessee Reconnect eligible.
Career Academy — LPN Program (Coming Soon)
Career Academy is developing an LPN program. Our CNA graduates will be the first considered when enrollment opens.
How to Pay for LPN School
The same funding sources that cover CNA training often apply to LPN programs too — especially at TCAT and Southwest Tennessee.
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 free 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.
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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 are well-prepared to apply to LPN programs at TCAT Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College, and other area schools.
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?
CNA-to-LPN bridge programs typically cost $3,500–$10,000 nationally. In Memphis, TCAT Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Community College offer bridge or LPN programs at the lower end of this range, and many qualify for WIOA, Tennessee Reconnect, FAFSA, and employer tuition reimbursement. The total cost usually drops sharply for students who use one or more of those funding sources.
Can I do a CNA-to-LPN bridge program near me in Memphis?
Yes. TCAT Memphis offers a 12-month LPN certificate that accepts CNA graduates. Southwest Tennessee Community College offers an LPN program with FAFSA and Tennessee Reconnect support. Several private schools across the Memphis metro area also operate LPN bridge tracks. Career Academy graduates have direct admission pathways into all three.
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.
Start Your Nursing Career Today
Career Academy's CNA program is the first step. 4–6 weeks to certification, with classes starting every month in Memphis.
Questions about the program? See class schedules and program details →
Written by Career Academy staff — CNA educators with 10+ years of experience training nursing assistants in Memphis, TN.