Medical assistant to RN
Going from medical assistant to RN (registered nurse) comes down to three steps: finish an approved nursing program, pass the national licensing exam, and get your license from the state where you'll work. In May 2025, the median pay for registered nurses was $97,550 a year, while medical assistants had a median of $45,690.
Pay for medical assistants and RNs
Think of the median as the midpoint: half of workers earn above it and half earn below it. These numbers come from the May 2025 wage survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical assistants earned $21.97 an hour at the median. That's close to phlebotomists ($45,230) and nursing assistants ($42,260). LPNs and LVNs earned $64,400.
These median wages offer a comparison, not a prediction of what you would earn.
Is there a bridge program for medical assistants?
You may see schools advertise MA-to-RN bridge programs, but the government's career guide doesn't list one. It describes 3 training paths for RNs, and the only bridge it mentions is RN-to-BSN, for nurses with an associate degree or diploma.
If a school advertises a bridge program for medical assistants, check that it leads to one of those three credentials. It must also be an approved nursing program, since only graduates of approved programs are allowed to sit for the licensing exam.
Three routes to becoming an RN
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says you can qualify as an RN through one of these routes:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing, usually shortened to a BSN
- An associate degree in nursing
- A hospital-based diploma from an approved nursing program
All three routes lead to the same RN license.
Getting your nursing license
RNs must hold a license from the state where they practice. Earning one means you graduate from an approved program and pass a qualifying exam.
- Complete an approved nursing program first, because that is what makes you eligible for the exam.
- Register through your state nursing board and Pearson VUE (NCSBN).
- Sit for and pass the NCLEX, the national nursing exam.
- Apply for your license in the state where you intend to work.
You take the NCLEX on a computer, and it is computer adaptive. In other words, the questions shift based on your earlier answers.
Jobs for RNs
About 59% of RNs work in hospitals, making hospitals the biggest employer of nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects RN employment to grow 6% between 2025 and 2035.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to become an RN?
Hospital diploma programs usually take 2 to 3 years. Once you finish, you must still pass the licensing exam before working as an RN.
Can I begin with an associate’s degree and earn a BSN later?
Yes. Once you are an RN with an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing through an RN-to-BSN program. This path lets you begin nursing work first and complete the bachelor’s degree later.
Did the NCLEX change recently?
A new NCLEX-RN test plan began April 1, 2026 and lasts through March 31, 2029. Choose study materials made for this plan so you practice for the exam version you will face.
Is it worth becoming an LPN first?
LPN stands for licensed practical nurse. In May 2025, LPNs and LVNs earned a median of $64,400, between medical assistant pay and RN pay. LPN training is not among the three routes the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for becoming an RN, so you would still need to finish an approved RN program.