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The differences between licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a licensed practical nurse, becoming a certified nursing assistant takes usually requires 1-3 months. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $52,912, which is higher than the $32,597 average annual salary of a certified nursing assistant.
The top three skills for a licensed practical nurse include patients, CPR and home health. The most important skills for a certified nursing assistant are patients, vital signs, and home health.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Certified Nursing Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $52,912 | $32,597 |
| Hourly rate | $25.44 | $15.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 614,369 | 225,834 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | 3.12 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 29% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 3 |
Licensed practical nurses are considered leading front liners in the clinic or hospital setting. They assist nurses and doctors in conducting various activities related to sick or injured patients. Licensed practical nurses are primarily expected to provide routine care for patients and assist registered nurses in creating care plans. They maintain and update medical records, prepare patients for medical examinations, help patients dress, bath, or eat, take vital signs, administer and monitor medicine intake, monitor patients and update nurses and doctors on patient status, and assist during medical examinations.
A certified nursing assistant generally assists patients in their healthcare needs and medical procedures. They support patients in their daily activities by monitoring patients' temperature and food intake, ensuring the cleanliness of the patient's room, and keeping documentation of patients' conditions for reference of nurses and doctors. A certified nursing assistant should also communicate with patients' families and provide updates as often as needed. It is also important that a nursing assistant is patient and compassionate enough to attend to direct patient needs, which could get demanding or challenging at times.
Licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Certified Nursing Assistant | |
| Average salary | $52,912 | $32,597 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $74,000 | Between $24,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Portland, ME |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Valley Presbyterian Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and a certified nursing assistant in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Certified Nursing Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 29% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | - |
Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and certified nursing assistants' demographics:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Certified Nursing Assistant | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.5% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |