For example, substance abuse counselors make a median salary of $39,370, with educational requirements ranging from a high school diploma to an advanced degree. School counselors typically will need a masterâs degree, and can expect to earn a median salary of $53,370.ccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for educational, guidance, school and vocational counselors as of May 2014, was $53,370, with those in the 90th percentile earning as much as $86,610.
A masterâs in nursing science usually takes four years for a full-time student. A doctoral program can take an additional three to four years. Many RNs who work full-time can only attend classes part-time, which may lengthen the time to an NP degree.
Like all advanced practice nurses, NPs have an expanded role that includes the diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury, and they may prescribe medication. It can take as little as five years to become an NP through a direct-entry program, or as long as nine years to obtain a doctorate in nursing.irect-entry programs take the student through the RN program and straight into the master of science in nursing program. The student can qualify to take the NCLEX-RN exams at the end of 15 months of full-time study.