Optional · 1 of 3

Specialties that pay more or open doors

• Critical care or ICU (intensive care unit) certification

  Extra training, higher-acuity work, often a premium.

• Emergency nursing certification (ENC(C))

  Canadian Nurses Association certification.

• Operating room nursing

  Post-grad certificate, in short supply.

• Nurse Practitioner

  Master's degree, 2 years. Nurse practitioners (NPs) diagnose, prescribe and earn $110,000 to $140,000.