NP master's vs certification

[ESnt16]

Good afternoon,

I will graduate with my BSN in May, but I'm already thinking about going to NP school. I would like to know what is the difference between master's degree and the NP certification as far as scope of practice and salary.

Thank you

[sojiess]

If u want join np certificate program,u have to have master degree

[llg, PhD, RN]

A Master's Degree is what you get when you graduate from an educational program. After you graduate from an approved educational program preparing you to be an NP, then you take a certification exam to become certified. It is similar to getting an ADN or BSN and then taking the NCLEX to get an RN license. (The NCLEX is run by the State Boards and provides a license to practice ... while a certification exam is run by a professional organization and provides a certification.)

The normal route it get both the academic degree and the professional certification before practicing as an NP. There used to be schools that would prepare people to be NP's that were not affiliated with a college/university. Graduates would get a diploma and then take the certification exam. I don't know if any of those exist anymore ... but maybe there are a couple.

I don't believe any state would allow a person to practice as an NP without being a graduate of an approved program and having an appropriate certification, though I might be wrong about that.