Nurse Practitioner versus Nurse Practitioner Certificate

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Can someone explain the difference between a NP degree and a NP Certification? From what I can find out, both allow you to sit the boards to become licensed as a NP. I'm am seriously considering applying to some schools for the NP program - especially the ones that are accredited and offer most of the classes online and some even part time programs..but I am at a loss as to the difference. I've also seen some Master degrees where it says it prepares the RN to become an NP but it doesn't specifically state a NP degree..it will say "general track" or MSN.

Feed back schools is welcome as well..but mainly, I just want to know the difference...

Thank you ~

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You have to have a master's in a nurse practitioner program in order to take the exam for NP certification.

I completed a psych CNS masters years ago, then went and completed a post-masters psych NP program, then took the ANCC certification exam.

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Thank you but maybe i'm not stating my question correctly..some programs are showing a NP (Masters) Program - you take the classes then sit the board. OTHER programs are indicating that if you already have a Masters (doesn't specify MSN) then you can take courses for a certificate and sit the boards - this is a much shorter track then the degree NP. I will be done with a M.S. in Applied Gerontology in Spring of 2012...I would like to get my NP license and if some of what these - accredited - schools are saying - I can get a certificate instead of going through the whole NP program...

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Thank you but maybe i'm not stating my question correctly..some programs are showing a NP (Masters) Program - you take the classes then sit the board. OTHER programs are indicating that if you already have a Masters (doesn't specify MSN) then you can take courses for a certificate and sit the boards - this is a much shorter track then the degree NP. I will be done with a M.S. in Applied Gerontology in Spring of 2012...I would like to get my NP license and if some of what these - accredited - schools are saying - I can get a certificate instead of going through the whole NP program...

That's my second sentence. I got a certificate as psych NP. I already had a masters in nursing so did a post-masters certificate. I got a certificate not a degree since I already had a masters in nursing. If you have a degree in nursing and a masters in something else you will need to go to a masters program to become an NP. But there are all kinds of direct entry programs now and I don't even try to keep up with all the confusion.

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