---
title: "A Nursing Student’s Guide to Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications"
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/guide-to-nursing-degrees-licenses-certifications/"
type: post
date_published: 2026-08-17
date_modified: 2026-08-17
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 1500
reading_time: 8 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/guide-to-nursing-degrees-licenses-certifications/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Student-and-Teacher-in-Lab-Practicing-for-Nursing-Certification.webp"
categories:
  - Nursing School
topic:
  - Nursing
---

# A Nursing Student’s Guide to Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications

![Student and Teacher in Lab Practicing for Nursing Certification](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Student-and-Teacher-in-Lab-Practicing-for-Nursing-Certification.webp)

Choosing a career in nursing is incredibly rewarding and marked with distinct
milestones. Still, it’s no secret that the path can feel a bit overwhelming with
what seems like an endless number of titles and credentials to learn and
understand. These, in addition to complex
[medical terminology](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/nursing-school-glossary-terms/)
, can feel like you are learning a completely new language.

Clearing up that confusion early is the best way to start your educational
journey with confidence. When you know exactly how to distinguish between each
type of nursing degree, license, and certification, you can create a direct
educational path that fits your personal and professional goals.

Here are the top things you should know about how nursing credentials fit
together:

**Nursing Degree:** This is your academic credential and educational foundation.
It is awarded after you successfully complete the required coursework, clinical
experiences, and graduation requirements of a nursing program, such as a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Earning your degree prepares you with the
knowledge and clinical competencies needed for entry into professional nursing
practice and, for prelicensure programs, qualifies you to apply to take the
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®).

**Nursing License:** A nursing license gives legal authority to practice as a
healthcare professional and deliver hands-on patient care. Once you have your
degree, you must sit and pass the
[National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)](https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.page)
. After passing the NCLEX, your State Board of Nursing reviews your application
and officially grants your state nursing license.

![Professor Teaching Two Students About Nursing Certifications](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Professor-Teaching-Two-Students-About-Nursing-Certifications.webp?w=1024)

**Nursing Certification:** A nursing certification is a voluntary credential
that demonstrates additional knowledge or expertise in a specific area of
nursing practice. While many specialty certifications require RN licensure and
clinical experience before becoming eligible, others can be earned earlier in a
nurse’s career depending on the certification requirements. Certification
requirements vary by credential and certifying organization.

## Types of Nursing Degrees

Your academic degree can serve as an entry point into practice as well as can
help you climb into leadership or specialized roles down the road.

**ADN/ASN:** An associate degree with a nursing concentration is a two- or
three-year degree that prepares you for the RN exam.

**BSN:** A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the standard for entry-level
management and specialized hospital units. Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN)
offers a BSN program that allows you to complete your degree in 3 years instead
of the traditional 4, getting you into the workforce with a bachelor’s degree
faster.

**MSN:** A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a graduate degree for specific
career paths in nursing, like nurse practitioner, clinical specialist, or nurse
educator. Program lengths vary depending on your enrollment status, track, and
prior educational achievements.

**DNP:** A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused doctoral
degree that prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice, leadership,
healthcare innovation, and systems improvement. Depending on the program,
students may enter with either a BSN or an MSN.

**PhD/EdD:** A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Education with a focus in
nursing (EdD) is a research and academia-focused degree for nurses who want to
become university professors or policy developers. On average, these degrees
take about three to seven years to complete and require a dissertation.

## Nursing Practice Levels

While nurses must hold an active credential to practice, each role is unique and
the type defines your clinical scope and level of autonomy in your job.

**Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):** Also called nursing aides, CNAs provide
hands-on patient care under the direct supervision of an RN or doctor. Some high
schools, vocational schools, and community or junior colleges can provide a
place to start and depending on where you work, you do not need certification.
Places that require certification typically involve 75 or more hours of training
and successful completion of a competency exam. Some states have additional
requirements.

**Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN):** LPN and LVN’s
offer basic clinical care to patients, such as administering medication or wound
care. The title depends on where you live (California and Texas use LVN, while
most other states use LPN), and these clinicians get great experience on the
hospital floor.

**Registered Nurse (RN):** RNs are the clinicians who make most clinical nursing
decisions. Other roles include managing care teams and advocating for patients
and their families. An RN license gives you the flexibility you need to work in
a variety of healthcare settings.

![Student Studying for Her BSN Nursing Degree](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Student-Studying-for-Her-BSN-Nursing-Degree.webp?w=1024)

## Types of Certifications

Once you are licensed and working, professional certifications are a way to
prove you have expertise in a specifical area of medicine. These generally fall
into two categories:

**Entry-Level Certifications:** Nursing certifications are important, especially
for new nursing school graduates as they provide a standardized, consistent way
to prove their fundamental and clinical skills to future employers. These
certifications do not always require prior experience on a hospital floor and
obtaining them early in your career shows your initiative and ambition as a new
nurse. Some
[examples of entry-level certifications](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/nursing-certifications-for-new-grads)
include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS),
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and so much more!

**Specialty Certifications:** These are voluntary credentials where, if you want
to add specialty letters onto your badge, like CCRN (Critical Care Registered
Nurse), you must first put in the hours of real-world work on the floor in the
specialty unit you are working on getting. Once you have the experience and pass
a separate exam to prove you have mastered a specific, complex clinical
environment, then you can add the letters to your name.

**Advanced Practice Certifications:** Unlike specialty certifications that
validate one’s expertise in a specific area of nursing, advanced practice
certifications are mandatory credentials that qualify a
[nurse to become an APRN](https://www.registerednursing.org/aprn/). There are
four types of APRN roles, including Nurse Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse
Specialist (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Certified
Nurse Midwife (CNM). To acquire these credentials, you must obtain
graduate-level education, national certification, state licensure, and expansive
knowledge of a nurse’s clinical responsibilities.

Employers value these certifications, and they often directly lead to pay
raises, promotions, and leadership opportunities.

## Getting Your BSN at Arizona College of Nursing

If you want to open many doors in modern healthcare, a
[Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)](https://research.com/degrees/benefits-of-pursuing-a-bachelor-of-science-nursing-bsn-degree)
is the degree to work toward. Graduates of BSN programs have a
[wide range of employment](https://arizonacollege.edu/answers/what-nursing-jobs-can-i-get-with-a-bachelors-degree-in-nursing/)
opportunities as a BSN qualifies you for direct patient care in hospitals,
clinics, and long-term care facilities. A BSN also expands your access as a
nurse to specialized and leadership roles.

At Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN), our three-year BSN program is structured
to fit each individual student and their timeline. AZCN aims to support
students’ every step of the way and fit their busy life. Our program focuses on
teaching students’ foundational concepts, as well as advanced clinical nursing
skills. AZCN’s mission is to make sure that our students are ready to pursue a
career as a registered nurse after graduation.

AZCN offers a unique blend of classroom instruction, simulation labs, and
clinical experiences to help students develop essential skills for their nursing
career. With flexible class schedules, including evening classes to help balance
your existing life and work commitments, AZCN is focused on helping you achieve
your professional goals in a way that works best for you.

In addition, you don’t have to worry about waitlists competing for a spot in the
nursing major after finishing your General Education courses. At AZCN, students
are admitted directly into the BSN program from day one, giving them a clear and
predictable roadmap all the way up to graduation.

## Takeaways

You do not have to navigate everything at once. Finding an educational pathway
that fits you and your goals is the best way to get started. As Carla Huntsman,
Dean of Nursing at
[Arizona College of Nursing’s Salt Lake City Campus](https://arizonacollege.edu/salt-lake-city-utah-nursing-school/)
said, “[m]y tip for continuing education is to be open-minded and give
yourself a chance to explore. Keep your brain open to opportunities you may not
have thought about.”

Take the time you need to figure out your goals. Review and understand how each
piece of the nursing puzzle fits together so that you can confidently move
forward in your future in nursing.

**Categories:** Nursing School