Nursing Certification Benefits: Career Growth, Salary, & More
To become a registered nurse, you must complete an accredited nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and gain RN licensure. These credentials provide the foundation for practicing safely and legally. However, if you’re like many nurses, you may wish to pursue additional credentials beyond the minimum requirements. Earning voluntary certifications can expand your professional opportunities, increase your earning potential, and help you build expertise in the areas you’re most passionate about.
Keep reading to explore various nursing certification options and learn how to choose the credentials that best match your career goals.
What Are Nursing Certifications?
Nursing certifications show that a nurse has met established standards in a specific area of practice beyond basic licensure. They help validate a nurse’s knowledge, skills, and experience, which can build credibility and open doors to advancement opportunities. Many nurses pursue certification to focus their careers on specific specialties, grow professionally, or qualify for leadership roles.
While requirements vary by certification, the process of earning one usually begins with meeting eligibility requirements, such as licensure and clinical experience. Nurses then apply through a certifying organization and take an exam that tests their knowledge. Most certifications require ongoing renewal, which helps nurses stay current with best practices in their field and reinforces lifelong learning and professional accountability.
Types of Nursing Certifications and Nursing Certificates
Nursing credentials fall into several distinct categories. Professional specialty practice certifications recognize a nurse’s proficiency in specific areas of practice. Nurses can earn these certifications after gaining relevant experience and passing an exam that tests their knowledge of particular nursing subjects.
Advanced practice national board certifications are nationally recognized, exam-based credentials that a nurse earns after completing a master’s degree in nursing. Advanced practice certifications are required for licensure in advanced practice roles, such as a nurse practitioner role. There are also role-based certifications that focus on specific job responsibilities and are designed for nurses working in areas such as nursing education or nursing informatics.
In contrast, post-graduate certificate programs are academic programs offered by universities that provide focused coursework in a particular area. These programs help nurses prepare for advanced or specialized roles by building targeted knowledge and skills.
According to the American Board of Nursing Specialties, more than 1 million nurses hold one or more nursing specialty credentials. While not required, earning additional credentials can help you stand out from the competition and qualify for the types of nursing roles you’re most interested in.
Career and Professional Development
Nursing certificates and certifications support career advancement in ways that align with a nurse’s current role and future goals. Professional specialty certifications are often nationally recognized and accepted across state lines, which makes it easier for nurses to pursue jobs in different states. Some certifications are required for certain specialized units, leadership roles, or advanced responsibilities. Earning a certification or certificate can also show that a nurse is committed to staying current in their field through continuous education.
Improved Patient Outcomes and Quality of Care
Nursing specialty certifications support improved patient outcomes by ensuring nurses have advanced, up-to-date knowledge and proven competency. Preparing for a certification exam and maintaining certification through continuing education strengthens clinical judgment and encourages evidence-based practice, ultimately leading to higher-quality care for patients.
The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) explains that certification strengthens nurses’ knowledge and can lead to significant improvements in clinical practice. Multiple studies show a relationship between nursing certification and improved patient outcomes. Higher rates of specialty-certified nurses are associated with measurable improvements in patient safety, including lower mortality and failure-to-rescue rates and lower fall rates. Additionally, a national study found that patients were less likely to develop hospital-acquired pressure injuries in hospitals that employed wound-care certified nurses. The study showed that hospitals with wound-care certified nurses used pressure-injury prevention practices more often, leading to greater comfort, fewer avoidable complications, and a better overall patient experience.
Opportunities for Industry Recognition
Nursing certification can enhance a nurse’s professional credibility by demonstrating advanced knowledge and a commitment to high standards of practice. Specialty certifications allow nurses to demonstrate proficiency in focused areas of care and distinguish themselves within their field. For example, certifications offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognize registered nurses who meet nationally established standards in caring for patients with severe conditions. For a critical care nurse, earning a specialty credential can be a clear way to show advanced expertise and build trust with patients, families, and colleagues. The Pediatric Nursing Certification granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) shows that a registered nurse has met national standards for providing care to pediatric patients. Similarly, the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential awarded by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation demonstrates proven knowledge and experience in caring for patients with cancer. These certifications remain with nurses throughout their careers and can help them qualify for specialized roles and leadership opportunities.
Certification programs for nurses can also contribute to organizational recognition. One of the most prominent examples is Magnet Recognition. Magnet Recognition is a credential awarded by the ANCC to healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Hospitals pursuing Magnet designation must show that they promote professional growth. Higher rates of specialty-certified nurses can help prove that an organization actively supports ongoing skill development and a commitment to high standards of care.
Confidence Built on Verified Knowledge
Certification validates a nurse's expertise, which can significantly boost their confidence on the job. One study on nurse leader certification preparation found that participants reported significantly higher confidence after completing certification-related coursework, suggesting that the certification process itself can affect how nurses view their abilities. Increased confidence shows up in everyday practice, helping nurses feel more comfortable speaking up and contributing to team discussions. When nurses trust their own expertise, they’re better able to communicate clearly and contribute to safer, more coordinated patient care.
Higher Earning Potential
While certification doesn’t guarantee an immediate pay increase, it can help nurses earn more over time, and certified nurses typically earn more than non-certified peers in similar roles. In the 2024 Nurse Salary and Work-Life Report, 40% of nurses said that certification resulted in a salary increase. Many employers also offer extra pay for certification, such as bonuses, hourly differentials, or help covering exam and education costs. As nurses earn certifications, especially in specialty or leadership roles, those additional credentials can open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
How to Choose the Right Nursing Certification
Choosing the right nursing certification starts with examining your personal and professional aspirations. Many nurses begin with a certification that matches their current specialty because it builds on the skills they use every day. Others choose a certification that aligns with their desired career path, such as moving to a specialty unit, leadership role, or another advanced area of practice. It's also important to research employer preferences in your desired work setting, since some organizations prefer or require specific certifications for certain roles. Finally, nurses should check whether their employer offers benefits like exam reimbursement, pay differentials, bonuses, or other support for continuing education.
Steps for Earning a Nursing Certification
While the details vary by certification type, the overall process for earning a nursing certification is generally the same across specialties. To earn a certification, you’ll need to complete the following steps:
Review eligibility requirements. Most certifications require nurses to hold an active registered nurse license and have a minimum amount of clinical experience in a particular area.
Complete any required education or training. Some certifications require preparatory coursework or specialty training before you can apply.
Submit the application and documentation. You’ll need to apply through the certifying organization and provide documentation that proves you meet the eligibility criteria.
Prepare for the certification exam. Most nursing certifications require candidates to pass an exam that tests their knowledge of specific nursing concepts. You can prepare for the exam by reviewing the content outlines, taking a review course, or joining a study group.
Take and pass the certification exam. Once you’re ready, schedule and complete the required exam through the testing provider designated by the certifying organization.
Maintain your certification. Most certifications are time-limited and must be renewed. This often requires the nurse to complete continuing education and demonstrate ongoing competency in their field.
How WGU Can Help You Prepare for Nursing Certification
WGU is an accredited, nonprofit, online university designed to help working adults advance their careers. At WGU, you can earn a nursing degree or a post-master’s certificate program that helps you build specialized skills, qualify for leadership roles, and prepare for certification exams. WGU’s competency-based learning model is built around demonstrating mastery, so you can move quickly through material you already know and spend more time on new concepts. This approach allows many students to graduate sooner than they would in a traditional program.
WGU also provides career resources to help you plan your next steps. These tools can help you explore healthcare career paths, understand education requirements, and align your academic goals with the credentials employers value.
Explore WGU’s Nursing Degrees and Certificates
It’s important to note that nursing certifications are awarded by external certification boards, and nursing certificates are offered by academic institutions. WGU offers accredited healthcare degree programs and academic certificates that provide the education nurses need to prepare for certification exams. In other words, WGU programs support the education portion of a broader certification pathway.
WGU offers accredited nursing degrees for nurses at different stages of their careers. For those new to nursing who want to become an RN, the BSN Prelicensure program provides the educational foundation and clinical experiences needed to enter the profession. For nurses who already hold an RN license and want to earn a bachelor’s degree, the RN-to-BSN program helps build leadership, evidence-based practice, and broader professional skills.
For nurses ready to pursue a master’s degree, WGU offers MSN pathways in nursing leadership and management, nursing informatics, and nursing education. WGU also offers programs for aspiring nurse practitioners, including Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) tracks.
WGU also offers post-master’s nursing certificate programs designed to support nurses seeking to expand their qualifications or prepare for advanced roles:
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education. This certificate program is designed for nurses who already have a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and want to prepare for nurse educator roles in academic, clinical, or community settings. It includes coursework in curriculum development, teaching strategies, assessment, and evaluation.
- Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). This certificate program is for nurses with a graduate degree in nursing who want to prepare for advanced practice as a family nurse practitioner. The coursework and clinical experience are aligned to national FNP standards and designed to prepare graduates for national certification and state APRN licensure.
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Management. This certificate program is designed for nurses with an MSN who want to build their leadership, management, and administrative skills. The curriculum includes coursework in healthcare leadership, strategic planning, financial and human resource management, and other key subjects. This program can help prepare nurses for roles such as nurse manager, director of nursing, and chief nursing officer.
- Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). This certificate program is designed for nurses with a graduate nursing degree who want to prepare for advanced practice in psychiatric mental health care. The program includes coursework and clinical experiences aligned with national PMHNP standards and effectively prepares graduates to sit for the PMHNP exam and pursue APRN licensure.
Speak with an Enrollment Counselor today to learn more about how WGU can help you achieve your professional goals.
