How the “Wrong Career Choices” Have Built Me a Kick-Ass Nursing Career (Part Three): I Skipped Nursing Certifications Until Later in My Career
I opted out of nursing’s “alphabet soup” early in my career.
Why I Chose Not to Pursue Certification Early On
In the early years of my nursing career, certification felt like one of those “you should do this” items that everyone talked about but no one could clearly justify. I didn’t see any meaningful benefit to obtaining it. No one could explain how it would change my practice, improve my opportunities, or strengthen my role. At most, it “would look good on a resume.” And most importantly — it didn’t come with a pay increase. As a bedside nurse balancing real‑life responsibilities, that mattered to me.
So, I skipped it. Not because I wasn’t committed to my career, but because the return on investment simply wasn’t there for me.
The Reality: Certification Didn’t Increase My Pay
Let’s be honest: Nurses are constantly encouraged to pursue more education, more credentials, more letters behind our name — often without any financial incentive. At the time, certification felt like another hoop to jump through with no tangible reward. I wasn’t going to spend hundreds of dollars on a test, study materials, and review courses for something that didn’t change my paycheck or my role.
And I don’t regret that decision. It was the right choice for where I was in my career.
What Finally Changed My Mind After 10 Years
I eventually earned my certification after almost a decade as a nurse — but not because I suddenly believed it was essential. My workplace offered to pay for the exam and a three‑day review course. They also accommodated my schedule, so my time spent at the review course took the place of my shifts for that week. I wasn’t being asked to give up a lot of additional time or money for something that had little long-term impact for me. Certification became a professional bonus instead of a burden. I could grow, learn, and add a credential without sacrificing my own resources. That’s when certification finally made sense to me.
The Pros of Earning Nursing Certification
Even though I waited, I want to acknowledge the genuine benefits of certification. It can:
Strengthen your clinical knowledge
Boost your confidence in your specialty
Demonstrate commitment to professional growth
Improve credibility with other nurses within your specialty (I’ll be honest, though, in that I haven’t found our credentials to be super meaningful to other healthcare professionals)
Support advancement into leadership or specialty roles
Certification can be valuable — but only when the timing and circumstances make sense for you.
Why You Should Use Workplace Benefits to Get Certified
If your workplace offers reimbursement, paid review courses, or on‑site prep classes, take advantage of them. These benefits exist for a reason, and they remove the biggest barrier nurses face: Cost.
I highly encourage nurses to utilize every workplace perk available. If your employer is willing to invest in your certification, let them. It’s one of the few times in nursing where the system supports your growth without asking you to sacrifice something in return.
If you want to earn a certification, go for it! But make sure you are maximizing your workplace benefits to get it.
As an Advanced Practice Nurse, Certification Became Essential
Now that I’m an advanced practice provider, certification is no longer optional — it’s required. I maintain it because it’s central to my role, my scope, and my ability to practice. But that’s a very different context than bedside nursing.
Your certification needs will evolve with your career. Mine certainly did.
Final Thoughts: Your Career, Your Timeline
Skipping certification early in my career wasn’t a mistake — it was a choice based on the reality of bedside nursing. And earning it later wasn’t a correction — it was simply the right time.
Your nursing career doesn’t have to follow a traditional timeline. Certifications are tools, not milestones. Use them when they benefit you, not when someone else says you “should.”
If your workplace will pay for it, jump on that opportunity. If not, it’s okay to wait. Your career is built on experience, not just credentials.