After passing this exam, candidates must apply for NP licensure, which varies by state regulations.

During the Master's degree program, the nursing students are challenged with extensive amount of clinical training hours to have the experience and understand the reality of nurse practitioner duties. Certification readiness is tested throughout the clinical hours and study which lay the ground of diagnosis of patients and treatments. These exams are called academic clinical partnerships (ACPs) and integrate diagnostic readiness tests (DRTs)