Do you know Certified Nurses Day is on March 19? Many still ask, “What are the differences between licensure and certification?” Some use the terms interchangeably, but they both are quite different. Licensure is mandatory and signifies that the licensee has met the minimum standards to practice nursing in a particular state. In contrast, certification is voluntary. By taking and passing a specialty examination offered by a nongovernmental professional nursing or other interprofessional agency, the nurse or other healthcare professional has now validated his knowledge, skills and abilities in a defined role and clinical area of practice, based on predetermined standards.