Within a year after graduating from the BSN program, I will begin to study for the CPAN certification. While obtaining a RN license is essential, a nursing specialty certification is an optional course (Colabuono, Bennett-Carey, & Murauski, 2013). “CPAN/CAPA certification illustrates a mastery of knowledge and skills that defines perioperative specialization” (Colabuono et al., 2013, p. e35). A perioperative nurse is required to have at least 1,800 hours of direct clinical experience within two years before applying for certification. Direct care is defined as being involved with the patient at the bedside and engaging in the patient knowledge. A BSN degree is not mandated for a CPAN certification (American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification,