Practically every profession in healthcare has equivalent exams - physician, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist. You must have the de

Practically every profession in healthcare has equivalent exams - physician, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist. You must have the degree to take the exam, and you must have the exam to get a license. I know of quite a few nurse anesthetists who had graduated and taken - and passed - their boards, but had not yet had those results blessed by the credentialing committees. Most relied on their still-valid RN license to pay the bills for a month or two until the committees could do their work. At least in nursing they have the nurse licensure compact; if you are a certified RN in any NLC state, you can practice in any other. It's not perfect, but it's a lot easier than medicine.