The American Nurse's Association issued a position paper in 1965 regarding the baccalaureate nursing degree as the minimum entry-level requirement for nursing. Graduates of both Associate Degree Nursing programs and Baccalaureate Degree Nursing programs may apply for a registered professional nursing license in the State of West Virginia. The purpose of this study was to examine what differences, if any, exist in the self-perceived skill performance and critical thinking between Associate Degree nurses and Baccalaureate Degree nurses from West Virginia at three and four years post graduation. Participants completed a self-report survey in which they rated the frequency of skills performed and the priority of skills they performed on their most recent day of work. The survey was then broken down into ten questions directly related to the areas of leadership, research and critical thinking. The study showed little significant differences between the two groups.