Masterʼs degrees in nursing are becoming popular and are in demand in the United States because of the new healthcare system structure. Nursing licensure and nursing education are very different in the US compared to Japan, and each license has its own unique educational requirement, testing and specific job description. Nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) play critical roles in the healthcare system and have become essential members of the multidisciplinary team in recent years. The latest amendments to laws and regulations in the healthcare, from university educations to hospital orientations, have greatly revised and changed the roles of NPs and CNSs. One example is the better understanding and knowledge of radiation and exposure prevention in medicine, which are essential in radiation oncology nursing and interventional radiology nursing. Despite increases in cases of chronic diseases, education for certain specialties has been terminated or modified to accommodate the new regulations. Moreover, occupational radiation exposure is one of the main focuses and concerns for healthcare professionals since the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011. However, education at universities and institutions is insufficient. This paper summarizes and compares Masterʼs degree education for NPs and CNSs, their job requirements and certification requirements in radiation oncology and radiation nursing. As the complexity of patients is becoming more problematic, NPs and CNSs can add value to the workload and quality of patient care. Additionally, this paper makes recommendations to develop and improve Japanʼs Masterʼs degrees in nursing.