Purpose: This study was done to compare the relationships between motivation to achieve, clinical competency, and satisfaction on clinical practice in diploma and baccalaureate nursing students. Method: A descriptive research design was used in this study. The participants were 181 nursing students in B city who were surveyed between June 2 and June 30, 2008 using self-report questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 14.0. Results: There were significant difference in clinical competency according to satisfaction with college life, and motivation for choice of nursing for baccalaureate students. There was a positive correlation between motivation to achieve and clinical competency. Motivation to achieve and satisfaction in clinical practice, and clinical competency and satisfaction were correlated with clinical practice for students in both diploma and baccalaureate programs. The predictors influencing clinical competency for the nursing students were motivation to achieve, and satisfaction in clinical practice, and education level. Three factors explained 26.8% of clinical competency for nursing students. Conclusion: It is necessary to enhance individual motivation to achieve to improve clinical competency of nursing students. Motivation to achieve needs to be considered in planning programs to enhance clinical competency in nursing students.