Is a guilty plea and a conviction the same thing?

Answer

You can plead guilty but it is up to the judge/jury to convict you. Just because you plead guilty does not mean you are convicted.

A guilty plea quite simply means the person is admitting to the crime that was committed.

Therefore, there is no trial, no jury the judge will impose sentence based upon the circumstances of the case in question and the person's prior criminal history (if any).

Interestingly, in certain states (such as Florida) a plea of nolo contendere by most licensed healthcare professionals to a "crime related to the practice ... or the ability to practice" their profession constitutes a conviction for purposes of licensure discipline in an administrative proceeding by the regulatory board. See Chapter 456, Florida Statutes.