Each progress the initiate to levels of understanding through advancement. They don’t tell you it is furthering your legitimacy, but only to gain more understanding.
However, they are considered enlightenment and progression, so in essence, yes they are furthering the validity of your legitimacy. Freemasons call them degrees. Others call them levels of enlightenment. Scientology have them in categories, such as OT3, OT4, OT5 and administrative levels. The top levels are priests and priesthoods of the organizations.
Is it no wonder when revealed they deny such accusations? They are programmed to shut you down and distract you from the truth even if you are correct. They are not allowed to admit, and will accuse you of lying and not knowing the truth. Yet they are indoctrinated to believe it, and to also lie about what YOU are not worthy to receive.
Freemasons deny Luciferianism and Kabbalah influence. They will never admit the Jahbulon and enlightenment of the name of Lucifer outside the Lodge. Scientologists deny programming of Xena. You are not allowed to admit or utter that name outside the rooms of council. Kabbalists, which can be found within these groups, do not admit to Gnosticism that the person achieves intercourse with the divine and be one with him (whomever they call him, even YHWH). And that you become a god in the end. All these groups have THAT in common. The elevation of man to godhood.