How long does it take for a new RN program to be accredited?

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Florida Career College in Boynton Beach was approved to start their RN class in August. How long does it take them to get accreditation? Are graduates allowed to sit for the NCLEX?

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Florida Career College in Boynton Beach was approved to start their RN class in August. How long does it take them to get accreditation? Are graduates allowed to sit for the NCLEX?

Sometimes "career colleges" never get accreditation.

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There's a difference between (state BON) approval and national accreditation. If the program has been approved by the BON to operate, then graduates are eligible for licensure. Accreditation by the NLNAC or CCNE is voluntary/optional. Some schools never seek accreditation (but their graduates have no problem getting licensed). If they decide to seek NLNAC accreditation, the entire process can take a few years.

Another important question with the private tech/voc "career college" schools is what kind of general academic accreditation they have. If they are not accredited by the same regional bodies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities (and most of the tech/voc schools are not -- they've created their own accrediting organization that only accredits tech/voc schools), it's probably not going to be possible to transfer credits earned at the "career college" into another school if/when you want to return to school to further your education. Lots of people start nursing school thinking all they want to do is basic bedside nursing forever, and they'll never want to go back to school for more nursing education -- but many, many nurses have started out thinking that way and then, after a few years of experience, start noticing how many more jobs and career opportunities would be open to them with additional education and credentials. ust look at how many of the threads on this site are about nurses returning to school! If you get to that point and you originally attended a tech/voc school with the "wrong" general academic accreditation, you will (probably) not be able to transfer your previous academic courses into a "regular" college or university, and will basically have to start over.

Graduating from a nursing program without NLNAC or CCNE accreditation, although it doesn't affect licensure, can also create some problems in the future. Most programs for further education in nursing require that you be a graduate of an accredited program to apply, and some employers will only hire graduates of accredited programs -- not many, certainly not most, but, IMHO, why close off any educational or career paths for yourself this early in the process?

Many of the "career colleges" will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to sign up and commit to an expensive program, so it's important to be a careful "shopper" when you're looking at nursing programs.

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Thanks for that thorough reply, elkpark! Exactly what I was looking for!

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Definetely consider if you want to go on and be an NP, because a lot of programs will only take CCNE or NLNAC accredited degrees. Also check at the hospitals in your area, some in my area want students from a nationally accredited nursing program.

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You really help me in my decision, I been waiting for Miami Dade college to accept me for a long time, I am getting desperate I was thinking on driving for an hour every day from Miami to boynton beach just to be able to be in a nursing program

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