YOU need to know what accreditation really means!

[nurseprnRN]

From University of San Francisco 2011 web article

Nursing Program Accreditation Resources

Accreditation-it's a term that you have likely heard in the past, but do you know what it really means? If not, you're not alone. Many people are unsure about what it means when a program or school is accredited, the different kinds of accreditation that exist, and how this elusive term affects your education and career. Here are some important things that you should understand about accreditation as you prepare to start your nursing education.

What Is Accreditation?

When you enroll in a degree program, you want to be confident that everything you are taught meets professional standards.; You want to know that the curriculum will prepare you to enter the healthcare industry with the most current skills and knowledge in that field.. This is where accreditation comes in. Accreditation is a process by which educational programs are evaluated by an outside body that determines if professional standards are being met. These organizations help ensure that the education you receive conforms to certain requirements,, allowing you to proceed knowing that the time and dedication that you put into your studies are a wise investment.

Accreditation is given at two important levels: institution and program. It is important to understand both, as each is important to your education plan.

University Regional vs. National Accreditation

Colleges and universities can earn 1 of 2 types of accreditation: regional or national. In the United States there are 6 regional accrediting agencies:

• Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Higher Education)
  
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Commission on Technical and Career Institutions and Commission on Institutions of Higher Education)
  
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (The Higher Learning Commission)
  
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
  
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Colleges)
  
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
  

National accrediting agencies focus not on areas of the country, but rather associations of schools with common themes. These agencies tend to accredit post-secondary technical, career, and vocational programs. There are 52 of national agencies in the United States. Some examples are:

• Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
  
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
  
• Council on Occupational Education (COE)
  

What does this difference mean to you as a student? The biggest issue is the ability to transfer credits between different schools. eLearners.com points out that schools that are nationally accredited typically accept credit from both regionally and nationally accredited schools, but the opposite does not hold true; most regionally accredited schools do not accept transferred credits from nationally accredited schools. So if you began your higher education coursework at a nationally accredited school and then want to transfer to a regionally accredited school, your coursework at the nationally accredited school many not transfer.

This issue isn't just limited to transferring credits; it can also have an effect on your ability to continue your education in advanced programs, which in turn can impact your ability to progress in your career. Many institutions of higher learning require you to have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply to their graduate programs.

Nursing Education Program Accrediting Bodies:

The Department of Education sanctions two national organizations that accredit nursing education programs. The first is the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) -- reorganized as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). As detailed on the organization's website, ACEN is responsible for the specialized accreditation of a wide variety of nursing education programs, including clinical doctorate, master's, bachelor's, associate, diploma, and practical programs.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) also accredits nursing schools, but only those that solely offer master's and bachelor's nursing degrees. Similar to the accreditation process of the ACNE, the CCNE offers a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards, according to the CCNE website. The organization's mission statement outlines its intention to accomplish several purposes, including:

• Holding nursing programs accountable to the community of interest,
  
• Evaluating the success of a nursing program in achieving its own goals and meeting its expected outcomes,
  
• Evaluating the extent to which a nursing program meets the standards for accreditation,
  
• Implementing changes that can continue to improve nursing programs, and
  
• Informing the public of the value that accreditation has, so that institutes that have such status are recognized for their merits.
  

Beyond the ACNE and the CNNE national accrediting bodies, there are also other accrediting bodies for specific, advanced practice nursing fields. For instance, the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) is responsible for accrediting midwifery education programs.

Why an Accredited Program is Important

If you will be seeking financial aid to pursue your nursing education, choosing an accredited program is vital. In many cases, you cannot qualify for federal and state financial aid, tuition reimbursement programs offered by employers, nor scholarship and grants unless the program is accredited by the ACNE or the CCNE. Similar to the regional vs. national accreditation issue, you may face an admissions issue to a graduate nursing program if you earned your nursing degree in a non-accredited program.

Both the ACNE and the CNNE list accredited nursing programs on their websites.

Your Future

There are many resources that you can utilize when trying to learn more about schools and where their accreditation positions them in relation to your career path. All universities and colleges have their accreditation information listed on their websites, and there are also countless resources available online to learn more about accreditation and how it affects your education. In the end, the more information and knowledge you possess as you make the decision about where you want to pursue your nursing education, the more confidently you can make a decision that will in turn help you to shape your career.

Sources:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., "About NLNAC," About NLNAC (accessed November 3, 2011)

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACE) accessed 1/22/14

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, "Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education," Mission, Values, & History. American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Mission, Values, & History (accessed November 2, 2011).

American College of Nurse-Midwives, "Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)."Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

eLearners.com, "Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation," Issues to Consider. Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

[havehope]

This is great information. Unfortunately I was one of those who did not fully understand the importance of this. Not to mention I was misled by the staff at said school. I am planning to futher my education and am running into roadblocks. My advice to everyone is to know what you are getting yourself into.

I also do/did not understand the importance of this. However, can someone please help clarify. My school (ADN) is ACEN accredited, but provisionally approved by my state's board of nursing being that they changed from a diploma program to a associate's program not long ago(maybe 1 or 2 years). After reading the thread, i'm still a little confused. The school is also getting federal financial aid.

Thanks in advanced for the help and clarification. I'm glad someone started a thread on this to make students more aware.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Your best bet is to call the BoN and ask them whether the accreditation will allow them to let you sit NCLEX. Then you call your local BSN programs (or any that you might want to pursue) and ask them whether your program will be accepted for transfer credits towards the BSN. Beware the online for-profit programs for BSN and MSN; they can be attractive but often will not be accepted by real schools for transfer credits or prerequisites. The fact that federal money can be had means nothing in terms of accreditation for purposes of this discussion.

There's a thread here on the best online programs-- search it and read it carefully. The best ones are all online divisions of real brick-and-mortar schools with well-respected nursing programs, offering the same classes and requirements. None of the top 25 schools listed were online-only programs.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Well, my PN school was a for-profit school. Yes, one of THOSE schools. The ones with the tacky commercials that play inbetween the soap operas and daytime talk shows. (Do YOU want a job in the fast paced medical field? Do you want to look pretty in scrubs and carry around a clipboard? Then pick up the phone now!)

I knew what it was.

At that point in my life I was an out of work construction worker who had once worked on and off as a nurses aide. My state's unemployment agency at that time paid for the unemployed to attend vocational schools so they could be retrained for jobs that were more "in demand" with the changing economy. One such job considered in demand was LPN. I discovered I could attend a ten month vocational school, have the state pay for the lion's share of the absurd $25k tuition, and emerge a licensed practical nurse making $20-25 an hour. (I researched who was hiring new LPNs locally and what they offered for pay). Needles to say, that's just what I did.

Like I said, I knew what kind of a school it was before I started. But many students had no idea what they were getting into. The admissions staff were some of the most aggressive and misleading salespeople I have ever encountered. Shady, shady, shady. Pressuring desperate and ignorant people into loans they couldn't afford. Misleading them about job prospects. They told some of my classmates that they could work in the ICU or the ER.

As for accreditation, absolutely nothing transferred. Anatomy, pharmacology, med-surg, etc. were all done in what they called "modules". There were no "credits" earned as in a real college or university.

If/when I choose to go to my local community college to pursue an ADN, I will have to start from scratch. The fact that I have a LPN license will put me at the top of the waiting list. And, as a LPN, I can "CLEP" certain classes/exams. But that's about it.

But at least I knew all that going in. I didn't view my PN education or current position as a stepping stone to RN. I viewed it as an opportunity for a quick, government-paid-for education and gainful employment. Why not?

The real tragedies were my classmates who viewed this school as the first step on the road toward NP or CRNA or whatever. That is one long and winding road starting from this school. Some classmates really thought that their "anatomy module" they took at XXX Institute would get them out of having to take A&P at community college. Whatever....

Be aware that you may emerge from a for-profit school eligible to sit for the boards and become licensed. This does NOT mean that any of that education will count for diddly-squat when you go on to a college or university.

[AOx1]

Havehope, provisional approval status may vary by state, but here it means that a program has sort of a "temporary" approval. The Board acknowledges that the program appears not to violate any state laws or board rules, and will make a final decision on approval in the future with more data, usually after the first class or classes have graduated and taken NCLEX.

Ever few years, our school is visited by our state's BON. Their review is much less intense than that of our accrediting body. The BON wants to know things about curriculum, pass and retention rates, student clinicals sites, and faculty:student ratios. The accrediting body digs in much deeper and requires very long reports, lots of exhibits to show the quality of the program, interviews with students, faculty, and administrators, etc. The BON does require some of this, but in much less detail. I think of BON approval as somewhat akin to passing NCLEX. It shows that a minimum standard has been met but does not imply excellence or guarantee success.

[ChiChiMungo]

I'd be weary to trust "pass rates" without knowing how they work. I don't trust trade schools. The LPN program I started and decided to leave, thank god were very tricky. They had a pass rate and higher NCLEX-PN rate than most community colleges, so I thought must be good. Well what I learned while there is they don't let you even sit or the NCLEX, basically hold your certificate/diploma for ransom until you passed their ATI predictor class. It's so they don't lose there status and don't have many failing which they WOULD HAVE. I remained friends with many there after I left and only 3 of them graduated on time. The rest were held back for months retaking the course over and over and then they charged them lol

[AOx1]

I'd be weary to trust "pass rates" without knowing how they work. I don't trust trade schools. The LPN program I started and decided to leave, thank god were very tricky. They had a pass rate and higher NCLEX-PN rate than most community colleges, so I thought must be good. Well what I learned while there is they don't let you even sit or the NCLEX, basically hold your certificate/diploma for ransom until you passed their ATI predictor class. It's so they don't lose there status and don't have many failing which they WOULD HAVE. I remained friends with many there after I left and only 3 of them graduated on time. The rest were held back for months retaking the course over and over and then they charged them lol

This is why you need to check BOTH pass and retention rates.

[okusimba]

What about international students who apply for masters or doctoral degree in the us, which accrediting do their foreign schools have.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I do't believe US accreditation bodies rate foreign schools. I have heard that some are recognized, but overall, the best answer for whether your foreign graduation will be recognized by letting you sit NCLEX is best answered by your state board of nursing. They will want detailed information on your classes and clinical placements at the very least.

[Syane, MSN, RN]

AOx1,

I am wondering if you can answer this question since you seem very knowledgeable in the subject. So are we pretty much safe if we pick a school that has either ACEN or CCNE accreditation? I am looking in schools that offer RN-BSN, but after my BSN, I want to have the option to getting my masters. I am looking into Boise State University which is accredited by ACEN, and Arizona State University which is accredited by CCNE. Will I be safe whether I pick the ACEN school or CCNE?

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

Look at Indiana Wesleyan University's ASN to BSN online program. The school is CCNE and will accept degrees from other schools not accredited.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

Say a student gets their ADN from a non accredited school, but gets their BSN from an accredited school. Does the BSN override the ADN? Will an employer care?

Look at Indiana Wesleyan University's ASN to BSN online program. The school is CCNE and will accept degrees from other schools not accredited.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

While I am sorry that some people got unpleasant surprises, thank you very much for helping others by sharing your stories. I am reminded of what my grandmother always used to say: "Some people are put on this earth to be examples to others, one way or another."

I also know that it makes me sound mean and crusty-old-batty, but seriously, if someone wants to go to college to be a nurse and be responsible for directing and providing care for vulnerable people, that someone should be adult enough to check this all out before making a decision on a college. Forewarned is forearmed.

What's your story?

I agree. However, there are many people who have no idea what questions to ask when researching a school. You're article is very detailed with good information! Thanks