accreditation. how do I know ?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 10, 2013

Ask the school and your BON. Which school is it?

Kap2013 · Nov 15, 2013

Online programs are not accredited with your state board of nursing. State BONs only recognize "in-state" schools and they are only concerned with schools that prepare students for licensure.

So, if you are looking to enter the nursing field you should go to a physical campus in your state. As a matter of fact you will NOT find a pre-nursing program (completely) online due to the clinical elements required in earning an AS Nursing degree.

If you however are looking at the RN to BSN programs, those can be completed online. As far as state recognition is concerned you do not need to pursue a BSN with a school that is recognized in your state because the RN to BSN does not lead to state licensure. Students in RN to BSN program ALREADY have taken their state exams (because they are RNs) and they are simply looking to further their education. At this level you should be looking at other types of accreditation such as CCNE, NLNAC...etc....not state approval.

Meeh619 · Nov 15, 2013

Actually I'm looking into an online school for pre licensure BSN and it is accredited by my state's BON and CCNE. So yes online schools can be accredited by your state just look on your state BON's website. Hope this helps good luck!!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 16, 2013

The OP is already an LPN, so it wouldn't be prelicensure; thus, she should check with the school and her BON.

Meeh619 · Nov 16, 2013

The OP is already an LPN so it wouldn't be prelicensure; thus, she should check with the school and her BON.[/quote']
Yup you are right better to ask the school or BON. That pre licensure comment was for the pp who said no online schools are accredited by the BON only by CCNE just making a point that online schools can be BON approved.

fairyluv · Nov 17, 2013

I'm looking for LPN-RN thru Excelsior.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 17, 2013

Excelsior is accredited regionally and by NY BoN as that is the physical location of the school. California does not accept Excelsior grads for licensing by examination or endorsement under any circumstances. Some states will only license by endorsement with stipulations (supervised practice, x# hours paid work experience as an RN in another state).

Excelsior is NAEC (formerly known as NLNAC) accredited and an NLN Center of Excellence.

You can review additional state board of nursing requirements here:

http://www.excelsior.edu/state-board-requirements

wirehead · Nov 17, 2013

The school should be able to give you this information, but being an LPN it is good to check with your BON to make sure they recognize whichever program you choose. You want regional accreditation, not just national. Regional will allow your credits to transfer if you continue your education towards an BSN, MSN, FNP, DNP, etc. Excelsior does their program in a strange way, you can CLEP out of classes, meaning you get study guides, take a test at a testing site after paying a fee, and if you pass with a certain grade, you'll get credit for that class. OH, and stay far far away from The College Network scam that works with Excelsior and Indiana State U!!!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 17, 2013

Just to clarify The College Network is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Excelsior. College Network does have a relationship with Indiana State.

Chamberlain does not have an LPN to ASN or BSN program from what I understand. They do have a respected RN to BSN program though.

The RN to BSN or MSN program at Excelsior is similar to the one at Chamberlain and other RN to BSN programs (unlike the ASN program which is competency/challenge exam based most RN to BSN programs are coursework based whether online class or independent work )

I think the OP is looking for a bridge from LPN to RN

wirehead · Nov 17, 2013

Just to clarify The College Network is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Excelsior. College Network does have a relationship with Indiana State.
Chamberlain does not have an LPN to ASN or BSN program from what I understand. They do have a respected RN to BSN program though.
The RN to BSN or MSN program at Excelsior is similar to the one at Chamberlain and other RN to BSN programs (unlike the ASN program which is competency/challenge exam based most RN to BSN programs are coursework based whether online class or independent work )
I think the OP is looking for a bridge from LPN to RN

I realized that the OP was an LPN an edited my post accordingly. I was approached by TCN when I was an LPN and they told me their program for LPN to RN is affiliated with Excelsior, the materials were based on Excelsior classes, and when I finished I would be receiving my degree from Excelsior, this was 3 or 4 years ago, so maybe this has changed, but I don't think so. Either way, why would you pay them when you could go directly to Excelsior, you don't need them, they are a complete scam!

wirehead · Nov 17, 2013

I would suggest to the OP that whatever program you choose, that you have a clinical component you perform in a local setting, there are some significant changes from LPN to RN. For RN to BSN, I chose online because it just makes more sense for me since the BSN curriculum is based more on a management, leadership model, no real increased clinical knowledge.