Completed Non-Accredited Nursing Program, But Want Higher Education. Help!

[TheCommuter]

A handful of individuals may have read the title of this piece and probably thought to themselves, "How could anyone graduate from an unaccredited nursing program? Are these graduates even able to get a nursing license?"

Many nurses have graduated from non-accredited schools of nursing

When I bring up the word 'unaccredited,' I am referring to the programs that lack national nursing accreditation. The two major entities that nationally accredit nursing programs in the United States and its territories are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (formerly known as the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The number of private for-profit schools of nursing has proliferated in recent years, and while a few of these programs are nationally accredited by the ACEN or CCNE, many others lack this legitimizing accreditation.

Furthermore, countless nurses graduated from three-year hospital-based diploma nursing programs in years past. Although some of these programs were nationally accredited, a large number were unaccredited. Therefore, many nurses who completed diploma nursing programs in previous generations have encountered frustrating issues when attempting to return to school to earn a BSN or MSN degree. For instance, one of my former instructors earned a hospital-based diploma from the Los Angeles County Medical Center School of Nursing in 1970, but basically had to start from scratch when she wanted to complete a BSN degree in the 1990s.

Are graduates of unaccredited nursing programs even able to get licensed?

YES!

You might be surprised to learn no state board of nursing in the US requires national accreditation from the ACEN or CCNE. In fact, state boards of nursing only require that nursing programs attain approval to operate. In other words, the BON requires approval, but not accreditation. Accreditation is a purely voluntary process that nursing programs undergo to ensure quality and a certain level of standards.

Nurses who have graduated from non-accredited programs may face three significant hurdles in their professional careers. For starters, the Department of Defense (also known as the military), the Veterans Administration, federal prisons, and other entities operated by the US Government will not hire RNs who completed nursing programs that lacked national accreditation. Secondly, some prestigious hospital systems will not hire RNs who graduated from unaccredited schools of nursing.

Finally, transferability of credits is a major issue because a graduate of a non-accredited program who wishes to pursue higher education will be rejected by the vast majority of accredited nursing programs. Most RN-to-BSN completion programs require candidates to have earned an associates degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program. Most BSN-to-MSN progression programs require applicants to possess a BSN degree from a nationally accredited program. Without a nursing degree from a nationally accredited program, most schools will reject your application with the exception of some of the private for-profit entities (Kaplan, ITT Technical Institute, Walden, Chamberlain, etc.).

What if you are a graduate of a non-accredited associate degree program or diploma school of nursing?

Are there any nonprofit, nationally accredited programs that will work with you?

YES!

You do have options. I have listed several nonprofit degree completion programs that have accepted graduates of unaccredited nursing programs. Some of these programs are completely online, others are hybrid, and a few offer purely brick-and-mortar nursing education. Most of these schools of nursing require graduates of unaccredited programs to validate prior learning through challenge exams, competency testing and/or completion of a handful of bridge courses. Also, some of the nursing programs may offer provisional acceptance to graduates of unaccredited programs or review their applications on a case-by-case basis.

Nonprofit RN degree completion programs that accept graduates of unaccredited nursing programs

University of Wisconsin at Green Bay

Indiana Wesleyan University

Lamar University

American Public University

The University of Toledo

Charleston Southern University

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

University of Saint Mary (Kansas)

University of Missouri at Kansas City

Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

University of Central Arkansas

Western Kentucky University

Tarleton State University

Miami University (Ohio)

East Tennessee State University

Missouri Western State University

Valdosta State University

Columbus State University

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Western Governors University (BSN and MSN)

Christian Brothers University

University of Texas at Arlington

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[inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

TheCommuter said:

Many reputable community college nursing programs lack national accreditation. In my area, one of the notorious for-profit trade schools is regionally and nationally accredited, but with staggering tuition of $128k for the entire nursing program.

Yes! In my area all of our programs are regionally accredited which does matter, but nationally they lack. Who wants to go so far into debt?!?!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

TheCommuter said:

Many reputable community college nursing programs lack national accreditation. In my area, one of the notorious for-profit trade schools is regionally and nationally accredited, but with staggering tuition of $128k for the entire nursing program.

It's the regional accreditation that you want. The national doesn't mean a whole lot. Regional is where you get to transfer the credits. That's where I have a problem with these schools. I know of private colleges that cost as much as you are talking about but also sport a 100% NCLEX pass rate. I have a friend who is going to an unaccredited school right now. They have lied to her so much and she believes what they tell her. She thinks that a LPN is an associate degree. They have told her that the credits she earns there will transfer even though I have proven to her they won't, and she thinks she is going to get a job when our other nurse friends have flat out told her they don't hire people from this particular college. She will be out over $20,000 with a diploma that won't be worth the paper it is written on.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I discourage everyone from attending a non-accredited nursing program for the reasons listed in the OP. My hospital does NOT hire people who have graduated from non-accredited nursing schools as well as the majority of facilities in my area. If a school is not accredited, there is a strong possibility that it does not meet the minimal qualifications required for accreditation. Otherwise, the school would obtain the accreditation for credibility and marketing reasons.

And, to be blunt, I would not feel comfortable having a nurse care for me or a loved one who did not graduated from an accredited nursing program. Another reason why nursing doesn't get the respect it deserves...you don't hear about unaccredited medical schools, why should nursing be considered different?

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am confused. I graduated from a community college that I do not believe is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies. It is state accredited. The BON has the authority to license us and we are a compact state which means I can practice in any of the other compact states.

I have not had any trouble getting into 2 different state schools for my BSN-both universities ARE accredited and accepted me I transferred from one to another. I also work for a prestigious, top 10 Magnet hospital.

I have not known anyone here that has had their nursing career affected by accreditation. I am in NC. All of us that have chosen to go on and get our BSN have gotten into our various programs and we work in may different areas. Private, non-profit, for-profit, magnet. We are al over the place. One of my classmates is in an MSN program (went from ADN to MSN) in a prestigious school and is doing capstone @ V.A. Our school must meet criteria to allow all of this happen without the national nursing accreditation mentioned.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

mmc51264 said:

I have not known anyone here that has had their nursing career affected by accreditation.

I'm referring mainly to the commercial investor-owned schools of nursing at entities such as ITT Technical Institute, Concorde Career Institute, Everest College, and so forth. You know...the schools that advertise heavily on daytime TV. These schools generally lack regional accreditation, so the credits do not transfer to most schools.

These schools also lack national nursing accreditation in the vast majority of cases, so graduate school admissions are limited to programs that are willing to work with nurses who have graduated from unaccredited programs.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Makes sense. Here, they can only license a certain amount of RNs per year. The for profit schools offer CMA and LPN programs; no RN programs.

[MichelletheRN]

Wow, very informative. I had no idea. The first time I ever heard of any such a thing, a kid who used to work at the hospital with me, as an aide, had been going to go to some school because there was no wait list. He found out at the last bit that even upon completion of it, he wouldn't be able to take the boards or somethin, so he wwent instead to the state university. I mean, thank God he found out! But i remember thinking how is it even legal for them to do that?

I know they all have to start somewhere but i think accreditation should be pursued by any school offering a nursing program. They need to MAKE SURE their students understand what is going on so they can make informed decisions. In my opinion this is HORRIBLE and these places should be ashamed.

And if they say, well you never asked....come on. They know most people just assume when they graduate they will be a nurse. That's like me selling someone a horse that is going to die, and when they ask me why didn'tyou tell me the horse was ddying....oh, you didn't ask..

[mommycruz3]

This may be a dumb question but if I chose to go to one of the schools listed, and it's from another state.. would I encounter any problems? I'm in Florida, so if I went to an online school based out of ohio, it's the Dave as getting my bsn locally, right?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

mommycruz3 said:

This may be a dumb question but if I chose to go to one of the schools listed, and it's from another state.. would I encounter any problems? I'm in Florida, so if I went to an online school based out of ohio, it's the Dave as getting my BSN locally, right?

As long as the school is regionally accredited and nationally accredited by the CCNE or ACEN, you'll be fine. Managers know that you never sat in a class if you attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City, but have always lived in Nevada.

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[MyCall2Nsg]

Ladyt03 said:

WOW!. Very informative. Reasons why I love allnurses.com.

It's like a parent taking care of their child

I certainly agree with that. I've grown quite a bit since I discovered this site.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

melissa.in.san.diego said:

I have applied to a BSN program (from the list provided above) and I will let you all know what happens. I applied almost 8 weeks ago, and they have not sent a denial letter, so I think that is a good sign. They send letters of acceptance out in August, so hopefully I will be getting an something (acceptance OR denial) very soon.

If you don't mind me asking, to which nursing program on the list did you submit your application?

[melissa.in.san.diego, BSN]

UMKC. I not only got accepted, but I got a scholarship for being an underrepresented student as well. I also got a job on the Medical ICU ? I start my 16 week long orientation on September 22. Wish me luck!