Confused about MSN program accreditation and approval

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When a new graduate school applies for MSN Accreditation from CCNE, does it mean it covers accreditation for ALL their MSN Programs? For example, MSN-FNP, MSN-Clinical Leadership, Entry Level MSN (combined BSN MSN), etc. Does the nursing school get accredited for ALL the programs?

I ask because there is a new nursing school that is approved by the state for Entry Level MSN, but i don't see the school under the State's list of approved Advanced Practice programs. Oddly enough, IT IS IN CCNE's list of NEW applicants for MSN. The school is brand new, first batch of graduates will be in 2012.

What happens to those who graduates with FNP from this school? Can they get their advanced practice license? Can they get certified?

thanks.

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Specializes in FNP.

I think it can be applied retroactively.

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CCNE accredits a degree and a school; a school could be accredited for the BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs together or individually. CCNE does not accredit separate specialty tracks (FNP, PNP, Education, Critical Care, etc).

So if a school adds a new specialty track (for example Adult NP) to an already accredited MSN degree program, then the ANP is accredited too.

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CCNE accredits a degree and a school; a school could be accredited for the BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs together or individually. CCNE does not accredit separate specialty tracks (FNP, PNP, Education, Critical Care, etc).

So if a school adds a new specialty track (for example Adult NP) to an already accredited MSN degree program, then the ANP is accredited too.

One more clarification if you will. What about at the State level? If the Entry level MSN program is approved, it means the FNP program is approved also? I got confused with this because the State board has separate lists of approved schools, it has a list for ADN, BSN, Entry MSN, and Advanced Practice (FNP, CRNA, etc). And the school is found in the E-MSN list, but the FNP program is not found in the advanced practice list. So i thought they should be approved separately?? OR once a school's nursing program is Approved, then all the tracks are approved?

thanks again.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
One more clarification if you will. What about at the State level? If the Entry level MSN program is approved, it means the FNP program is approved also? I got confused with this because the State board has separate lists of approved schools, it has a list for ADN, BSN, Entry MSN, and Advanced Practice (FNP, CRNA, etc). And the school is found in the E-MSN list, but the FNP program is not found in the advanced practice list. So i thought they should be approved separately?? OR once a school's nursing program is Approved, then all the tracks are approved?

thanks again.

Best thing to do is to ask the BON directly. States like California, for instance, has a list of approved NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA, PHN programs but don't go into specifics as to the breakdown of the specific approved NP tracks (FNP, ACNP, PNP, etc) from the particualr schools which leads one to assume that all tracks are approved. If this is a new program, the important things to answer are two-fold: (1) will the state recognize your degree and grant you certification as a FNP after completion of your program?, and (2) will the national certification boards (ANCC or AANP) grant you eligibility to sit for FNP certification after completion of this program knowing that both national boards require schools to either hold CCNE or NLNAC accreditation ?

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Best thing to do is to ask the BON directly. States like California, for instance, has a list of approved NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA, PHN programs but don't go into specifics as to the breakdown of the specific approved NP tracks (FNP, ACNP, PNP, etc) from the particualr schools which leads one to assume that all tracks are approved. If this is a new program, the important things to answer are two-fold: (1) will the state recognize your degree and grant you certification as a FNP after completion of your program?, and (2) will the national certification boards (ANCC or AANP) grant you eligibility to sit for FNP certification after completion of this program knowing that both national boards require schools to either hold CCNE or NLNAC accreditation ?

Actually I AM speaking of a University in California. An old university that has a medical school, but a brand new school of nursing, just started in the Fall of 2010, the first batch of E-MSN graduates will be in 2013, therefore it's not qualified for accreditation. The FNP program just started Spring 2011 :) The school is found in California's list of approved Entry Level MSN programs, but the NP Program is not found in California's list of approved NP programs. IT IS in the list of CCNE's list of new applicants, but not in ANCC or AANP yet. The school of nursing is expecting to be CCNE accredited in 2013.... but I'm not sure if that means it is ok to do their FNP program or not.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Again, I would ask the BON directly. It could be possible that though the program is new, it is already approved by the BRN though the website hasn't shown an updated list yet. What you need to realize about California specifically is that FNP's (and all other NP's for that matter) are not required to be nationally certified by ANCC or AANP if they attended a state-approved NP program. However, some employers (like the one I work for) require national certification for all NP's hired in the organization. ANCC or AANP do not accredit NP programs. ANCC, as an arm of ANA, offers multiple national board certification programs for RN's and APN's (NP or CNS). AANP, as a national association of NP's, also offers a national board certification program but on a limited scale (ANP's and FNP's only). ANCC's website specifically states that only graduates of CCNE or NLNAC accredited graduate degree programs can sit for their certification exam. AANP's website does not specifically state a similar requirement so there's a chance AANP is more open in terms of allowing graduates of newly established programs to sit for their certification exam. Both ANCC and AANP certification are widely recognized by employers and state boards of nursing across the US. One is not "better" than the other.

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Kudos. :thankya: Thank you so much... appreciate all this info...

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