Considering a non - accredited school

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Will it make it harder to find a job if I attend a non accredited school? Is there anyone who has graduated from a non accredited school? The school that I am looking at is Pensacola Christian college.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I would not do it. At least around here, all grad programs require that candidates graduate from ACEN-accredited schools. My hospital won't hire anyone from a non-accredited school, and the hospital is apparently going to BSN only in the near future.

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It depends on what accrediation you are talking about. Is it the NLN (aka whatever it is now)? If it is that accreditation, it can make it harder to get a BSN or a MSN later on, but not impossible. The schools in my area would accept the students from my school when they lost the accreditation but we were still accrediated by the state boards.

What I would do is find out the low down on the program and what people think of it. If it is considered a good program and you can still get a MSN or a BSN through a partner school, I would consider it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

There's an underlying issue here - WHY is the school not accredited? Were they previously accredited & lost it due to some serious problems? If so, this may signal a much more serious problem such as financial instability, unqualified faculty, lack of resources, etc.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I beg to enlighten all of the other posters. My oldest daughter is a PCC nursing graduate. They are fully NURSING accredited- she passed NCLEX (in Indiana) over a decade ago and is a WOCN for a major hospital system. The college itself is not regionally accredited, (for religious school reasons) although they have alternate accreditation which allows their grads to enter prestigious law, medical and other graduate schools. A friend of hers here works in a Level One trauma center with her PCC BSN.

This is not a fly-by-night for-profit school. Their grads are in demand in the local areas of FLorida because of the academic rigor of their program.

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Dear maryjane,

It's so encouraging to know someone went through PCC and is employed. When I get enough posts I would like to email you and find out more about your daughters time at the college.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I beg to enlighten all of the other posters. My oldest daughter is a PCC nursing graduate. They are fully NURSING accredited- she passed NCLEX (in Indiana) over a decade ago and is a WOCN for a major hospital system. The college itself is not regionally accredited, (for religious school reasons) although they have alternate accreditation which allows their grads to enter prestigious law, medical and other graduate schools. A friend of hers here works in a Level One trauma center with her PCC BSN.

This is not a fly-by-night for-profit school. Their grads are in demand in the local areas of FLorida because of the academic rigor of their program.

No one was indicating that this was a fly by night school. Looking at the curriculum it is clear that they are serious about education. However....Indiana's requirements are completely different than California. Yes PCC's graduates is approved by the FL BON to take the NCLEX in FL.
PCC's nursing program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing, and graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)
The OP's question was very specific to California.
I live in CA, and after getting a degree in FL I would work a local hospital for a few years. Hopefully that experience would make it easier with jobs in CA. What do you all think?

Sorry, for not clarifying the school is registered with the state of florida and graduated students are eligible for the nclex in any state.

California is NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT to endorse to and really doesn't care that it's approved by the FL state BON to take the NCLEX......The requirements for licensure by examination can be found in Section 464.008, F.S, and include:.

Graduation from a Florida approved or accredited nursing education program as defined in Section 464.003, F.S.
they make their own decisions.

Each state makes their own rules and have their own specific requirements for schooling, programs, and allowing a licensed RN to endorse to that state. Just because you are licensed in one state doesn't mean you will automatically be able to endorse to every state.

I have only found that PCC is approved by the FL BON to take NCLEX that doesn't mean the other 49 states will......with CA being the most difficult to endorse to.

In order to become an RN in California, you must have a minimum of an associates degree in nursing from an accredited college or university approved by the California Board of Nursing.
Those are key words....my suggestion to the OP if they are hoping to return to their home state is to check with CA BON if this school is approved by to CA
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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Mea culpa- I was trying to address the aspersions cast on this program by others who knew nothing about it.

And the OP said nothing about California.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

LOL....post # 3 of the thread and from the OP

I live in CA, and after getting a degree in FL I would work a local hospital for a few years. Hopefully that experience would make it easier with jobs in CA. What do you all think?

Sorry, for not clarifying the school is registered with the state of florida and graduated students are eligible for the nclex in any state.

That is where the OP may have an issue is returning to CA.

I looked at the curriculum at this program and it is a rigorous program....it's just that CA might not think so....;)

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Again, my apologies.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

no problem....:)

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Specializes in N/A.
Will it make it harder to find a job if I attend a non accredited school? Is there anyone who has graduated from a non accredited school? The school that I am looking at is Pensacola Christian college.

I just graduated from Pensacola State. Have you considered them? Or West FL? I will say that at Pensacola Christian they do have a great student:clinical instructor ratio. Like 3:1. We were envious. I've also heard that those at PCC have no hard time getting jobs. They have an extremely rigorous program. Good luck in your decision.

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The Florida nursing list at Floridanursing.gov says it is approved.

I live in this area. The PCC nursing students have a great reputation for producing desired local nurses. Mainly because the school fosters healthy work habits and ethics. As far as accreditation and needing to move, I can't help you. But your local experience and education would probably be fine, if that's what you desire. Of course, that's all my opinion based on my experiences.

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