How does Accreditation for BSN/MSN work?

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Hi all

How exactly does accreditation work? I mean when it comes to BSN programs, I know I am looking for a CCNE accredited program which is at a national level but what is regional accreditation and how is it important? I reside in Southern CA. If I go to a school that is accredited regionally by the Higher Learning Commission, does that affect my education/job prospects in any way and does it matter what regional accreditation it is?

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Regional accreditation is VERY important in my opinion, because without it, you are not able to transfer credits earned to another university. At least not easily. And you never, EVER know what life is going to throw at you as far as completing your degree!

Some graduate programs require the undergraduate degree to be from a regionally accredited school as well.

Wikipedia has an excellent article that explains this. Regional accreditation - Wikipedia

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I completely agree! Does it matter what sort of regional accreditation the school has? If I'm in California, does the school have to be regionally accredited through WASC or any regional accreditation would suffice such as HLC?

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The regional accrediting associations (only) accredit schools within their own geographic region. The school should be accredited by the organization that covers the region in which the school is located. It doesn't matter where you are located if you are in an on-line program, it matters where the school is located.

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Got it. So for example, University of Phoenix which has campuses in California as well as it's original headquarters in Arizona, is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission(HLC) which includes Arizona as one of the states included in HLC accreditation so it all checks out.

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