Nationally vs regionally

muirite · Nov 21, 2015

Regional accreditation is better than national. Regional accreditation is the way that they make sure schools and colleges meet a minimum stanard. National accreditation is worth about toilet paper as a lot of for profits make there own.

Make sure that your BON has them fully approved. Where I live there was a school that was accredited regional but the nursing program was in a probation period was never fully accredited so people lost tons of $$$.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

There is not one single board of nursing in the U.S. that requires a nursing program to be accredited. I simply wanted to clear up this common misconception. A person who graduates from an unaccredited nursing program can still obtain licensure as an RN as long as the program was approved to operate by the BON.

However, those who completed unaccredited nursing programs will have the most difficulty continuing their educations since the credits they earned are unlikely to be accepted for transfer by most reputable schools.

elkpark · Nov 21, 2015

Regional accreditation is better than national. Regional accreditation is the way that they make sure schools and colleges meet a minimum stanard. National accreditation is worth about toilet paper as a lot of for profits make there own.

It's not exactly true to (just) say that "regional accreditation is better than national" when talking about nursing programs. There are two entirely different and separate kind of accreditation to consider. One is general academic accreditation, accreditation of the entire school. In the case of general academic accreditation, you're right that regional accreditation is the desirable accreditation.

However, in nursing, it's also important to attend a program that has nursing-specific accreditation, i.e., ACEN or CCNE accreditation, and both those organizations are national. The desirable nursing-specific accreditation is "national" accreditation.

So, the best answer to the eternal "what kind of accreditation" question is that you want both regional and national accreditation -- regional academic accreditation and national nursing-specific accreditation.

OP, "regional accreditation" has nothing to do with your education only being recognized in a particular part of the country. You will be able to apply for licensure in any US state with a degree from a regionally accredited school.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

Hello! I have a question! I am applying for nursing school (Passed my TEAS V first try... low score but I passed) and the school that I am applying for is CCNE accredited and regionally accredited. My question is, what exactly is regionally accredited? Can I move states and still be able to get my RN license?

This has nothing to do with accreditation but if your TEAS score was low, you may want to consider retaking it and trying to improve your score. Getting into Nursing School is very competitive and you want every bit of help you can get.

Shawn4455 · Nov 21, 2015

I would re take the test, but I am taking a full load of classes and I did not have time to study (3days) for the Teas, I think I school I have in mind will let me in because its a private school that is regionally accredited and is ccne etc. Thanks for the advice but the deadline is in 9 days and Finals are coming up etc, and I work at a busy practice and we have been staying until 11pm at night so its hard, if I have time ill do it. Any other advice anyone can give? I am really nervous about nursing school, I am really interested in medicine and I feel like for practically purposes I am capable, and I love helping people, my end game is to be a nurse practitioner or even a PA

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2015

my end game is to be a nurse practitioner or even a PA

You have not thought this through. NP and PA are two entirely different pathways using different models of care.

A PA is not an advanced version of an NP.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2015

Regional accreditation is better than national. Regional accreditation is the way that they make sure schools and colleges meet a minimum stanard. National accreditation is worth about toilet paper as a lot of for profits make there own.
Make sure that your BON has them fully approved. Where I live there was a school that was accredited regional but the nursing program was in a probation period was never fully accredited so people lost tons of $$$.

Not true. They are two different things. Regional is being able to transfer your credits. National is what employers look for in order to hire you. If they are nationally accredited, the BON has approved them.

National accreditation goes through the CCNE and the nursing program needs to maintain rigorous standards. They look at the school's curriculum and how their NCLEX pass rates are. If they fall below the standards, their accreditation will be pulled.

Regional looks at the college in general. Many community colleges strive for regional so that their students can transfer into 4 year colleges eventually. Each program though within the college goes through their own national accreditation process within each occupation so to speak.