NLNAC/CCNE accreditation-will this REALLY affect my success?

chloecatrn · Sep 9, 2010

Most BSN programs will want you to have attended a nationally accredited RN program before they'll admit you for further study. I'm not saying that you wouldn't be able to get into some BSN programs, but the majority would prefer a nationally accredited program.

grandmawrinkle · Sep 9, 2010

I think you need to go a step backward and look at whether or not the non-accredited ADN program that you are interested in will let you sit for the NCLEX-RN in your state. There are a fair number of states that DO NOT allow this.

I would stay away from non-accredited programs for your basic RN licensure for sure, but that is only my opinion. There are some that have done it successfully but there are sometimes additional hoops you have to jump through as far as work experience/endorsement etc. to work in some states.

elkpark · Sep 9, 2010

Most programs of advanced education in nursing require that be a graduate of an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program, and quite a few employers also will only hire graduates of accredited programs. I've never heard of a state requiring accreditation for eligibility for licensure, just state approval of one's nursing program, but I certainly don't stay up to date with all 50 states all the time. :)

I don't see the point of choosing to close off any future professional educational or career opportunities this early in your career -- IMO, there's no justification for spending money, time, and effort on an unaccredited program.

Accreditation (or lack of it) really does make a difference. Best wishes for your journey!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2010

I'm currently an LVN interested in attending an ADN program that is not accredited. I've read several posts that seem to discourage attendance to these programs. I do plan to further my education so I'm wondering how non-accreditation could affect acceptance into other programs-say RN to BSN. Could it affect employment?

The only RN-to-BSN programs that will accept credits from an unaccredited ADN program are the super-expensive for-profit schools such as the University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, etc.

Graduation from the unaccredited ADN program will affect employment because government entities such as VA hospitals, federal prisons, and the Dept. of Defense absolutely will not hire RNs who graduated from unaccredited programs.