Very important question about accreditation

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2014

Short answer: Yes, if that's all it has. Scroll down to the section below on Nursing Education Program Accrediting Bodies. That's the part that's the most important for nursing programs.

From Nursing Program Accreditation Resources

CCNE American Association of Colleges of Nursing | CCNE Accreditation

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | CCNE Accreditation

NLNAC NLNAC Accredited Nursing Programs

http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm

Accreditation-it's a term that you have likely heard in the past, but do you know what it really means? If not, you're not alone. Many people are unsure about what it means when a program or school is accredited, the different kinds of accreditation that exist, and how this elusive term affects your education and career. Here are some important things that you should understand about accreditation as you prepare to start your nursing education.

What Is Accreditation?

When you enroll in a degree program, you want to be confident that everything you are taught meets professional standards.; You want to know that the curriculum will prepare you to enter the healthcare industry with the most current skills and knowledge in that field. This is where accreditation comes in. Accreditation is a process by which educational programs are evaluated by an outside body that determines if professional standards are being met. These organizations help ensure that the education you receive conforms to certain requirements,, allowing you to proceed knowing that the time and dedication that you put into your studies are a wise investment.

Accreditation is given at two important levels: institution and program. It is important to understand both, as each is important to your education plan.

University Regional vs. National Accreditation

Colleges and universities can earn 1 of 2 types of accreditation: regional or national.

In the United States there are 6 regional accrediting agencies:

Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Higher Education)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Commission on Technical and Career Institutions and Commission on Institutions of Higher Education)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (The Higher Learning Commission)
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Colleges)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities)

These accrediting bodies certify that schools in their region meet very specific standards of higher learning.

National accrediting agencies focus not on areas of the country, but rather associations of schools with common themes. These agencies tend to accredit post-secondary technical, career, and vocational programs. There are 52 of national agencies in the United States. Some examples are:

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
Council on Occupational Education (COE)

What does this difference mean to you as a student? The biggest issue is the ability to transfer credits between different schools. eLearners.com points out that schools that are nationally accredited typically accept credit from both regionally and nationally accredited schools, but the opposite does not hold true; most regionally accredited schools do not accept transferred credits from nationally accredited schools. So if you began your higher education coursework at a nationally accredited school and then want to transfer to a regionally accredited school, your coursework at the nationally accredited school many not transfer.

This issue isn't just limited to transferring credits; it can also have an effect on your ability to continue your education in advanced programs, which in turn can impact your ability to progress in your career. Many institutions of higher learning require you to have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply to their graduate programs.

Nursing Education Program Accrediting Bodies

The Department of Education sanctions two national organizations that accredit nursing education programs. The first is the Accredition Commission for Education in Nursong (ACEN) (formerly NLNAC). As detailed on the organization's website, the ACEN is responsible for the specialized accreditation of a wide variety of nursing education programs, including clinical doctorate, master's, bachelor's, associate, diploma, and practical programs.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) also accredits nursing schools, but only those that solely offer master's and bachelor's nursing degrees. Similar to the accreditation process of the ACEN, the CCNE offers a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards, according to the CCNE website. The organization's mission statement outlines its intention to accomplish several purposes, including:

Holding nursing programs accountable to the community of interest,
Evaluating the success of a nursing program in achieving its own goals and meeting its expected outcomes,
Evaluating the extent to which a nursing program meets the standards for accreditation,
Implementing changes that can continue to improve nursing programs, and
Informing the public of the value that accreditation has, so that institutes that have such status are recognized for their merits.

Beyond the ACEN and the CCNE national accrediting bodies, there are also other accrediting bodies for specific, advanced practice nursing fields. For instance, the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) is responsible for accrediting midwifery education programs.

Why an Accredited Nursing Program is Important

If you will be seeking financial aid to pursue your nursing education, choosing an accredited program is vital. In many cases, you cannot qualify for federal and state financial aid, tuition reimbursement programs offered by employers, nor scholarship and grants unless the program is accredited by the ACEN or the CCNE. Similar to the regional vs. national accreditation issue, you may face an admissions issue to a graduate nursing program if you earned your nursing degree in a non-accredited program.

Both the ACEN and the CCNE list accredited nursing programs on their websites.

Your Future

There are many resources that you can use when trying to learn more about schools and where their accreditation positions them in relation to your career path. All universities and colleges have their accreditation information listed on their websites, and there are also countless resources available online to learn more about accreditation and how it affects your education. In the end, the more information and knowledge you possess as you make the decision about where you want to pursue your nursing education, the more confidently you can make a decision that will in turn help you to shape your career.

Sources:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., "About NLNAC," About NLNAC (accessed November 3, 2011)

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACE) (accessed 1/22/14)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, "Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education," Mission, Values, & History. American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Mission, Values, & History (accessed November 2, 2011).

American College of Nurse-Midwives, "Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)."Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

eLearners.com, "Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation," Issues to Consider. Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

dcfnp71 · Nov 26, 2014

Thanks for that!! I have a few more questions. 1) there are some ccne bsn programs that will accept an rn from an acics school sooo will the ccne accred bsn trump the acics rn school and therefore not be an issue to enroll into a msn-fnp program ?

2) the rn is school is applying for acen but won't have it for a year - when acen is granted will I be considered or grandfathered as a grad from an acics school or a acen school?

What a confusing mess!!

Thanks.

elkpark · Nov 26, 2014

Thanks for that!! I have a few more questions. 1) there are some ccne bsn programs that will accept an rn from an acics school sooo will the ccne accred bsn trump the acics rn school and therefore not be an issue to enroll into a msn-fnp program ?
2) the rn is school is applying for acen but won't have it for a year - when acen is granted will I be considered or grandfathered as a grad from an acics school or a acen school?
What a confusing mess!!
Thanks.

1) It should work out that way, but each school is free to set its own standards. Can't make you any promises about that.

2) The ACEN or CCNE accreditation process takes a few years to complete. If your school eventually does achieve ACEN accreditation, the accreditation will be retroactive to the date of the ACEN site visit (i.e., the date that ACEN staff physically came to the school and verified that the school is meeting their standards/requirements). Anyone who is currently a student at that time and then graduates would be considered a graduate of an ACEN accredited program, even if you graduate before the final accreditation is granted. However, people who graduate before that date will forever be graduates of an unaccredited program.

Please note that ACICS accreditation and ACEN accreditation have nothing to do with each other. ACICS is general academic accreditation. ACEN and CCNE are nursing-specific accreditation. It's not an "either/or" question. If your nursing program is successful in pursuing ACEN accreditation you will be a graduate of an ACICS and ACEN accredited program. The ACEN accreditation is golden. The ACICS accreditation might create some problems for you academically down the road (although it sounds like you have found some BSN completion programs that will take your credits).