What Is Accreditation & Why Is It Important?

When you research nursing programs, the first thing to confirm is that the program is accredited. Three major agencies accredit nursing programs at the national level:

• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits all nursing programs, from practical to doctorate.
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits bachelor's and master's degree programs only.
• The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) accredits all nursing programs, including international ones, from practical to doctorate.

Together, ACEN and CCNE have accredited more than 2,000 nursing programs in the United States. Here is what accreditation actually means and how to confirm your school or program has it.

School Accreditation Explained

Nursing accreditation is an independent, nongovernment peer review of a program or school by an established authority. The accrediting organization reviews every aspect of the program to determine whether its graduates are qualified to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and practice as nurses.

Accreditation sets a program apart. It means the program has undergone rigorous scrutiny, meets national quality standards, and prepares students for the workforce.

Process and Criteria

Schools have to meet certain criteria before applying. Peer reviewers weigh curriculum, faculty qualifications, and other factors tied to teaching quality. The process judges:

• Faculty, staff, and students
• The school's mission and vision
• Curriculum
• Resources
• Institutional commitment
• Program outcomes

Schools keep their accreditation through periodic reviews, self-assessment, and ongoing adherence to standards. ACEN grants initial accreditation for five years and continuing accreditation for eight, reviewing the program at the end of each term and surveying it annually in between. CCNE grants initial accreditation for up to five years and continuing accreditation for up to 10, with continuous improvement progress reports filed in between.

Why Accreditation Matters

Accreditation lets you graduate confident that you are eligible for licensure. Many employers require it. Students at accredited programs can transfer credits, apply for financial aid, and obtain licensure.

If a school lacks accreditation or loses it, students risk:

• Trouble transferring credits to other schools
• Ineligibility to sit for the NCLEX in states that require national accreditation
• Trouble transferring a license to another state
• Losing access to government grants and loans

To become a certified advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you have to graduate from an accredited program. Accreditation also signals to financial aid institutions and prospective students that the program prepares graduates for success, and it protects employers and the public by confirming that graduates meet national standards.

What Accreditation Should a Nursing School Have?

Nursing schools receive accreditation from national and regional bodies, and the process evaluates the entire institution. Accrediting boards typically include:

• Nurse educators and other leaders
• School presidents and program leaders
• Nursing school deans
• Financial officers

These professionals evaluate curricula, program data, faculty, and resources. Regional accreditors include:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

What Accreditation Should a Nursing Program Have?

A nursing program at an accredited college or university should hold accreditation from ACEN, CCNE, or NLN CNEA. (Other organizations accredit nurse-midwifery and nurse anesthetist programs.) The standards of these bodies are closely equivalent, and there is no difference in quality between them. They all meet the same federal standards.

You can find a program's accreditation status in the course catalog, on the school's website, or in its nursing brochure. ACEN requires accredited programs to display their status publicly. CCNE and NLN CNEA programs can choose whether to publicly display theirs, following each body's guidance on disclosure statements and logo use.

If you cannot find a status, the Department of Education provides a searchable list of school accreditations, and ACEN offers a searchable list of current and past programs by name or program type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Properly accredited nursing schools meet the highest training standards. Standards vary for many reasons, but in general the CCNE accredits bachelor's and master's degree programs, while ACEN and NLN CNEA accredit all nursing programs.

Most nursing schools are also regionally accredited, which holds them to rigorous quality standards as well.

If a nursing school is not accredited, you may have trouble transferring credits, may be unable to sit for the NCLEX, may struggle to transfer your license across states, and may lose access to government grants and loans.