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Guide to Nursing School Accreditation
An accredited college or university is one that has been recognized as a quality learning institution by a national, autonomous organization. It is important to attend an accredited school for many reasons. Financial aid may not be available to schools that are not accredited and, in the event that you wish to transfer credits from one school to the next, accredited schools will only accept credit hours from other accredited schools. Not only will you be ensured the best education by attending a recognized school, hiring managers will often favor applicants who have graduated from a reputable college or university.
The two leading accrediting organizations for nursing schools are the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduate schools that offer advanced degrees in nursing may also be accredited by more specific organizations, such as the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Accreditation and the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). We examine each organization below.
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
The NLNAC is the only national agency to offer accreditation to all kinds of post-secondary and advanced nursing programs, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, diplomas and certificates. The organization has been in operation for over 50 years, longer than any other nursing school accrediting agency. With recognition from the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, it is no wonder why employers and federal financial assistance programs hold the NLNAC in such high regard.
Over 1600 nursing programs are currently accredited by the NLNAC and the organization reviews hundreds of new schools each year. For a detailed guide to their review process, please refer to the newest edition of the NLNAC Accreditation Manual [PDF].
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The CCNE is a national, non-governmental organization that has been recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education [PDF]. Offering accreditation to both undergraduate and graduate-level nursing programs, the CCNE aims to serve the public by lending credibility to the most effective nursing schools. The organization was created by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in 1996 and has quickly been established as one of the two leading national accrediting organizations for nursing schools.
The CCNE's standards for accreditation are updated regularly to stay current with education trends. The organization prides itself on its voluntary, self-regulatory structure, which maintains an unbiased review process.
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Accreditation
The ACNM has over 40 years of experience with setting standards for nurse-midwifery educational programs. Since the early 1980's, the U.S. Department of Education has recognized the ACNM's Division of Accreditation (DOA). Though a school with a nurse-midwifery program may be accredited through the NLNAC and/or the CCNE, accreditation from the ACNM indicates that the school is particularly advanced in its midwifery education.
Nurse-midwifery programs are reviewed by the ACNM based on "core competencies, standards of practice and the regularly conducted ACC/AMCB task analysis of midwifery practice". For more information on the review process, please refer to the organization's most recent Statement on Midwifery Education [DOC].
Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
The COA is another accrediting organization that is specific to an advanced practice of nursing. Founded in 1952 by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), the COA is an autonomous group of 12 council members that are associated with the nursing community. This includes nurse anesthesia professionals, educators, health care administrators and college representatives. The COA reviews post-graduate degree and certificate programs in order to offer recognition to quality nurse anesthesia programs.
Colleges and universities are reviewed for accreditation, on-site, by at least two council members. Upon approval, the school will be subject to subsequent visits and progress reports in regular intervals of up to 10 years. Distance education courses are evaluated using slightly different methods, which are outlined in the organization's Guidelines for Distance Education Courses and Programs [PDF].
State Board Approval vs. National Accreditation
In order for a nursing school to offer National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) training, its corresponding state board of nursing must first approve it. Each state has different requirements for such approval. People often confuse the "state board approval" distinction with "national accreditation." Know that a state board may approve a school yet remain unaccredited by a national agency. It is not recommended that you attend a school without accreditation from at least one of the above national accrediting agencies.
Finding an Accredited Nursing School
Only reputable and quality nursing programs have the distinction of receiving national accreditation. Both employers and financial assistance programs give special consideration to those who have attended or are currently attending an accredited school. If you would like to become a nurse, you should only consider an education from an accredited college or university, like those listed here by the Nursing Online Education Database (NOEDb). All of the online nursing schools and campus programs listed in our database are accredited.
