What is Accreditation, and Why is it Important?
Thinking about attending a nursing program? There are a lot of programs to choose from, so where do you begin in your search to find the best program for you?
One important thing to look for in any nursing program is if it is an accredited program. This article explains what accreditation is and why it is important.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that helps ensure academic programs are following quality assurance and quality improvement. This helps programs become better and stronger. Accreditation sets standards of education quality specific to the type of program they are working with.
For nursing programs, the accrediting body sets quality metrics that need to be followed to obtain and maintain accreditation status. These standards are designed to support both students and faculty as best as possible.
There are three different types of accreditations used for institutional and academic programs: (1) Regional, (2) National or Institutional, and (3) Specialized.
Nursing Program Accreditation Process and Criteria
When a program is accredited, the governing body will visit the program and review all of its prepared documents to ensure the program continues to meet quality educational standards. Faculty and program leadership should be continuously making sure the accreditation standards are being followed.
A peer evaluator will visit the nursing program for a scheduled visit, usually every 3-5 years. They might attend meetings with college administrators, faculty, staff, and students; review documents in the evidence rooms; tour educational and clinical facilities, and observe the team’s interactions.
The nursing program will complete a self-study prior to its accreditation visit. The self-study is a document that thoroughly reviews the nursing program and shows how the program is meeting each accreditation standard. This document is reviewed by the accrediting governing body when they complete their accreditation visit.
Importance of Attending an Accredited Nursing Program
Attending an accredited program ensures you are going to be receiving a quality nursing education. Students benefit from this because it:
- Provides useful information for students’ career and education decision-making.
- Enables student eligibility for funding support from federal and state agencies and foundations.
- Facilitates transfer of credits.
- Fulfills admission requirements for some graduate-level nursing programs.
- Meets authorization to test and licensure requirements in some states, as well as certification examinations at the graduate level.
- Satisfies employment requirements for some employers (e.g., U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces).
Faculty and the community can benefit from nurses attending an accredited program for the following reasons:
- Fosters ongoing self-examination, re-evaluation, and focus on the future for continuous improvement.
- Heightens faculty members’ and administrators’ awareness and responsiveness to program effectiveness.
- Assists employers seeking graduates who are competent practitioners.
- Aids in student recruitment.
Accreditation Organizations for Nursing Programs
There are two primary accreditation organizations for nursing programs in the United States: The Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Each school or program is required to meet ACEN or CCNE standards to earn and keep its accreditation.
Where to Look to Determine if a Nursing Program is Accredited
If the nursing school is accredited through ACEN, it is required to show its accreditation status publicly. The accreditation status can be found in the nursing program’s course catalog, school, website, or the nursing school brochure.
If the nursing school is accredited through CCNE, disclosure of accreditation status is up to that school and program. If a program elects to make public disclosure of its accreditation status, CCNE requires that it is done accurately and provides disclosure statements for programs to use on their website.
A list of accredited schools can be found on the ACEN and CCNE websites. You can also search for a school’s accreditation status on the U.S. Department of Education website.
What is Important for Students to Know About Accreditation?
Attending a program that is accredited ensures that the quality standards of the program are being met to improve the education of students. This will help students be better prepared to enter the nursing field.
A program that is accredited enables you to sit the NCLEX exam, transfer your license easily to another state, transfer your college credits to another accredited program, and apply for available nursing opportunities after graduation.
Prior to applying to nursing school, visit the website to see if it is accredited. If you cannot find it on their website, check the ACEN, CCNE, or Department of Education websites to look up this information.
FAQ:
What if my nursing program isn’t accredited?
If your program is not accredited, you may not be able to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam if your State Board of Nursing requires you to have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program. Some employers may also require this and may not hire you if you have not graduated from an accredited program. If you decide to transfer to an accredited program, that program may not accept credits that were taken at a program that is not accredited. Attending a program that isn’t accredited may also make you ineligible for financial aid.
My program is approved by the State Board of Nursing. Is that the same as accreditation?
No. State Board of Nursing approval of a nursing program and program accreditation are two separate processes. A State Board of Nursing may choose to approve a nursing program that is not accredited.
Can a program lose its accreditation?
Yes. Accreditation is usually only valid for 3-5 years. After that, the program needs to be re-assessed by the accrediting body. If the accrediting body does not feel the program is following the set standards, it may decide to remove the school’s accreditation.
Depending on the severity of the standard violation(s), accreditation bodies may only issue a warning. When this happens, the school has the opportunity to rectify the situation to keep its accreditation.
Accreditation bodies have two options for recommendation upon assessment: recommendation to continue accreditation or recommendation to deny accreditation. This means that even a small violation can result in the accreditation status being revoked. However, the accreditation removal process can take up to 2 years to complete.
