Why Nursing School Accreditation Matters

When you compare nursing schools, you probably weigh curriculum, tuition, and rankings. Add accreditation to that list. It can decide whether your credits transfer, whether you qualify for financial aid, and how your resume reads to employers.

What accreditation is

Accreditation is a process that holds schools and programs to the same quality standards: faculty qualifications, course content, and program quality. Online or on campus, an accredited program means you're getting the education you need to start your career.

Why it matters

Accreditation keeps graduates across the country trained to the same level, so patients can count on consistent care wherever they live. It also protects your goals and your wallet. An accredited program lets you:

• Receive federal financial aid. Students at non-accredited schools aren't eligible for aid from the U.S. Department of Education.
• Transfer or advance. Many schools refuse credits from non-accredited programs, so changing schools or pursuing an advanced degree could mean starting over.
• Compete for jobs. Many employers only hire nurses from accredited programs, and an accredited degree tells them you got a quality education.

Accrediting bodies

Program accreditation isn't the same as your school's overall accreditation. One doesn't guarantee the other. Approved by the U.S. Department of Education, two primary bodies accredit general nursing education nationally:

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): A wholly owned subsidiary of the National League for Nursing (NLN), also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACEN accredits every level from practical to clinical doctorate, including postmasters and DNP specialist certificates, plus Transition-to-Practice (TTP) programs.
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): The accrediting branch of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). CCNE accredits programs at the bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate levels, including postgraduate certificates.

The Department also approves specialty accreditors. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) accredits master's, postmasters certificate, and doctoral nurse anesthesia programs. The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredits nurse-midwife programs at the certificate, graduate, and direct-entry levels, plus precertification programs. Each body keeps a directory of approved programs on its website.

Accreditation isn't permanent. It's granted for a set term, usually five to 10 years, and it differs by school. Ask any program how long its accreditation runs.

How schools get accredited

A school applies to one of the governing bodies. Processes differ, but it starts with an application. If the program is approved as a candidate, an onsite visit follows. Meet the standards during that visit and initial accreditation is granted. ACEN reevaluates programs onsite after five years, then every eight years. CCNE requires annual reports on the program, faculty, and students for five years, then reviews on a 10-year cycle thereafter.

Expect the process to take at least a year. ACEN applicants schedule their onsite visit within two years of approval, conducted in spring and fall cycles. CCNE requires site evaluations scheduled at least 12 months in advance and within two years of application.

Approval by your state board of nursing

Programs also need approval from their state's board of nursing. Without it, you can't sit for the NCLEX. State approval and national accreditation are not the same thing. Every nationally accredited school is also state-approved, but a school can be approved without being accredited. The difference is what accreditation adds: financial aid, transferable credits, and career competitiveness.

National accreditation prepares you for licensure and practice, lets you sit for the NCLEX, qualifies you for federal financial aid, and lets you transfer schools or apply credits toward an advanced degree. State board approval prepares you for licensure and practice and lets you sit for the NCLEX, and stops there.

Attending a non-accredited program

A non-accredited program isn't automatically lower quality, and it won't necessarily hurt your career. If your state approves it, you can still sit for the NCLEX and earn your license. But a nationally accredited program carries real advantages, so weigh your finances, education plans, and career goals before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one accrediting body better than the rest? No. There is no single best accreditor. For most nursing programs, accreditation by ACEN or CCNE, the two nursing accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, is what you want.

What does it mean if a school is not accredited? The education is not necessarily weaker, and you can still sit for the NCLEX and get licensed if your state board of nursing approves the program. NCSBN notes that state-board approval, not accreditation, is what makes graduates eligible to test. Accreditation adds advantages in federal aid, credit transfer, and competitiveness, so the choice depends on your situation.

What causes a school to lose accreditation? Dropping below an accreditor's standards. That can surface through a scheduled review or through repeated complaints.

What if a school loses accreditation after you graduate? If you graduated while it was accredited, your degree stays legitimate. It should not affect your job applications or admission to higher-level nursing programs.

Does an accredited program guarantee I can take the NCLEX? Not by itself. You also need your state board of nursing to approve the program. Every nationally accredited school is state-approved, but a school can be state-approved without being accredited.