What Is Accreditation and Why Is It Important?

One of the most important steps when researching or applying to nursing school is ensuring the program is accredited.

At the national level, three major agencies accredit nursing programs:

The ACEN and CCNE have accredited more than 2,000 nursing programs in the U.S., ensuring they meet industry standards.

Learn what nursing accreditation is, why it is important to your education and career, and how to find out whether your nursing school or program is accredited.

Nursing accreditation is the process of an independent, nongovernment peer review of a nursing program or school by an established authority. During this peer review, the accrediting organization reviews all aspects of a program to determine if its graduates are qualified to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam and practice as nurses.

An accredited nursing program and school immediately distinguish themselves from other nursing education institutions. Accreditation ensures that a nursing program has undergone rigorous scrutiny, meets national quality standards, and prepares nursing students for their professional roles in the workforce.

Schools must follow certain processes and meet certain criteria before applying for accreditation. The peer reviewers consider the school’s curriculum, teachers’ qualifications, and other factors related to the teaching quality. The accreditation process judges:

Schools maintain nursing accreditation after the initial accreditation through periodic reviews, self-assessment, and ensuring they follow industry standards.

The ACEN’s initial nursing accreditation lasts five years. Once the ACEN grants continuing accreditation to the institution, it lasts eight years.

The ACEN reviews the nursing program at the end of the accreditation to decide whether it meets the accreditation standards. Additionally, the ACEN surveys each program annually through a reporting process.

CCNE accreditation lasts five years. The organization then sends continuous improvement progress reports to nursing programs and schools to fill out every three years.

Accreditation allows students to be confident and secure that they will graduate from a program eligible for licensure. Many employers require applicants to graduate from an accredited nursing program. Students attending accredited programs can transfer credits, apply for financial aid, and obtain nursing licensure.

If your nursing school or nursing program is not accredited, you may not have the same opportunities for growth in your field.

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

To become a certified advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you must graduate from an accredited program.

Accreditation also signals to financial aid institutions and prospective students that the nursing program prepares students for career success. It also protects employers and the public by ensuring that graduates meet the national professional standards required to work in their field.

Nursing schools and programs receive accreditation from national and regional organizations. The process of school accreditation requires careful evaluation of the entire institution.

Accrediting boards typically consist of:

These professionals evaluate curricula, program data, faculty, and program resources.

Regional accreditors include:

Nursing programs that receive accreditation from an accredited college or university hold accreditation from the ACEN, CCNE, or NLN CNEA. (Other organizations accredit nurse-midwifery programs and nurse anesthetist programs.)

The accrediting bodies’ standards are very closely equivalent, and there is no difference in nursing program quality — they all meet the same federal standards.