While exploring your options for obtaining a degree in nursing, you’ll notice many mention an accreditation. While not all students take this seriously at first, it is important to pay close attention to what your nursing program offers. When recruiters review your education credentials, they will take note of this. After all, the accreditation in place is a symbol of the commitment and quality of the education that is being offered through a school.

In order for a school to have this accreditation, their curriculum must adhere to the highest set of standards, which is set by the accrediting body. These will determine what courses will meet certain objectives, and ensure that students that have completed a program have met the basic essentials to excel at being skilled nurses. If you plan to move from one school program to the next, you’ll note that the accreditation type will also have an impact on things. As elements of financial aid, transferred class types, and other essential can vary from one school to the next. If you are in doubt, it is a good idea to meet with a school recruiter and to explain your goals to determine the best course of action for you.

What is important to note, is that there isn’t a single accrediting body for nursing programs. In the United States, there are two to choose from. They include Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The requirements of each program will vary and while some employers will prefer one accreditation over the other, most are more concerned with you attending an accredited program over anything else.

You’ll note that each program is essential because they assure employers that when you’ve completed the program, you attended a programmatic accredited program designed to meet the highest standards possible. These ensure that you don’t end up in a situation that you should have skills learned in college that aren’t present when you enter the professional world either. If you do plan on switching between schools for associates, bachelors or other degrees, make sure you schedule a plan to ensure you aren’t leaving yourself open for a lot of remedial courses at the end you should have taken.

Remember, every college is different. But an accredited school has had their program operational for over a year, meeting the strict requirements of the accreditation board. Each school is routinely reviewed every five to ten years for their accreditation. This ensures that the body continues to meet the strictest guidelines in place and if a program needs to be evolved, it can be done so at this time, to ensure that each college remains an exceptional choice for students, while benefiting the communities that these individuals will be working in at some point in the future. 

Article provided by, Advocate Search Group – a recruiting firm focused exclusively on filling academic nursing program positions throughout the USA

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