Nursing School Accreditation

An important thing to check for when enrolling in nursing school is what type of accreditation the school has. Think of accreditation as a gold star for the school. It says that the school has been reviewed by nursing organizations and found to have an acceptable curriculum. Different nursing programs require different accreditation, so you'll need to do your homework.

See a list of schools/colleges offering nursing programs

The largest nursing accreditation organizations in the US are the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). NLNAC accredits associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs, while CCNE only accredits bachelor's and master's degrees.

Specialty programs have their own accrediting organizations. Ultrasound technicians need to look for schools accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCEDMS) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Ask the schools you are interested in who has given them accreditation. There are different levels of accreditation. And, while it may seem confusing at first, how nursing organizations view your school education will come to mean a lot when you start working.

Be careful, though. Some accreditation only counts within the state your school is located. That's fine, as long as you don't plan to move. There are ways to work around that if you have to move. But, if you know you'll be moving around every year, plan ahead and go for a school that is nationally accredited.

See a list of schools/colleges offering nursing programs

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