It is very important that you apply to accredited nursing colleges and universities in your quest of becoming a professional nurse. Nursing school accreditation indicates whether a nursing program conforms to specific quality standards set forth by the US Department of Education (or one of the other organizations that accredit nursing schools). And since a single nursing school can be accredited by one or more of these organizations, you may see a nursing program own multiple accreditations in your research.

The Roles of Nursing School Accreditation

Accreditation plays a couple of key roles in your nursing education. The first most pivotal role is the impression accreditation makes on potential employers. Most employers want to see accredited nursing programs on job applications. The second role is the impression accreditation makes on financial aid resources. Grant and scholarship committees want to see accredited nursing programs as well. For without it, both grant and scholarship resources may refuse financial aid.

Note that accreditation must come from a respected source. In an effort to appear legitimate, a nursing program may accredit itself through association with its own agency. But this type of nursing program isn’t recognized nor respected by financial aid agencies or employers. How can you tell which accreditation agencies are legitimate? Easy. See if it’s on the list of regional accreditation agencies below.

Regional Accreditation Agencies

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE)
209 Burlington Road, Bedford, MA 01730

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CTCI)
209 Burlington Road, Bedford, MA 01730

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC)
30 North LaSalle, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
8060 165th Avenue, NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)
10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACSCU)
985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501

Accreditation for Online Degrees

Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
1601 Eighteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-2529

Read our article entitled, “Nursing School Accreditation” to learn the value of nursing school accreditation and how strongly it can influence your career. A university’s accreditation is so vital, it can and will affect your ability to get:

• 1. Federal loans and grants scholarships
• 2. Private loans and grants and scholarships
• 3. Transferred credits. (Attempting to transfer credits between a non-accredited college and one that is is extremely hard and you may lose many hard earned units by attending an unaccredited university!)

You’ll discover the choices you make could make or break your nursing career. Hopefully, you’ll make the right choice.

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