Frequently Asked Questions

The governing body of the program must first have required approval from all state agencies and provide evidence of institutional accreditation from an ACEN-recognized agency; see ACEN Policy #3 Eligibility for Accreditation. The ACEN Standards and Criteria are located on the ACEN website. Programs must be able to demonstrate through the candidacy, self-study, and the peer review process its ability to meet the standards of educational quality specific to nursing education requirements set in the Standards and Criteria.

ACEN accreditation is voluntary and ensures that the nursing program meets standards of educational quality specific to nursing education. A nursing program must apply for ACEN accreditation and complete the application and peer review process in order to become accredited. The state regulatory agency for nursing process is usually not voluntary but required for a program to operate in the state, depending on state laws and/or regulations. A nursing program’s status with the state regulatory agency for nursing can affect licensure and a graduate’s ability to take the licensure examination. Please contact the state regulatory agency for nursing for information on a program’s status with the agency (e.g., Board of Nursing). Please see Search Programs for a list of the programs currently accredited with the ACEN or those with a Candidate Status.

Specialized accreditation and institutional accreditation are different. It is possible that a school/institution is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency and that the nursing program does not have “specialized” or “programmatic” accreditation. The ACEN requires accredited programs to indicate accreditation status clearly to the public when it is an ACEN-accredited program and when it is an ACEN candidate program. The accreditation status is usually noted in publications such as the college catalog, website, and nursing brochures. See Search Programs on the ACEN website for more information on accredited and candidate programs.

It can and often does impact students when they graduate from a non-accredited program in several ways:

• The graduate may not qualify for employment  if the employer requires nurses to have graduated from an accredited program. For example, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and many     other public and private employers require nurses to have graduated from an accredited program.
• The graduate may not be able to join the U.S. Armed Forces as a nurse.
• The student may not qualify for  federal financial aid or other forms of financial aid (e.g., scholarships from foundations, HRSA).
• The student may not be able to transfer nursing credits to another nursing program.
• The graduate may not qualify for admission to further their nursing education (e.g., RN-BSN programs; graduate programs)
• The graduate may not be able to be licensed as a nurse in some states, either initially or by reciprocity/endorsement.

In short, ACEN accreditation signifies quality in nursing education by fostering program excellence though the peer review process, which benefits students, faculty, and the community.

Student benefits:

• Provides useful information for students’ career and education decision making.

• Enables student eligibility for funding support from federal and state agencies, and foundations.

• Facilitates transfer of credits.

• Fulfills admission requirements for some graduate level nursing programs.

• Fulfills authorization to test and licensure requirements in some states as well as certification examinations at the graduate level.

• Fulfills employment requirements for some employers (e.g., U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces).

Faculty and Community Benefits:

• Fosters ongoing, self-examination, re-evaluation, and focus on the future for continuous improvement.

• Heightens faculty members’ and administrators’ awareness and responsiveness to program effectiveness.

• Assists employers seeking graduates who are competent practitioners.

• Aids in student recruitment.

Currently, specialized accreditation for pre-licensure nursing programs is voluntary in some states; however, many states mandate that a nursing program be accredited. Most states where specialized accreditation for nursing programs is required mandate that the accrediting agency is recognized by the ED. ACEN is recognized by the ED and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA),and is the only ED and CHEA-recognized accrediting agency that accredits all types of nursing programs – practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s including post master’s certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate nursing programs.

The ACEN’s recognition with CHEA also includes accreditation for international programs. The ACEN is the only U.S.-based nursing accrediting agency that has CHEA recognition.

Specialized accreditation is mandatory for nursing programs preparing students for an advanced practice role (e.g., nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist) in order for graduates to take the licensing/certification examination in the advance practice role. The agencies that offer the various licensing/certification examinations in the advance practice roles mandate that the accrediting agency is recognized by the United States Department of Education (ED).

Participating in the ACEN accreditation process gives a program the opportunity to validate that it is committed to providing a quality nursing program and – through the review of the program by peers – the extent to which the program meets expected standards of educational quality specific to nursing education. ACEN accreditation requires that a nursing program continually assesses and make improvements in the educational quality of the nursing program based on data. This is done by evaluating specific Standards and Criteria, which include administrative capacity and resources, faculty, students, curriculum, and outcomes.

Accreditation is a non-governmental, external peer-review process that promotes institutions and academic programs embracing quality assurance and quality improvement to become stronger and better institutions and programs by setting standards of educational quality specific to nursing education. There are two different types of accreditation used for institutional and academic programs; (1) Institutional and (2) Specialized or Programmatic.

Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to the evaluation of programs, departments, or schools which usually are a part of a total collegiate or other postsecondary institution. The unit accredited may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline. Most specialized accrediting agencies review units within a postsecondary institution which is accredited by one of the institutional accrediting commissions. However, certain specialized accrediting agencies accredit professional schools and other specialized or vocational or other postsecondary institutions which are free-standing in their operations. Thus, a “specialized” or “programmatic” accrediting agency may also function in the capacity of an “institutional” accrediting agency. In addition, a number of specialized accrediting agencies accredit educational programs within non-educational settings, such as hospitals (U.S. Department of Education [ED]).

ACEN is a specialized professional accreditor for practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s including post master’s certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate nursing programs. ACEN also functions in the capacity of being an “institutional” accrediting agency and as such the nursing program offered by the “institution” can be eligible for Title IV funds.

The ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. Accreditation also assists in the further improvement of the institutions or programs related to resource invested, processes followed, and results achieved. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules and to the oversight of preparation for work in the profession. You can also access the ACEN mission, purpose, and goals at https://www.acenursing.org/about/.

Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process that uses peer review to determine if academic programs meet public confidence.

The ACEN provides specialized accreditation for programs of nursing education, both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer either a certificate, a diploma, or a recognized professional degree (clinical doctorate, master’s, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical).

Programmatic accreditation is voluntary, meaning that the process is initiated by each nursing program, and not all nursing programs are accredited. In order for an individual to be considered a graduate of an accredited nursing program, the date of graduation must fall within the nursing program’s accreditation period.

You can search for a nursing program on the ACEN website through the ACEN Search Programs page. The search feature will allow you to refine your search by program name, location, and type.

The ACEN website only identifies those programs that are currently ACEN-accredited, and the details provided are for the program’s current and most recent accreditation. If a program is not listed on our website, it does not necessarily mean that the program was not accredited previously. Similarly, if a program closed, or lost or withdrew from accreditation and was again granted accreditation at a later date, the archival information will not be reflected on the ACEN website.

If you would like to inquire about accreditation for a closed nursing program or any nursing program not listed on our website, please use the Verification of Accreditation Status form.‍

In order for programmatic accreditation to apply to a nursing program graduate’s education, the date of graduation must fall within the nursing program’s accreditation period. Accreditation is not retroactive, and there are no policies of grandfathering for previous cohorts. Additionally, the ACEN accredits nursing programs, not individuals. If the effective date of ACEN accreditation is not inclusive of your date of graduation, you have not graduated from an ACEN-accredited program.

You may find that some employers, nursing programs, and State Boards of Nursing require that you have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program as part of their employment, admissions, or approval policies. These policies are specific to each employer, nursing program, and agency.

As you research your options for employment or continuing your nursing education, it would be best to inquire with the employers or programs directly regarding their requirements.

There are currently three agencies recognized by the US Department of Education as agencies specializing in the accreditation of nursing education programs. The ACEN is the first agency approved by US Department of Education (ED) as a programmatic accreditor of nursing education programs, as of 1952. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) was recognized as of 2000, and the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) was recognized as of 2021. You may view each agency’s recognition and current status with the U.S. Department of Education by visiting their website listing for accreditation agencies: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/agency-list.

State Board of Nursing approval of nursing programs is a separate process from accreditation, and it is possible for a nursing program to be State Board of Nursing-approved but not accredited.

Each State Board of Nursing has its own requirements and policies for program approval and licensure. For questions related to the eligibility requirements for the nursing licensure examination and other policies set forth by a particular Board of Nursing, please contact them directly. You may find State Board of Nursing contact information through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN; https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).

A nursing program wishing to apply for initial accreditation must first meet a certain set of criteria to be eligible to continue with the accreditation process. Eligibility is not an accreditation status, and a program’s eligibility to apply for ACEN accreditation does not guarantee that a program will achieve Candidacy or accreditation.

An eligible program is granted a period of time, typically one year, to prepare and submit for Candidacy. The timeline for applying for Candidacy is specific to each program, and these timelines are determined by the program.

You can read more information about the eligibility requirements and accreditation processes in Policy #3 Eligibility for Initial and Continuing Accreditation.

Candidacy is the first step toward ACEN Accreditation. You may the nursing programs that currently have Candidacy status on our website on Search ACEN Programs page. Please note that Candidacy itself is not an accreditation status, and the program must have been granted initial accreditation before students will be recognized as graduates of an accredited nursing program. Additionally, Candidate status does not guarantee that a program will achieve initial accreditation.

A nursing program seeking initial accreditation must first apply for Candidacy, and programs that achieve Candidate status must complete the accreditation process within two years. A nursing program may proceed with seeking initial accreditation any time within their Candidacy period. The timeline for achieving initial accreditation is specific to each program, and these timelines are determined by the program.

Once a program has submitted their application for a site visit for initial accreditation, the program will be added to the list of site visits for the corresponding cycle (upcoming and future cycles). Initial accreditation, if granted, is effective to the date of the Candidacy approval.

If the program does not achieve initial accreditation within the two-year Candidacy period, the program’s Candidacy status will expire. However, the program can reapply for Candidacy at any time to restart the accreditation process.

You may read a more detailed description of the Candidacy process here.

A program will be granted continuing accreditation with a stipulation status (Conditions, Warning, or Good Cause) when it has been found to be in non-compliance with one or more of the ACEN Standards. When the ACEN Board of Commissioners grants a status such as this, the program receives a prescribed period of time determined by the Board (typically one to two years) in which to address any areas of non-compliance. After the prescribed time, the program is then reviewed again by the Board. Throughout the timeframe of a status of Conditions, Warning, or Good Cause, the program is considered an ACEN-accredited nursing program.

For a detailed explanation of the accreditation statuses and ACEN Board of Commissioner actions, please refer to Policy #4 Types of Commission Actions.

ACEN accreditation reviews are scheduled in a two-cycle format: Spring Cycle (January 1 – June 30) and Fall Cycle (July 1 – December 31).

The ACEN Board of Commissioners meeting to review and make the final accreditation decisions for programs reviewed in Spring Cycles occurs in September, with decisions made public in October. And the Commissioners meeting to review and make the final accreditation decisions for programs reviewed in Fall Cycles occurs in April, with decisions made public in May.

Each State Board of Nursing has its own requirements and policies for licensure. You may find State Board of Nursing contact information through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website at https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm.

The ACEN is not a regulatory agency and does not maintain specific information related to each nursing program.

For information pertaining to program outcome data, please contact the program directly. You may also wish to visit the Board of Nursing for your state (NCSBN; https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).

No, the ACEN website provides the list of programs that are currently accredited by the ACEN. For programs not listed on the website, contact the nursing program directly to determine by what agency(ies) they are accredited. The ACEN website also provides a list of programs that have achieved Candidacy with the ACEN.

The ACEN website lists programs that are currently accredited by the ACEN, displaying the program’s current accreditation period. For information or verification of accreditation requests for programs not currently accredited by ACEN but that may have been accredited previously, or for possible historic accreditation periods not listed on our website, please use the Verification of Accreditation Status form for accreditation verification requests. Requests are processed in the order received; please allow up to three business days for research and response.

Continuing accreditation with conditions is granted when a program is found to be in non-compliance with one or two accreditation standards. The program’s next review and follow-up action(s) are determined by the Board of Commissioners.

Continuing accreditation with warning is granted when a program is found to be in non-compliance with three or more accreditation standards.

Continuing accreditation for good cause may be granted by the Board of Commissioners when a program has not demonstrated compliance at the conclusion of its maximum monitoring period for Conditions or Warning. In order to be granted continuing accreditation for good cause, the program must meet all three principles for good cause. The program’s next review and follow-up action(s) are determined by the Board of Commissioners. See Policy #4.

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To find an accredited international nursing program, please use the Search Programs feature of our website. Search results may be filtered by the name of the governing organization, program type, accredited or candidate program, or location (state/country).

The ACEN accredits practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s including post-master’s certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate nursing programs. ACEN accredits the entire nursing education program at the degree or certificate level; in other words, all program options, locations where the program is offered, and the method of delivery such as online or distance education are included in the accreditation. For example, if a nursing program is accredited for its associate degree, then that associate degree nursing program is accredited regardless of method of delivery (in person, hybrid, videoconferencing, synchronous/asynchronous) or program options (e.g., PN-to-RN, pre-licensure). For more information regarding an online nursing program, it is best to contact the program directly.

The ACEN website is updated at the completion of each accreditation cycle following the notification of the programs that were reviewed during that particular cycle. For programs reviewed during the Fall Cycle, the results are posted in April/May. For programs reviewed during the Spring Cycle, the results are posted in October. A list of programs with upcoming review is available under Upcoming Visits on the ACEN website. Additional updates related to policies and documents contained on the website are updated on an as-needed basis. The list of Candidate programs is also updated on a regular basis.

ACEN does not accredit CNA or Medical Assistant programs. The ACEN accredits practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s including post-master’s certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate nursing programs.

All programs seeking initial accreditation must first apply and be approved as a Candidate for ACEN accreditation. A program with ACEN Candidate status has two years to host an initial accreditation visit. However, a program sets its own timeline and may request an onsite visit for any cycle after becoming a Candidate. This means the nursing program may complete the Candidacy process sooner than two years. The ACEN accreditation process includes the following:

• Program preparation of the Self-Study Report
• A site visit for evaluation of the program by peer evaluators
• Review of the program by peer evaluators on the Evaluation Review Panel
• Review of the program by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, which also makes the accreditation decision

Accreditation decisions made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Spring and Fall accreditation cycles can be found under the Commission Actions > Accreditation Cycles.

Candidacy is not accreditation. It is the first step for a nursing program seeking initial accreditation. Candidacy means that, based upon the review of the Candidacy Presentation, the nursing program (a) demonstrated it is currently compliant with selected ACEN Standards and Criteria or demonstrated the potential to be compliant with selected ACEN Standards and Criteria within two years of notification of achieving Candidacy, and (b) the potential to achieve ACEN accreditation based upon the selected ACEN Standards and Criteria reviewed in the Candidacy Presentation. Candidate programs need to complete the Candidacy process within two years of notification of achieving Candidacy, inclusive of writing a complete Self-Study Report and hosting an initial accreditation site visit. Approval of Candidacy does not guarantee that the program will achieve initial accreditation.

A list of nursing programs with upcoming review is available  on the Current and Upcoming Site Visit component of the ACEN website. When a program is granted initial accreditation, then the program is added to the list of ACEN-accredited programs on the ACEN website. The ACEN Board of Commissioners makes initial accreditation decisions in spring and fall (e.g., March/April and September) of each year for programs who have been reviewed during the Fall or Spring accreditation cycle, respectively. A program is notified within 30 calendar days of the ACEN Board of Commissioners making an accreditation decision.

Candidate programs being reviewed for initial accreditation must be in compliance with all the Accreditation Standards. The ACEN website is updated at the completion of each accreditation cycle following the notification of the programs that were reviewed during that particular cycle. For programs reviewed during the Fall Cycle, the results are posted in April/May. For programs reviewed during the Spring Cycle, the results are posted in October.

Students enrolled in a nursing program during the initial site visit would be graduates of an ACEN accredited program IF the program is granted ACEN accreditation at the ACEN Board of Commissioners meeting following the site visit. For programs visited during the Fall Cycle, the ACEN Board of Commissioners will make an accreditation decision during its spring meeting; for programs visited during the Spring Cycle, the ACEN Board of Commissioners will make an accreditation decision during its fall meeting. If initial accreditation is not granted, then students would not be graduates of an ACEN accredited program. Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a Candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.

A program is reviewed five years after initial accreditation is granted. Once continuing accreditation has been granted, the program is reviewed every eight years. In addition, a program is surveyed every year through an annual reporting process and could be reviewed periodically through the substantive change process.

Programs that have been granted Candidacy with the ACEN must notify the ACEN of changes that occur in the program during the entire candidacy process, since both eligibility for Candidacy as well as Candidate status are based upon the information provided in the Candidacy Application Form or the Candidacy Presentation. Changes that occur can affect the program’s eligibility to pursue the process and/or achieve initial accreditation with the ACEN. Therefore, programs must notify the ACEN of changes, which include but are not limited to:

• changes in nurse administrator,
• change in status with the state regulatory agency or the accrediting body of the governing organization,
• changes in curriculum/options,
• potential addition of a new location, or
• implementation of distance education.

The ACEN should be notified of these changes no less than four months prior to the change or as soon as possible for any unexpected changes. The notification should be in writing and should address the selected Criteria from the Candidacy presentation related to the change (e.g., all of the Standard 4 Criteria for a change in the curriculum and/or new option). Failure to notify the ACEN of changes could result in the changes not being considered in the initial accreditation review or an unsuccessful initial accreditation visit. See ACEN Policy #34.

Contact your ACEN mentor for guidance related to any other changes and the need to report those changes.

Complete the online request form and a staff member will contact you to discuss the Advisory Review.

The fee for an advisory review varies depending upon whether the program elects to have a teleconference/video conference or an in-person review. See the ACEN Fee Schedule. The fees include the assigned Director’s preparation time required to necessitate the Advisory Review. The fees do not include travel expenses (e.g., travel, food, lodging, etc.) for an in-person review. A face-to-face Advisory Review is not a mock visit.

The Advisory Review may be conducted by videoconference or in-person.

The recommended timeframe for an Advisory Review is during the sixth or seventh year of the program’s continuing accreditation or during the third or fourth year following the program’s initial accreditation. The specific date and time will be mutually agreed upon between the Director assigned to the Advisory Review and the program’s nurse administrator.

An Advisory Review is an opportunity for an ACEN-accredited program to receive assistance and feedback from an ACEN Director related to ACEN Accreditation. This may include an overview of the Standards and Criteria, or review of draft accreditation documents (e.g., draft narrative for a selected Standard from the Self-Study Report, faculty profile table, SPE, etc.) as the program prepares for continuing accreditation.

An Advisory Review is a 100% optional resource for currently accredited programs and is not a requirement for continuing accreditation. Director feedback indicates the staff member’s best judgment but does not guarantee that the ACEN Board of Commissioners will determine that the program complies with the ACEN Standards and Criteria.

An Observer on a site visit team is a representative from a nursing program beginning its initial or continuing accreditation review process. The Observer accompanies the peer evaluators on a site visit team during the review of a nursing program’s continuing accreditation site visit. The Observer may attend meetings with college administrators, faculty, staff, and students; review documents in the Repository; tour educational and clinical facilities; and observe the site visit team’s interactions. However, Observers are not permitted to ask questions during interviews nor interfere with the site visit team’s agenda.

The purpose of the Observer experience is to broaden the program representative’s knowledge of the site visit experience through immersive engagement in site visit activities including pre-visit functions and post-visit team and program responsibilities.

The individual accompanying the peer evaluators on a site visit team as an Observer will need to complete the ACEN Peer Evaluator online training prior to going on the visit. The person will be provided a login and will earn continuing education credits for completing the online training. In addition, the Observer should read the program’s Self-Study Report prior to the site visit to gain a better understanding of the program.

The Observer is responsible for all expenses associated with a site visit (e.g., travel, lodging, meals, etc.). The Observer is expected to make his/her own travel arrangements and to inform the host nursing program and site visit Team Chair regarding those arrangements. It is customary for the host nursing program to meet the peer evaluators at the prearranged airport, train station, or bus station and transport the peer evaluators to the place of lodging. Typically, it is possible to include the Observer in these onsite travel arrangements if it is coordinated between the program and the team chair. If onsite travel for the Observer is not coordinated with the program, the Observer will be responsible for their own onsite travel arrangements.

The prospective Observer should complete the Online Form. In addition, the prospective Observer must include his/her curriculum vitae with the submission of the Observer Intake Form. Upon receipt of the Form and the prospective Observer’s curriculum vitae, the ACEN staff will review the documents and contact the prospective Observer within four weeks of submission.

Yes, this is distance education since a portion of the students are not in the same physical location as the faculty member.

No, if the distance education courses are not in anyway required for graduation, this would not need to be submitted per ACEN Policy #14.

A hybrid course is when a portion of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities. A flipped-classroom would not be a hybrid course, unless a percentage of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities.

A web-enhanced course is when the faculty and students use a learning management system or web-platform to augment in-class learning and communication between and among faculty and students. A web-enhanced course would not be a hybrid course, unless a percentage of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities.

This would be considered distance education and may need to be reported per ACEN Policy #14. Please review the Distance Education page in the Substantive Change Guidelines for more information.

The ACEN wants to ensure that nursing faculty engage in an intentional decision-making process regarding the method of delivery. Teaching and learning can effectively occur through a variety of delivery methods, and nursing faculty should implement distance education if it is the best method of delivery for the program’s students. Regardless of how a nursing course is delivered, faculty must be able to effectively deliver the instruction; and students and faculty must have access to the resources they need for success. To maintain the quality of the nursing education program, the ACEN defines any teaching/learning experience that occurs when the faculty and the students are not in the same physical location (e.g., on the college’s main campus) as distance education. This approach ensures that the program’s policies, learning resources, student support services, and faculty development efforts are inclusive of all methods of delivery, even if only one nursing course is offered using some form of distance education.

No, you would not need to submit a substantive change to the ACEN. Once one program or program option within a nursing education unit has been approved for distance education by the ACEN, approval of subsequent nursing programs or program options (in the same nursing education unit) is not required.

No, a focused visit is not required if a program implements distance education per ACEN Policy #14 Reporting Substantive Changes; however, a focused visit is possible. Only the ACEN Board of Commissioners or the Chief Executive Officer has the authority to authorize a focused visit. A determination about the need for a focused visit is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s substantive change submission, including program outcomes. When authorized, the purpose of a focused visit is to ensure that the program is in compliance with select ACEN Standards and Criteria related to the substantive change, and to ensure that the student learning needs are being met.

No. Just complete the appropriate template for the substantive change being submitted. Complete all applicable sections of the template and if something does not apply, simply indicate this. Keep responses clear, concise, and consistent; there are no hidden agendas in the templates. Attach all required supporting documents (listed on the template), and remember that the goal is to ensure that the program is in compliance with the selected ACEN Standards and Criteria and to ensure that student learning and faculty teaching needs are met after the implementation of distance education.

Yes, this is distance education since a portion of the students are not in the same physical location as the faculty member.

No, if the distance education courses are not in any way required for graduation, this would not need to be submitted per ACEN Policy #14.

A hybrid course is when a portion of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities. A flipped-classroom would not be a hybrid course, unless a percentage of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities.

A web-enhanced course is when the faculty and students use a learning management system or web-platform to augment in-class learning and communication between and among faculty and students. A web-enhanced course would not be a hybrid course, unless a percentage of the traditional in-class time is replaced by distance education modalities.

This would be considered distance education and may need to be reported per ACEN Policy #14. Please review the Distance Education page under Substantive Change Guidelines for more information.

The ACEN wants to ensure that nursing faculty engage in an intentional decision-making process regarding the method of delivery. Teaching and learning can effectively occur through a variety of delivery methods, and nursing faculty should implement distance education if it is the best method of delivery for the program’s students. Regardless of how a nursing course is delivered, faculty must be able to effectively deliver the instruction; and students and faculty must have access to the resources they need for success. To maintain the quality of the nursing education program, the ACEN defines any teaching/learning experience that occurs when the faculty and the students are not in the same physical location (e.g., on the college’s main campus) as distance education. This approach ensures that the program’s policies, learning resources, student support services, and faculty development efforts are inclusive of all methods of delivery, even if only one nursing course is offered using some form of distance education.

No, you would not need to submit a substantive change to the ACEN. Once one program or program option within a nursing education unit has been approved for distance education by the ACEN, approval of subsequent nursing programs or program options (in the same nursing education unit) is not required.

No, a focused visit is not required if a program implements distance education per ACEN Policy #14 Reporting Substantive Changes; however, a focused visit is possible. Only the ACEN Board of Commissioners or the Chief Executive Officer has the authority to authorize a focused visit. A determination about the need for a focused visit is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s substantive change submission, including program outcomes. When authorized, the purpose of a focused visit is to ensure that the program is in compliance with select ACEN Standards and Criteria related to the substantive change, and to ensure that the student learning needs are being met.

No. Just complete the appropriate template for the substantive change being submitted. Complete all applicable sections of the template and if something does not apply, simply indicate this. Keep responses clear, concise, and consistent; there are no hidden agendas in the templates. Attach all required supporting documents (listed on the template), and remember that the goal is to ensure that the program is in compliance with the selected ACEN Standards and Criteria and to ensure that student learning and faculty teaching needs are met after the implementation of distance education.

The ACEN requires all peer evaluators to book travel through the ACEN-approved travel agency.  Permission to drive to a site visit instead of flying must be received prior to the visit.  Additional information about traveling with the ACEN is available in the ACEN Travel Policy.

Site visitors will use the online Travel Reimbursement form to submit their expenses. Please review the ACEN Travel Policy regarding those expenses reimbursed outside of the per diem that each peer evaluator receives for expenses (e.g., meals, parking).

The ACEN has developed a “Who to Call” document that is available in the ACEN Repository for peer evaluators who are in the cycle.  Please refer to that document regarding questions related to the site visit, travel, or the Self-Study Report and actual visit. Access the Repository using your unique User ID and Password.

The ACEN uploaded the Site Visit Report templates in the ACEN Repository. Access the Repository using your unique User ID and Password. Look under resources, you will be able to download the template.  When the front demographic section of the template is sent to the nurse administrator, the Team Chair will be copied.  It is the responsibility of the Team Chair to collect this from the nurse administrator, have the team complete the second section of the form, verify all information during the visit, and then submit it with the completed Site Visit Report templated to the ACEN for processing. Completed reports are sent to SVR@acenursing.org within one week of the visit being completed.

Peer evaluators who have been on a minimum of three site visits are considered for a Team Chair role. Selection for the role is based upon evaluations from previous visits, the individual’s ability to write to all accreditation Standards, and willingness to serve in this capacity.  When selected to be a Team Chair, the individual will be required to complete additional online training specific to the Team Chair role prior to chairing a team. The ACEN also tries to assign a new chair to “shadow” the role on a visit prior to serving as a Team Chair.

To serve on the ERP, a peer evaluator must have been on a minimum of three site visits and have received good evaluations from those visits. The Directors review reports and  prospective peer evaluators on an ongoing basis to make recommendations for individuals to serve on ERP. Individuals serving on the ERP will need to be able to evaluate a program’s compliance with all accreditation Standards.

Yes, however, the ACEN will not interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters such as (but not limited to):

1. Admission.
2. Grades.
3. Granting or transferability of credits.
4. Application of academic policies.
5. Fees or other financial matters.
6. Disciplinary matters.
7. Contractual rights and obligations.
8. Personnel decisions.
9. Similar matters.

The ACEN will also not:

1. seek any type of compensation, damages, readmission, or other redress on an individual’s behalf.
2. respond to or take action upon  any complaint that is defamatory, hostile, or profane.
3. involve itself in collective bargaining disputes.
4. accept complaints about individuals.

Please visit the Complaints page or refer to Policy #20 Complaints Against an Accredited Program for information on how to submit a complaint against an ACEN accredited program and the ACEN procedure for processing complaints.

Attending a nursing program to advance your education and become a nurse is a big decision. You will invest significant time and resources in this process. The nursing program you choose will significantly inform and shape the nurse you will become. The following questions may be helpful to you as you seek a nursing program that matches your personal, professional, and career goals. You are encouraged to ask questions about the nursing program you are considering before you enroll to determine if the nursing program is a good fit for you.

1.   Is the institution offering the nursing program regionally or nationally accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)?
2.   Is the nursing program accredited by a programmatic or specialized nursing accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education?
3.   What is the most recent graduation rate for this nursing program?
4.   What percentage of the most recent nursing program graduates have passed the national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN®) or certification examination(s) the first time they took the examination in each of the last 3–5 years?
5.   What is the most recent employment rate in nursing jobs for which the program prepared the graduates?
6.   How much does this nursing program cost from beginning to end? Does the cost include all tuition, fees, and educational supplies (e.g., books, uniform, etc.)
7.   What types of federal, state and/or private financial aid and/or scholarships am I eligible to receive if I attend this nursing program? Of the types of financial aid that I am eligible to receive, which of these financial resources must I repay? How much debt will I incur if I enroll in this nursing program?
8.   What is the mission and/or philosophy of the nursing education program and does it fit with my personal belief system and worldview?

The ACEN is a specialized accrediting agency and has no licensing functions. In most states, licensure examination pass rates may be found on a state regulatory agency for nursing website and the pass rates should also be available from the nursing program. Contact information for a state regulatory agency for nursing can be found on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website.

All students should contact thecollege/university for information on transferring credits.

It is necessary to contact the nursingprogram and/or the college or university for information on scholarships.

All students should contact the nursing program or the state regulatory agency for nursing for information regarding criminal convictions, or review the laws of each state on the state licensing website. General information about the Nurse Licensure Compact and Uniform Licensure Requirements for a multistate license is available at: https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.page.