Is CCNE Accreditation Good for Nursing School?

Prospective nursing students researching programs will inevitably come up against the phrase CCNE accreditation. What is it, and what is the CCNE accreditation good for?

A CCNE accredited program tells you that that particular nursing program maintains the highest nursing educational standards—so you can feel confident and prepared entering your nursing career.

Is CCNE accreditation good to look out for as you search for nursing schools? In short, yes. Let’s dive in.

What is CCNE Accreditation?

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of Education as a sanctioned reviewer of nursing education programs. They are a major player in the assessment of nursing education programs and credentialing programs across the United States, using a standardized and transparent set of criteria to evaluate nursing programs through the CCNE accreditation process.

The CCNE accreditation process is essentially a framework for nationwide, continuous quality control of nursing programs—making sure that every newly minted registered nurse enters the workforce with a high standard of training and learns critical nursing skills by the time they complete their studies.¹

The Importance of CCNE Accreditation

As with any university or higher learning institution, a coherent rubric for review of teaching standards and practices is crucial to ensuring a quality level of education for students.

Quality Assurance

Nurses need to be prepared for nearly anything on the job. Whether they are working in a hospital, a clinic, a long-term care facility, or somewhere else, nurses need extensive knowledge to help them make fast and accurate care judgments. This is the type of educational quality assurance that the CCNE accreditation signifies, especially for those striving to learn how to be a better nurse.

Professional Recognition

At the institutional level, nursing education programs with CCNE accreditation enjoy the higher prestige of official recognition as a high-quality educator—a certified stamp of approval bringing with it a considerable degree of credibility and national visibility.²

At the same time, graduates of these nursing education programs benefit from the trust of a respected entity. CCNE accreditation can point to safe, worthwhile investments in education and the future of nursing.

Which is Better, CCNE or ACEN?

CCNE is not the only accrediting body that you will encounter when researching nursing programs. Likely as not, you will also have seen ACEN or CNEA accreditation mentioned.

Both are accrediting bodies that exist to ensure a minimum level of quality in nursing education. Both are prestigious and use a high-quality review process in the decision to accredit an institution or not.

The main difference between the two accrediting bodies has historically been in the kinds of programs they accredit, with CCNE focusing more on Bachelor's, Master’s, and Doctorate programs.³

Benefits of CCNE Accreditation for Students

Along with the promise of a quality education, CCNE-accredited schools have a huge variety of financial aid, debt forgiveness, grants, and fellowships to offer students. Many of these are provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the parent organization of the CCNE.

Access to Financial Aid

In general, most financial aid sources require that the nursing program be accredited. Therefore, attending a CCNE-accredited nursing program opens opportunities for:

• Federal student aid, which only applies to students in accredited programs
• Scholarships and grants, such as the Pell Grant
• Certain loan repayment programs like the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program⁴

Increased Employability

Many employers make it a condition that candidates hold an accredited degree or certification. And even if it is not a hard requirement for employment, CCNE accreditation tells prospective employers that the candidate has been educated to a known, high standard.

An accredited degree can make the difference between a good resume and a great one.

Nursing Programs

Benefits of CCNE Accreditation for Nursing Schools

Just as nursing education accreditation is a benefit for graduating students, the same is true for the institution. CCNE accreditation is a huge boost to a nursing school’s reputation, prestige, and more.

Program Evaluation and Improvement

The field of nursing is ever-changing—so its programming should be, too. To keep up with evolving technologies, research, and standards, the CCNE accreditation ensures a school’s undergraduate and graduate nursing programs are continuously evaluated and improved upon.

Recruitment and Reputation

With a strong reputation comes strong recruitment. Having the CCNE accreditation allows nursing schools to attract top talent—both in their faculty and their student body. The high standards of a CCNE accreditation can help draw hard-working, dedicated educators and students to your program.

The Accreditation Process

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provides a detailed list of the criteria required to meet the standard necessary for CCNE accreditation. These include:⁵

• Mission and Governance
• Institutional Commitment & Resources
• Curriculum & Teaching-Learning Practices
• Assessment & Achievement of Program Outcomes

However, nursing school accreditation is more than a one-off stamp of approval. To stay in good standing with the CCNE, institutions need to maintain the rigorous accreditation standards required to pass the review process.

Challenges and Considerations

In addition to those mentioned, the final major criterion is ongoing, self-regulatory review.

Every important aspect of an institution is subject to recurring scheduled assessment and evaluation—from the content of courses to the observation of faculty, right down to graduates’ satisfaction and preparation for the job market. (There is even a requirement for evaluation of the methods of evaluation.)

Get a CCNE Accreditation Through Alliant International University

The BSN, MSN-DE, and MSN, NE programs at Alliant are currently in the initial stage of review for accreditation by the CCNE and are aligned with the latest standards of the AACN.

Our nursing education programs are outstanding choices for anyone wanting to build a successful nursing career. Take the first step toward your future with Alliant International University today.

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Sources: 

1. Brooke McAtee, Teresa Shellenbarger, Jennifer Chicca. “Dispelling Accreditation Myths to Enhance Nursing Education, Teaching and Learning in Nursing.” Science Direct. September 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1557308724001793…. Accessed October 30, 2024.
2. Jacqueline Haverkamp, Alicia K. Ribar, Kay Ball, Kacy Ballard, Susan Butz, John D. Chovan, Eva M. Fried, Brian Garrett, Karen Hughes, Patricia Keane, Regina Prusinski, Joy R. Shoemaker. “A map for successful CCNE accreditation.” Journal of Professional Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.09.003. Accessed October 30, 2024.
3. “Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.” Accreditation Manual. 2023. https://resources.acenursing.org/space/AM/1842642947/2023+Accreditation…. Accessed October 30, 2024.
4. “Apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.” HRSA. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps. Accessed October 30, 2024.
5. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. “Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Practitioner Fellowship/Residency Programs.” 2020. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/CCNE/CCNE-NP-Fellowship-Resi…. Accessed October 30, 2024.