Accreditation

California Board of Registered Nursing
1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite N217
Sacramento CA 95834
phone: (916) 322-3350
www.rn.ca.gov

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington DC 20036-1120
phone: (202) 887-6791
fax: (202) 887-8476
www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation

What is CCNE?

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) "is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. A specialized/professional accrediting agency, CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs preparing effective nurses. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education". 

Accreditation by CCNE is intended to accomplish at least five general purposes:

• To hold nursing education programs accountable to the community of interest - the nursing profession, consumers, employers, higher education, students and their families - and to one another by ensuring that these programs have mission statements, goals and outcomes that are appropriate for programs preparing individuals to enter the field of nursing.
• To evaluate the success of a nursing education program in achieving its mission, goals and outcomes.
• To assess the extent to which a nursing education program meets accreditation standards.
• To inform the public of the purposes and values of accreditation and to identify nursing education programs that meet accreditation standards.
• To foster continuing improvement in nursing education programs - and thereby in professional practice.