The Importance of Accreditation

In the United States, institutions that offer post-secondary education are allowed to operate independently. Because of this level of autonomy, the quality of the educational programs offered through these institutions can be varied. The United States government does not exercise any central control over post-secondary education. Accreditation serves this purpose.

College Graduate

What must a college do to become accredited?

In order for any college to become accredited, it must be evaluated on such things as governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student services, institutional resources, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with internal and external constituencies.

Several regional agencies work independently to evaluate educational entities, but they coordinate their efforts together to maintain similar standards. These accrediting agencies follow guidelines set by the U.S. federal government.

What are the benefits of attending an accredited nursing school?

There are many benefits to attending an accredited nursing school. These benefits start helping you advance your health care education almost immediately. Some of the most important benefits are:

For students to qualify for financial aid on a federal level and other federal programs, the institution to which the have been accepted must be accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the federal government.
Accreditation ensures that the level of education you receive meets certain criteria and standards.
Attending an accredited school makes transferring to a different school more acceptable as it ensures the accepting school that the credites you have are of a certain level of quality.
As a graduate of an accredited nursing school, you have the opportunity to attend other schools offering advanced studies, including MSN and Doctorate programs.
Present yourself to a prospective employer as a professional with impeccable academic preparation and credentials.

At LPN-To-RN.net we recognize the importance of accreditation and screen schools that we promote carefully in order to help assure that nursing programs featured on our site have accreditation which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, (CHEA), is a private, nonprofit national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. They serve as the primary national voice for voluntary accreditation and quality assurance to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Department of Education.

Why Accreditation is Essential in and Online Degree Program