The principal accrediting body for nursing schools is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the principal accrediting organization for nursing schools. This body was initiated by but is independent of, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).  The CCNE accredits graduate programs in nursing for the principle MSN programs.

There are separate accrediting bodies for Nurse Midwifery and Nurse Anesthetist schools, both of which were at one time considered principal advanced nurse practices under the MSN umbrella.  There is also the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) which is also a reputable source for accreditation affirmation.  The NLNAC is relatively new to the game, having been recognized in 2001.

Online Programs

Both organizations (the CCNE and the NLNAC) will accept accreditation requests for distance learning programs.  The problem with accrediting online nursing programs is not necessarily the quality of education, but rather the inability of a far-off school to arrange for the clinical training hours required in a legitimate nursing program.  That’s why many of the online nursing schools will explain that their program does not, by itself, qualify a nursing candidate to sit for the national RN exam.

Many MSN online programs are accredited however, because the need for clinical study is not as stringent as with an RN program.  The RN to MSN programs online may be accredited for Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator specializations because there are no requirements for medical clinical hours.

Nurse Practitioner Programs

In 2004 the schools of the AACN voted to change the educational designation for advanced practice nursing to the doctoral level from the MSN, to be completed by all institutions by 2015.  As of February 2010 the AACN reported that 120 institutions were enrolling DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) candidates with another 99 schools in the preparatory stages.  There are currently about 500 accredited MSN programs in the United States.