The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is one of three program accrediting agencies for

nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...

education in the US and its territories. It is also a subsidiary of the

National League for Nursing The National League for Nursing (NLN) is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives ...

. ACEN is recognized by the

Council for Higher Education Accreditation The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for academic quality through accreditation in order t ...

(CHEA) for nursing education programs. The

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

agency is funded by dues from member schools. ACEN accredits nursing education programs for every level of nursing, from associate level to doctorate. ACEN accreditation is voluntary, but according to the

National Council of State Boards of Nursing The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a US not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four US territories — American Samoa, Guam, Northern M ...

, ACEN acts as the

Title IV Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) covers the administration of the United States federal student financial aid programs. American colleges and universities are generally classified with regard to their inclusion under Title IV, ...

"gatekeeper" for nursing education programs. Along with state nursing boards, ACEN determines whether nursing programs can have accreditation and maintain it. Therefore, many nursing programs organize around ACEN standards.

History

In 1893, The American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses was founded. The organization's mission was to create a universal standard of nurse training. In 1938, National League for Nursing Education (NLNE) began accreditation for registered nurse education programs. Beginning in 1964, federal funding for nursing education under the US Nurse Training Act was contingent upon the compliance of schools of nursing with Title VI of the

Civil Rights Act Civil Rights Act may refer to several acts of the United States Congress, including: * Civil Rights Act of 1866, extending the rights of emancipated slaves by stating that any person born in the United States regardless of race is an American ci ...

of the same year. In 1997, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) began operations with sole authority for performing the nursing accreditation processes. Today there are three program accrediting agencies for nursing in the US. The current CEO for ACEN is Marsal P. Stoll.

References

{{Reflist Nursing organizations in the United States Boards of nursing in the United States Higher education accreditation

History

See also

References