The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. The Commission ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. The Commission 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 programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

“National accreditation of any formal higher education program, is the ultimate stamp of program quality,” said Dr. Dana Clawson, dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “This particular stamp of approval says to the public that NSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program was evaluated by a national, non-biased agency, composed of experts in the field of nursing education and was found to be in compliance with all pre-set quality standards. National accreditation demonstrates the DNP program is a good consumer choice for all masters prepared nurses wishing to further their education as nursing leaders and practice experts.”

CCNE accreditation is a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards established for the practice of accreditation in the United States. Accreditation by CCNE is intended to hold nursing programs accountable to the community of interest – the nursing profession, consumers, employers, higher education, students and their families, nurse residents – and to one another by ensuring that these programs have mission statements, goals and outcomes that are appropriate to prepare individuals to fulfill their expected role and evaluate the success of a nursing program in achieving its mission, goals, and expected outcomes.

Accreditation also assesses the extent to which a nursing program meets accreditation standards; informs the public of the purposes and values of accreditation and to identify nursing programs that meet accreditation standards and fosters continuing improvement in nursing programs – and, thereby, in professional practice.