Online nursing schools are accredited in the same way that traditional, campus-based nursing schools are accredited. Each online nursing school must apply to a private accrediting agency, be evaluated by that agency through a peer-review process, and then be found to meet that agency's quality standards before it can be listed as accredited.
While each agency sets its own standards, the overall goal of any accrediting agency is to ensure students receive a quality education from a responsible university. Accrediting agencies often start by evaluating an online nursing school's mission statement, goals and objectives and evaluate how well the school is meeting those goals. The agencies that accredit nursing programs ensure that the school's faculty is qualified to educate nursing students; that the school has budgeted enough finances for the nursing program; and that the nursing curriculum is rigorous enough to effectively train nursing students for their future careers.
Most online nursing schools have their accreditation status listed on their website. However, it is wise to verify your school's claim through reliable sources. Two great resources for checking the accreditation status of your nursing school are the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Both maintain searchable lists of colleges and universities that have been accredited by a recognized accreditation agency.
The USDE's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs is easy to use. You simply enter the name of the online nursing school you are researching into the search box to search for its accreditation. If you want to take your research a step further, you can visit the website of the accrediting agency itself to verify that your school is still in good standing.
A second resource is CHEA, which maintains a thorough Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations. Like the USDE database, the CHEA database allows you to search the name of your school to verify that it is accredited.
Why is accreditation so important? One, most schools will only accept credits from online nursing schools that are accredited. Two, most employers will not hire nurses who have not completed an accredited nursing school. And three, it helps to keep students from getting duped by poor quality nursing schools or degree mills.
While there are others, some examples of accrediting agencies for online nursing schools and their programs include: the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs; and the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.