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institution offers master’s-level APRN tracks and a post-graduate APRN certificate program, the institution
must report student completion rate data, certification pass rate data, and employment rate data separately
for the master’s degree program and the post-graduate APRN certificate program. Such data are not to be
combined because separate determinations need to be made by CCNE evaluation teams and decision-makers
about whether the degree program complies with the accreditation standards and key elements, and whether
the post-graduate APRN certificate program complies with the accreditation standards and key elements.
10. For what term of accreditation are post-graduate APRN certificate programs eligible?
The term of accreditation for a post-graduate APRN certificate program is dependent on the term of
accreditation for which the degree programs under review are eligible. If the degree program is being reviewed
for initial accreditation, the maximum term of accreditation for both the degree program and the post-
graduate APRN certificate program is 5 years. If there is a degree program being reviewed for continuing
accreditation, the maximum term of accreditation for both the degree program and the post-graduate APRN
certificate program is 10 years. If there are two degree programs under review and one is seeking initial
accreditation and the other is seeking continuing accreditation, the post-graduate APRN certificate program is
eligible for the maximum term of the program seeking continuing accreditation (10 years). This policy affords
program officials maximum flexibility for scheduling future on-site evaluations.
As is always true, there is no guarantee that accreditation or the maximum term of accreditation will be
awarded for any program seeking accreditation.
11. Our next scheduled on-site evaluation of a degree program is not for several years.
What is the potential impact on students who complete a post-graduate APRN certificate
program that is not CCNE accredited? Will our students still be able to sit for certification
exams?
In keeping with the APRN Consensus Model, certification bodies have indicated that graduation from
(completion of) an accredited APRN education program is an important factor when determining a graduate’s
eligibility to sit for a certification examination.
CCNE communicates and works closely with the certification bodies on issues related to APRN credentialing.
CCNE informs certification bodies and other stakeholders about the Board’s final accreditation actions
following each decision-making meeting. The certification bodies are aware that CCNE began reviewing post-
graduate APRN certificate programs for accreditation in 2014, and that CCNE reviews certificate programs for
accreditation at the same time one or more degree programs are under review.
Together, CCNE and the certification bodies recognize that the accreditation of post-graduate APRN certificate
programs is a transition in the nursing education community. It is important to understand that risks exist for
any program that is not accredited. For example, an institution that passes up the opportunity to present its
post-graduate APRN certificate program for CCNE accreditation may be putting students or completers at risk.
This is why CCNE recommends that an institution present its post-graduate APRN certificate program for
accreditation in a timely fashion and in accordance with CCNE policies (see Item 7).
12. We don’t currently have any students enrolled in our post-graduate APRN certificate
program. Do students need to be enrolled in the post-graduate APRN certificate program
for it to be eligible for accreditation?
In order to be eligible to host an on-site evaluation, the post-graduate APRN certificate program must have had
at least one student enrolled, in at least one track, within the past two years or have had at least one
completer, in at least one track, within the past two years.