The ACEN office will be CLOSED starting Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Normal business hours will resume on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM EST.
Accreditation Commission
for Education in Nursing
Elevating Educational Excellence Through Accreditation

ACEN Announces Inaugural Programs of Distinction

Congratulations to Blinn College – Associate Nursing Program and Mott Community College – Associate Nursing Program, the inaugural recipients of the ACEN Program of Distinction designation!

‍Celebrate the recipients and learn more about the Program of Distinction.

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ACEN 2026 Annual Report due October 23

The ACEN 2026 Annual Report has launched!

Nurse Administrators: check your email for unique links to complete the Annual Report submission form.

Access the Annual Report Instructions below.

annual report instructions
Spring 2026 Cycle Commission Actions

September 2026 Board Decisions

View the accreditation status of the programs reviewed by the ACEN Board of Commissioners during its September 2026 meeting.

Commission Actions
Call for Public Comments: Proposed ACEN 2028 Standards and Criteria. Now through November 1

Help shape the future of nursing education!

Please review the Proposed 2028 Standards and Criteria with Rationale and provide your comments.
‍
Comment Period: October 1, 2026 - November 1, 2026
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review proposed standards
Call for Nominations ACEN 2027-2028 Board of Commissioners and Nominating Committee

Nominations are open!

We are seeking nominations for six Commissioners and one member for the Nominating Committee for the 2027-2028 elections.

Nominations are due December 1.
‍Learn More
‍

submit a nomination form

Focused and flexible learning for your Self-Study Report role

Need support with just one Standard? Explore ACEN Academy’s individual Foundations of ACEN Accreditation e-courses, each aligned with one of ACEN’s five 2023 Standards.
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explore foundations e-courses
ACEN Advisory Review Personalized One-on-One Guidance to Support Your Accreditation Journey

Get personalized support for your next accreditation review

Whether your program is in candidacy or currently accredited, an Advisory Review provides focused, expert guidance to help you prepare with clarity and confidence.

learn more

Connections Newsletter

Our reimagined newsletter delivers insights, resources, and updates for nursing education administrators, faculty, peer evaluators, and accreditation leaders.

‍Read the first issue.

Read Connections
Important announcement: New ACEN Position Statement Related to Program Completion

Program Completion Position Statement

The statement provides guidance on establishing meaningful Expected Levels of Achievement (ELAs), monitoring completion outcomes, and using data to support program evaluation and improvement. For important guidance on program completion, outcomes, and program improvement, read the full position statement.

Read position statement

Your ACEN Accreditation Journey Starts Here

ACEN is recognized as the accrediting body for all types of nursing education programs by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Resources for Programs

Resources for nurse administrators and faculty to assist with the accreditation process.

Become Accredited

Resources for programs seeking initial accreditation.

Students & Public

Resources for students and interested members of the public related to ACEN accreditation and ACEN accredited programs.

ACEN Academy

Explore professional development courses, build confidence, and support excellence in nursing education.

ACEN Academy is ACEN’s centralized e-learning platform designed to promote accreditation readiness, professional practice, and continuous improvement for nursing education programs.

explore acen academy

Why ACEN Accreditation

ACEN accreditation indicates to the general public and to the educational community that a nursing program has clear and appropriate educational objectives and is working to achieve these objectives.

Events That Empower Accreditation Success

Leadership Excellence Workshops

LEAP: Leadership Excellence for Accredited Programs Workshops are designed for program administrators, faculty, and other positions that have administrative responsibilities for their organization's nursing program.

Standards in Action Workshops

Standards in Action Workshops help programs on their accreditation journey apply ACEN Standards through interactive exercises and expert guidance. Participants are encouraged to bring program materials to tailor their experience.

Regional Workshops

ACEN Regional Workshops bring accreditation support directly to you! Hosted in locations across the country, these workshops address region-specific trends and help programs maintain accreditation through shared strategies and guidance.

News & Updates

ACEN Announces Inaugural Programs of Distinction
October 15, 2026

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the ACEN Program of Distinction!

read More
ACEN 2027-2028 Board of Commissioners Call for Nominations
October 1, 2026

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is seeking nominations for six Commissioners for the ACEN Board of Commissioners and one member for the ACEN Nominating Committee.

read More
Proposed Federal Accreditation Regulations May Impact Accredited Programs
September 14, 2026

In April and May 2026, the United States Department of Education (“the Department”) convened negotiated rulemaking sessions focused on accreditation through an Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) committee. The purpose of these sessions was to evaluate the role of accreditation in higher education, including how it intersects with student outcomes, institutional accountability, and innovation.

read More
ACEN Program Completion Statement
August 13, 2026

ACEN has released a new Program Completion Position Statement addressing the importance of on-time program completion as an indicator of nursing program quality.

read More
See All Updates

ACEN Partner

ACEN Affiliates

Elevating Educational Excellence Through Accreditation

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by providing specialized accreditation for all levels of nursing education programs.

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Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
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Atlanta, GA 30326

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