Non-Accredited Programs–Are They Worth It?
Loading ...It is best to avoid non-accredited programs and schools, even if they are less time-consuming, more available, and/or less expensive than accredited programs. Attending a non-accredited school is risky at best. What is more, non-accredited programs are not only risky for the nurse aspirant, who may find them to be a waste of time and money when applying for jobs in the field. They are risky for the patients she or he will serve.
Don’t Gamble with Your Nursing Career
A non-accredited program means that financial aid, grants and scholarships will not be available. What is more, as one climbs up the nursing education ladder, a non-accredited program might not be considered strong enough to allow one to ascend to the next rung.
There is no reason to stint on one’s education and attend a non-accredited program because of lack of funds. Any college or university student is eligible to apply for state and federal grants, scholarships and loans, including nursing students.
Nursing students may find many more financial opportunities than are available to most students through a rigorous web search. Many organizations recognize the need for nurses, and funding opportunities are available. Some hospitals offer signing bonuses for nurses to help offset tuition debts. A guaranteed post-graduation term of service for a few years may motivate different organizations, including the military, to help with tuition payments.
In this age of increasing specialization and complex patient needs, accreditation assumes more and more importance. The field of nursing is becoming increasingly professionalized. Although non-accredited programs may have their conveniences, they are simply not worth it in the end.
Important accreditations to look for are from the
- National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (from the diploma level on up)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (four year and graduate nursing programs)
Tags: National League For Nursing Accrediting Commission, Nlnac, Nursing Accrediting Commission
Have your say!
This article has 4 comments
I wouldn’t go to a non-accredited school. You can not go on to grad school or anything if the school isn’t accredited (at least the option is open if it is accredited). The school I went to was not accredited initially (we were the first graduating class of a new BSN RN Program. The college did gain accredation the yr we graduated. Some positions advertise they want nurses only from accredited schools.
I agree. With as many schools having accreditation, why choose one that doesn’t. The gall that many unaccredited schools have for how much they charge is incredible. You don’t get financial aid, you have trouble transferring credits, and sometime, you have trouble getting work. What is the upside.
My daughter is interesting in a LPN degree. One of the schools she is looking at – Everest Institute in the metro Detroit area – says they are accredited by ABHES ( Accredited Bureau of Health Education Schools) and she can complete the coursework in one year – $20,000!! Opinions?!?
GG –
One clue into the stature of the program you are looking into is this: Can you get federal loans and grants to pay for a degree at that school? If not, I’d consider other alternatives.
You want a school regionally accredited, that usually means a 4-year, not-for-profit school. Here’s a good article on that: http://distancelearn.about.com/od/accreditationinfo/a/regional.htm
Sometimes regional accreditation might not be possible, especially for a year-long degree.
A top choice here might be a community college as they do tend to be accreditation.
This is really, really important for your daughter’s career.
Another way to get this question answered and this takes a bit of homework. But talk to some RN or BSN schools that ARE regionally accredited and ask them what kind of schools and accreditation that they do prefer when looking at incoming students. Even if your daughter is not thinking about going any further with her education than and LPN, this will give you an idea of the kind of school(s) that you are considering and even give you some new ideas for additional schools to think about.
You can also ask around at some major health care employers in your area what they think about the program, what are the best programs in your area.
This is probably the single most important decision you can make when it comes to your nursing career. Get THIS right and everything else will fall into place much easier.
This is all my opinion and please consider that I am not a college admission counselor or a professional adviser about this stuff. However if it were my daughter and my some of my $$, I’d spend a few hundred dollars worth of my time making sure this was the right fist step.