The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education are U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting bodies for postsecondary nursing programs in the United States. NLNAC grants initial or continuing accreditation to 175 programs and monitors accreditation of 1,200 nursing programs annually, while CCNE evaluates baccalaureate, master's and nursing residency programs around the nation. Both organizations maintain a searchable directory of accredited programs.
U.S. Department of Education-approved regional accrediting bodies include: the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. These bodies oversee the accreditation of the university, college or vocational school as a whole. The accreditation process must verify that all educational programs, including nursing programs, meet the criteria for continued operation.
North Dakota, Missouri, Maryland, New York and Kansas are recognized by the U.S. secretary of education as having the only state agencies in the nation empowered to accredit nursing programs in each respective state. The state board of nursing in North Dakota, Missouri, Maryland and Kansas, together with the New York State Office of the Professions, accredit nursing programs at all levels: diploma; associate's, baccalaureate and master's degrees; advanced certificate programs; and doctoral degrees.