NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING COMMISSION FOR NURSING EDUCATION ACCREDITATION (NLN CNEA) - Accreditation Handbook: Policies and Procedures

Sep 20, 2026

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Accreditation Handbook: Policies and Procedures for the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Approved February 2023, with revisions listed for September 2019 and December 2022. Defines the value of nursing education accreditation, emphasizing public protection, external quality assurance and improvement, and the role of institutional self-assessment. Provides a structured framework covering governance, accreditation standards, pre-accreditation and accreditation policies, appeals, monitoring, distance education, public notifications, program reporting responsibilities, complaint handling, and operational policies including site visits and virtual evaluations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages80

Reading Time3 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

SECTION ONE – GENERAL INFORMATION

1-I. The Value of Accreditation

1-II. Introduction to the NLN CNEA

1-III. NLN CNEA Governance Structure

SECTION TWO – STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION

2-I. Accreditation Standards for Nursing Education Programs

SECTION THREE – PRE-ACCREDITATION AND ACCREDITATION POLICIES

3-I. Accreditation Policies and Procedures

3-II. Appeal Process

3-III. Accrediting Actions and Monitoring Processes

3-IV. Third-party Comments

3-V. Distance Education Programs

3-VI. Voluntary Withdrawal of Program from Pre-Accreditation and Accreditation

3-VII -Teach-Out Plans and Agreements

SECTION FOUR – PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS

4-I. Public Disclosure of Program Information and Accreditation

4-II. Public Disclosure of the NLN CNEA Decision-Making Bodies and Senior Administrative Staff

4-III. Use of the NLN CNEA Accreditation Logo

4-IV. Public Notification Regarding Program Accreditation and Other Program Information

SECTION FIVE – PROGRAM REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

5-I. Substantive Changes

5-II. NLN CNEA Annual Report

5-III. Change in Accreditation Status of Governing Institution

5-IV. Change in Program Status with State Regulatory Agencies or Other Nursing Accrediting Agencies

5-V. NLN CNEA Mid-Cycle Report

SECTION SIX – NLN CNEA REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

6-I. Public Notification of Board of Commissioners’ Pre-Accreditation and Accreditation Decisions

6-II. Program Records

6-III. Public Review of Proposed Policy Changes

SECTION SEVEN – COMPLAINT POLICY

7-I. Complaint Policy

SECTION 8 – OTHER POLICIES

8-I. Written Team Report and Program Response

8-II. Policy on Qualifications for Serving on the PRC, IPASC, Mid-cycle Review Subcommittee, and Appeal Panel

8-III. Virtual Site Evaluation Visit Policy

8-IV. Conduct of Business

8-V. Site Visitor Policy

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING COMMISSION FOR NURSING EDUCATION ACCREDITATION (NLN CNEA) Accreditation Handbook: Policies and Procedures Approved February 2023 Revisions September 2019 Revisions December 2022 National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW , 8th Floor Washington, DC 20037 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ONE – GENERAL INFORMATION 1-I. The Value of Accreditation ............................................................................................... 4 1-II. Introduction to the NLN CNEA ......................................................................................... 5 1-III. NLN CNEA Governance Structure.................................................................................. 7 SECTION TWO – STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION 2-I. Accreditation Standards for Nursing Education Programs ...............................................10 SECTION THREE – PRE-ACCREDITATION AND ACCREDITATION POLICIES 3-I. Accreditation Policies and Procedures.............................................................................15 3-II. Appeal Process ..............................................................................................................37 3-III. Accrediting Actions and Monitoring Processes ..............................................................42 3-IV. Third-party Comments ..................................................................................................48 3-V. Distance Education Programs ........................................................................................50 3-VI. Voluntary Withdrawal of Program from Pre-Accreditation and Accreditation .................51 3-VII -Teach-Out Plans and Agreements ..............................................................................52 SECTION FOUR – PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS 4-I. Public Disclosure of Program Information and Accreditation .............................................54 4-II. Public Disclosure of the NLN CNEA Decision-Making Bodies and Senior Administrative Staff.......................................................................................................................................54 4-III. Use of the NLN CNEA Accreditation Logo .....................................................................55 4-IV. Public Notification Regarding Program Accreditation and Other Program Information...55 SECTION FIVE – PROGRAM REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES 5-I. Substantive Changes ......................................................................................................57 5-II. NLN CNEA Annual Report..............................................................................................59 5-III. Change in Accreditation Status of Governing Institution.................................................61 5-IV. Change in Program Status with State Regulatory Agencies or Other Nursing Accrediting Agencies ...............................................................................................................................61 5-V. NLN CNEA Mid-Cycle Report.........................................................................................62 SECTION SIX – NLN CNEA REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES 6-I. Public Notification of Board of Commissioners’ Pre-Accreditation and Accreditation Decisions...............................................................................................................................64 6-II. Program Records ...........................................................................................................66 6-III. Public Review of Proposed Policy Changes ..................................................................67 SECTION SEVEN – COMPLAINT POLICY 7-I. Complaint Policy..............................................................................................................68 SECTION 8 – OTHER POLICIES

FAQs

What is the purpose and value of NLN CNEA accreditation?

Accreditation provides a public measure of quality assurance for nursing education and emphasizes protection of the public interest. The handbook links accreditation to quality of nursing education and the healthcare delivered by the nursing workforce.

How does accreditation relate to external quality review and self-assessment?

Accreditation is described as a status of public recognition granted by an agency and as an external quality review for quality assurance and improvement. The process also relies on systematic institutional and program self-assessment for continuous quality improvement.

What categories of policies and procedures are covered in the handbook?

The handbook outlines pre-accreditation and accreditation policies, appeal processes, accrediting actions and monitoring, third-party comments, distance education provisions, voluntary withdrawal and teach-out arrangements, and public notifications and program reporting responsibilities.

Sep 20, 2026

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