The Texas State Board of The Commission on Collegiate for Education in Nursing Nursing Nursing Education (CCNE) (ACEN) The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review, self- The mission of the BON is to regulatory process by which non- protect and promote the welfare of governmental associations the people of Texas by ensuring recognize educational institutions The CCNE is the autonomous that each person licensed as a nurse or programs that have been found accrediting arm of the American is competent to practice safely. For to meet or exceed standards and Association of Colleges of Nursing this purpose, the Texas Board of criteria for educational quality. (AACN). Roles of the regulatory agency Nursing (BON) is the State agency Accreditation also assists in the The Commission serves the public empowered by the Texas further improvement of the interest by assessing and Legislature with regulating the institutions or programs as related identifying programs that engage in practice of vocational, to resources invested, processes effective educational practices. professional, and advanced practice followed, and results achieved. nursing ACEN is the gatekeeper to Title IV-HEA programs, which lets practical nursing and hospital diploma programs participate in DOE or other federal agency programs
The responsibility of the Board to ACEN provides specialized
establish standards for nursing accreditation for all types of The Commission evaluates and sets education in the State of Texas. The nursing programs, including standards for baccalaureate, Overseeing and regulating Board shall approve such nursing clinical doctorate, masters/post- graduate, doctoral, and residency services education programs that meet its masters certificate, baccalaureate, programs in nursing schools requirements, and shall deny or associate, diploma, and practical nationwide. withdraw approval from schools of nursing programs. The ACEN nursing and educational programs accredits nursing programs in which fail to meet the prescribed secondary, postsecondary, and course of study or other standards. hospital-based governing The intent of the approval process organizations that offer certificates, is to improve the educational diplomas, or degrees. programs and stimulate continuous self-study, evaluation, innovation, and appropriate changes within the programs. The Board provides guidance to nursing programs so that a high-quality education for the preparation of practitioners is ensured. Mandatory or voluntary Mandatory Voluntary Voluntary accreditations ACEN helps students by fostering excellence through ensuring that a program is meeting standards of Accreditation by CCNE serves as a educational quality specific to statement of good educational The Texas BON approves Texas nursing education through the peer practice in the field of nursing. School of nursing program leading review process. Accreditation evaluations are to first time licensure as RN, or useful to the program in that they LPN. The BON also has an ACEN Provides recognition that serve as a basis for continuing or Explain why a nursing program optional approval process for the program or school has been formative self-assessment as well would seek accreditation by one programs preparing APRNs. evaluated and periodically re- as for periodic or summative self- of these agencies Graduates of nursing programs evaluated by a qualified, assessment through which the from schools operating in Texas independent group of peers and the program, personnel, procedures, without board approval would not extent to which the program meets and services are improved. The be eligible to take the NCLEX appropriate educational purposes results of such assessments form Licensure examination. and standards of educational the basis for planning and the quality specific to nursing setting of priorities at the education. institution.