Established in 1974, The Accreditation Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center recognizes organizations (or components of organizations) that offer high quality continuing education for nurses. The Accreditation Program contributes to healthcare quality and professional nursing practice by providing a voluntary peer review process that defines standards for organizations that elect to apply for accreditation.
Primary Accreditation
Accredited Provider
Provides own continuing education activities
Accredited Provider
Approves other organizations that provide continuing
education activities and/or approves individual
educational activities
Benefits of ANCC Accreditation
Recognition by most state licensing boards for continuing education requirements
Demonstrates achievement of a high standard of excellence and assures the quality of the
CNE program
Promotes commitment to high quality nursing practice
Nursing Skills Competency Program
The Accreditation Program Accredits individual educational programs designed to validate nursing skills or skill sets through the Nursing Skills Competency Program (NSCP). The NSCP provides assurance for consumers, organizations and regulating bodies that nurses are competent to perform an individual skill or set of skills.
Nursing Skills Competency Program
Accredits individual educational programs that yield or validate a nursing skill.
Joint Accreditation Program
The Accreditation Program participates as a partner with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) in the Joint Accreditation Program. The Joint Accreditation Program supports inter-professional continuing education and streamlines the accreditation application process for organizations providing inter-professional education activities.
Joint Accreditation Program:
Collaboratively with ACME and ACPE- accredits organizations that provide continuing
education activities planned by and for the inter-professional audience.
Awarding Continuing Education Credit: Three Options
There are three different ways to be allowed by ANCC to award contact hours for successful completion of continuing nursing education. Download this document to learn more.