This glossary is drawn from the glossary of the American Nurses Association's Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development. The selected definitions are frequently used in the context of accreditation and may, in some cases, require further elaboration in order to carry out the accreditation process.

Accreditation: A voluntary process in which an institution, organization or agency submits to an in-depth analysis to determine its capacity to provide or approve quality continuing nursing education over an extended period of time.

Accredited Approver: An eligible organization credentialed by ANCC after having submitted to an in-depth analysis to determine its capacity to approve quality continuing education over an extended period of time.

Accredited Provider: An eligible organization credentialed by ANCC after having submitted to an in-depth analysis to determine its capacity to provide quality continuing education over an extended period of time.

Approval: (Continuing Education) A decision made by an accredited approver that the criteria for approval of continuing education have been met.

Continuing Education: Systematic professional learning experiences designed to augment the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of nurses and therefore enrich the nurses' contributions to quality health care and their pursuit of professional career goals.

Inservice Education: Activities intended to assist the professional nurse to acquire, maintain, and/or increase competence in fulfilling the assigned responsibilities specific to the expectations of the employer.

Provider: An individual, institution, organization, or agency responsible for the development, implementation, evaluation, financing, record keeping, and quality of continuing education activities.

Site Visit: An on-location review of an applicant to verify, clarify, and amplify documentation of a written application and thus to establish the applicant's capacity to meet the criteria.