Accreditation means the school meets certain standards set by the accreditating organization for quality education. Schools are regionally accredited as a whole, and nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN). If the Board of Nursing in your state has approved your program, then you will be able to take the NCLEX, and you will be able to get a license. Accreditation is an expensive, intensive, and lengthy process and not all nursing programs are able to get the resources to go through the process.

The program where I teach is recognized statewide as one of the finest ADN programs in North Carolina (one colleague I met at a conference after I started teaching called my school's program the "Duke of the North Carolina Community College System.") However, we are not accredited by the NLN . . . yet. We should start the process soon.

All an employer will care about is whether or not you have a license. The school you go to, and your academic record matters only when you go on to graduate education, and even then only if you want entry into a competitive program at a top notch school . . . like Duke :D

I'd check with the Board in your state and see what the NCLEX pass rate for the program you plan to go to has been for the past 3 years. If it's above 85%, it meets standards. If it's above 90%, then it's a good school. If it hits 100%, it's a great school :)

HEY EVRY1 I AM ASKING FOR SERIOUS ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its so competive to get into a nursing program due to the LONG waiting lists? i was considering going to a non- accredited (LPN or RN) school because of that does it really matter (when finding a job) as long as you have a RN or LPN license to practice?