New Online Payment System for ACEN Invoices
October 31, 2023
You can now pay your ACEN invoice online using our new bill payment system!

Visit URL: https://www.billerpayments.com/app/simplepayui/?bsn=acen#/simplepay/payment or look for the Pay Invoice link on the ACEN website.
ACEN Announces Promotions of Drs. Ard and Nunn-Ellison to New ACEN Leadership Positions
October 24, 2023


The ACEN is happy to announce the promotions of Dr. Nell Ard, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, to the new position of Chief Accreditation Officer and Dr. Keri Nunn-Ellison, EdD, MSN/Ed, RN, CNE, to the new position of Senior Director.
Please join us in congratulating Drs. Ard and Nunn-Ellison on their promotions!
ACEN is Excited to Offer a Spring 2024 Self-Study Forum in Amman, Jordan
October 13, 2023

The ACEN will be offering a Self-Study Forum preceding the First International Nursing Conference on May 6-7, 2024, hosted by the College of Nursing at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan.
Call for Nominations: ACEN Board of Commissioners and Nominating Committee
October 1, 2023
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is seeking nominations for five Commissioners for the ACEN Board of Commissioners and one member for the ACEN Nominating Committee. The ACEN values the perspectives of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and seeks to include the broadest range of perspectives within the composition of the Board of Commissioners and the Nominating Committee.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) appoints Dr. Kathy Chappell as Chief Executive Officer
Friday, August 4, 2023

ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the leading authority in nursing education accreditation, today announced Kathy Chappell, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN has been named as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Dr. Chappell is an accomplished researcher with a clinical background and extensive experience steering the strategic direction of credentialing programs at notable professional organizations and health systems in the U.S. and globally. She will assume the leadership position on September 4, 2023 and immediately begin delivering on ACEN’s mission to strengthen the quality of nursing education at all levels of the profession and transition-to-practice programs.
ACEN Announces 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award
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June 30, 2023
The ACEN is honored to announce Marilyn Smidt, MSN, RN, as the recipient of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award! The ACEN Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their service in nursing education, practice, and/or accreditation.
This prestigious award honors an extraordinary individual who has made indelible contributions to nursing education, nursing practice, and/or accreditation over a sustained period of time. This year’s award will be presented during the ACEN 2023 Nursing Education Accreditation Conference.
Please join us in congratulating Marilyn on this extraordinary accomplishment!
2023-2024 Election Results are In!
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June 14, 2023
Effective October 1, 2023, there are newly elected and re-elected Commissioners who will join the Board and a newly elected representative joining the Nominating Committee.
ACEN Recognition Renewed by the USDE
ATLANTA, June 1, 2023 – The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has once again granted recognition to the ACEN as a specialized accreditor for nursing education programs.

On May 31, 2023, the ACEN received the decision letter from Jordan Matsudaira, Deputy Under Secretary and Chief Economist of the USDE, stating that the recognition of the ACEN was renewed for a period of five years. This decision is in line with the recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and the recommendation from USDE staff.
ACEN Position Statement Related to Graduate Nursing Education Programs
September 30, 2022
The ACEN has been accrediting nursing education programs for over 80 years. Under ACEN practice, a master’s nursing program can also include post-master’s certificate (PMC) program options. In 2012, the ACEN began accrediting clinical doctorate programs (DNP), and in 2019, the ACEN added a DNP Specialist certificate as a component of the DNP degree.
The ACEN has accredited graduate nursing programs regardless of the specialty area(s) offered within the program; specialty areas are referred to as program options by the ACEN. The ACEN firmly believes that the level of nursing offered by an institution should be in congruence with the institutional philosophy and meet the needs of the institution’s communities of interest. Therefore, the ACEN will continue to accredit all APRN and non-APRN program options at the master’s level and DNP level.
The ACEN also accredits nurse educator program options offered as part of either a master’s or DNP program of study. The ACEN Board of Commissioners (BOC) firmly believes that the nurse educator role is a nursing practice specialty and that preparation at the graduate level is appropriate. The future of quality nursing programs is dependent upon having knowledgeable and skilled individuals with expertise in educational practice; thus, graduate programs should continue to offer well-designed nurse educator program options.
BECOME A PEER EVALUATOR!
There is an opportunity for you and your colleagues to serve nursing education and the nursing profession by becoming a peer evaluator. The ACEN is growing; the number of site visits per semester has increased from an average of 80 visits to 120 visits.
Your ACEN needs you to volunteer to be a peer evaluator.
Every ACEN-accredited nursing program benefits from having at least one nurse educator serving as a peer evaluator, and there is no limit to the number of peer evaluators from a nursing program. Many consider serving in the role of peer evaluator as an opportunity for service and as a professional commitment.
Transition-to-Practice Accreditation by ACEN
The leading authority for nursing education accreditation proudly brings you Transition-to-Practice (TTP) program accreditation. Transition to practice is a critical time during which a nurse develops the skills and attitudes necessary for autonomous nursing practice within her or his level of licensure. Transitions in nursing practice occur when an individual completes a nursing education program and obtains initial or a new level of nursing licensure, when a practicing nurse transitions to a new nursing role/responsibilities at the same level of licensure, or when a nurse re-enters the workforce after an extended absence. Current research suggests that successful transitions to practice result in improved patient safety and a better quality of nursing care.