How to Start

ANCC accreditation demonstrates that organizations such as nursing groups, hospitals and health ministries meet rigorous standards for providing continuing professional development to registered nurses. Organizations that invest in continuing professional development or education for registered nurses can improve the professional practice of nursing and patient outcomes.

Steps to Eligibility

Eligibility requires an organization use ANCC criteria for at least 6 months prior to application. Organizations outside the US must also independently verify credentials of nurse leaders coordinating continuing professional development, a process that can take up to 3 months. We recommend the following steps:

1. Use the NCPD Accreditation Self-Assessment Tool to assess your readiness to apply.
2. Download the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and operate according to ANCC criteria for 6 months.
3. Download the Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide
4. Plan, implement and evaluate at least 3 professional development or education activities according to standards outlined in the manual.
   –AND– Apply for approval of the individual education activities through an ANCC Accredited Approver.

Educational Requirements and Validation of Credentials for Accredited Provider Program Director and nurse planner(s) (if any) for organizations outside of the US. Applicants outside of the US for the ANCC NCPD accreditation program must demonstrate that the Accredited Provider Program Director and nurse planner(s) (if any) meet eligibility requirements for academic preparation and licensure (or international equivalent).

• If the baccalaureate degree (or higher) in nursing was obtained outside the United States, the Accredited Provider Program Director and nurse planner(s) (if any) do not need to have the degree evaluated for comparability to US degree requirements.
• If the Accredited Provider Program Director and nurse planner(s) (if any) are educated outside the United States and do not hold a baccalaureate (or higher) nursing degree, they must have their credentials evaluated for comparability to US degree standards through Commission on Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
• ANCC will not accept verification documents from other credential evaluating organizations.

LEARN HOW TO APPLY

Resources

ANCC offers free and low-cost resources to help you plan, implement, and evaluate nursing continuing professional development or education activities according to ANCC standards for educational design, evidence-based content, and testing methodology.