El Camino College’s outstanding nursing program recently received “initial accreditation” from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). As one of the largest specialized accrediting agencies in the U.S., ACEN is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for being the leading authority in nursing education accreditation, with a goal of being a supportive partner in strengthening the quality of nursing education and transition-to-practice programs. The ACEN distinction is in addition to El Camino’s accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), a division of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. An ACEN accreditation demonstrates to the academic community that a college’s nursing program has “clear and appropriate educational objectives and is working to achieve these objectives.” By meeting the ACEN standards and criteria for accreditation, the college’s ACEN-accredited nursing program has consistently demonstrated that our students are prepared to enter the workforce, deliver excellent patient care, and contribute to positive health outcomes in the communities in which they serve.
El Camino College largely credits earning the ACEN accreditation to its nursing faculty and staff whose hard work and dedication consistently produce licensure exam pass rates in excess of 90%, among numerous other indicators of student success. Many graduates find employment throughout the South Bay, immediately putting their nursing and health care skills to work within the community. This accreditation is an important step closer toward the college’s goal to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing – an ambition that could be reached in a few years.