ACENursing

Nursing Education Accreditationacenursing.org

ACENursing (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) is a nonprofit, ED- and CHEA-recognized accrediting agency that provides peer-review accreditation for all levels of nursing education programs across the U.S., its territories, and internationally, serving nursing programs, educators, and students.

Company typePrivate
Founded1997
HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
Headcount—
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What ACENursing does

ACENursing operates as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that provides peer-review accreditation for nursing education programs across all levels — practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's, and clinical doctorate. It is the only accrediting body recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (recognition renewed in 2023) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (recognition renewed in 2021 for seven years), and it operates throughout the United States, its territories, and internationally with programs in Colombia, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. ACEN is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National League for Nursing (NLN), under which it was established in 1997 as the NLNAC to comply with federal requirements separating accrediting functions from trade organizations; it was renamed ACEN in 2013 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

The core product is the accreditation service itself, which includes eligibility application, self-study, peer evaluation site visits, and Board of Commissioners review. ACEN generates revenue through subscription-style accreditation fees (evaluation fees, candidacy fees, annual report fees, and continuing accreditation fees) charged to nursing programs on an annual cadence. Beyond core accreditation, ACEN extends its product surface with ACEN Academy (an on-demand e-learning platform for accreditation readiness), ACEN Everywhere (continuing nursing education eCourses), the Program of Distinction (a recognition tier for high-performing programs), a portfolio of in-person workshops (Standards in Action, LEAP, Regional), an Advisory Review support service, the Search Programs directory, the Bridges quarterly newsletter, and a peer evaluator volunteer community. The organization is governed by a 17-member Board of Commissioners elected by accredited programs.

ACENursing firmographics

Firmographics

Name: ACENursing
Legal name: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
Website: https://acenursing.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1997
Operating status: Operating
Short description: ACENursing (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) is a nonprofit, ED- and CHEA-recognized accrediting agency that provides peer-review accreditation for all levels of nursing education programs across the U.S., its territories, and internationally, serving nursing programs, educators, and students.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ACENursing industry classification

Industry

Product category: Nursing Education Accreditation
NAICS: Educational Support Services (611710)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB)
akta.pro secondary industries: Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ), Institutional & Programmatic Accreditation Audits (EDADAGAA)

Keywords

Nursing program accreditation
Specialized accrediting agency
Peer review accreditation
Nursing education standards
Continuing nursing education

Where ACENursing is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Atlanta
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

ACENursing business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Accreditation Fees: ACEN generates revenue through accreditation fees charged to nursing education programs seeking initial or continuing accreditation. Programs pay evaluation fees, annual reports, and other accreditation-related fees per the published Schedule of Fees. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary for nursing programs.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Accreditation fees for nursing programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

ACENursing product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ACEN provides specialized, peer-review accreditation for nursing education programs at all levels (practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's including post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate). The organization also delivers accreditation support resources including ACEN Academy e-learning, Standards in Action, LEAP, and Regional Workshops, an Advisory Review service, Program of Distinction recognition, and the Search Programs public directory. ACEN is the only U.S. Department of Education and CHEA-recognized accrediting agency covering all nursing program types.

Product overview

ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) operates as a nonprofit, non-governmental organization providing specialized accreditation for all levels of nursing education programs. The organization offers a unified portfolio of accreditation services centered on the ACEN Accreditation Services as its core product, supplemented by educational platforms (ACEN Academy for e-learning, ACEN Everywhere for continuing education), recognition programs (Program of Distinction), and professional development offerings (Standards in Action Workshop, LEAP Workshops, Regional Workshops). The portfolio includes peer evaluation services, the Search Programs directory, advisory review support, the Bridges Newsletter, and the ACEN Resource Center. ACEN is the only U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized accrediting agency that accredits all types of nursing programs including practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's, and clinical doctorate programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

ACEN Academy: ACEN's centralized e-learning platform designed to promote accreditation readiness, professional practice, and continuous improvement for nursing education programs.
ACEN Program of Distinction
ACEN Bridges

Products and services

ACEN Accreditation Services Specialized, peer-review accreditation for nursing education programs at all levels (practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's including post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate including DNP specialist certificate). Accreditation enables graduates to access federal financial aid, qualify for NCLEX licensing exams, and gain employer recognition.
ACEN Academy

Quantifiable outcome

Graduates of ACEN-accredited programs gain access to federal financial aid, qualify for NCLEX licensing exams, and receive employer recognition

Companies that use ACENursing

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

ACENursing technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

ACENursing partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEN and OADN signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to work together in areas of common interest related to associate degree nursing education and accreditation.
U.S. Department of Education (ED)coreOthersThe U.S. Department of Education recognizes ACEN as an accrediting body, enabling students in ACEN-accredited programs to access federal financial aid. ED recognition requires ACEN to meet specific standards established by Congress and is periodically renewed (most recently in 2023).
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)coreOthersCHEA recognizes ACEN as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for nursing education. CHEA recognition was renewed for seven years in 2021. CHEA is a U.S. association of degree-granting colleges and universities.
International Journal of Nursing EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEN leaders Drs. Nell Ard and Keri Nunn-Ellison published an article 'Global Quality Assurance in Nursing Education: ACEN Standards and International Accreditation' in the International Journal of Nursing Education, exploring the role of accreditation in promoting educational quality and global recognition.
National League for Nursing (NLN)coreOthersACEN is recognized as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary corporation of the National League for Nursing (NLN). ACEN was established in 1997 as the NLNAC to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations requiring accrediting activities to be separate from trade organizations. The NLN is a founding predecessor organization dating back to 1893.
State Boards of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEN works with state boards of nursing across the U.S. States and territories. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules and to the oversight of preparation for work in the nursing profession. Many states mandate that nursing programs be accredited by an ED-recognized agency.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

ACENursing competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Higher Learning Commission (HLC): A large regional accreditor that accredits many institutions that host nursing programs. While not a nursing-specific accreditor, HLC's institutional accreditation decisions overlap with ACEN's specialized accreditation at the program level.
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC): A national accreditor for career-oriented and vocational institutions, including many practical nursing and associate degree programs. ACCSC accredits the institutions while ACEN accredits the nursing programs within them, creating partially overlapping coverage.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): A regional accreditor serving institutions across the Mid-Atlantic. MSCHE institutions — many of which host ACEN-accredited nursing programs — make this an institutional peer to ACEN at the program-level accreditation interface.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): The regional accreditor for institutions across the U.S. South. SACSCOC's institutional accreditation frequently interacts with ACEN's specialized nursing accreditation for the same institutions, particularly across the Southeast where ACEN is headquartered.
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE): A regional accreditor for New England institutions, several of which host ACEN-accredited nursing programs. NECHE is comparable to ACEN as a specialized/regional accreditor managing institution-level quality.

Direct peers

National League for Nursing (NLN): ACEN's parent organization and original lineage. NLN is the premier nursing education membership organization that promotes excellence in nursing education, making it the closest institutional peer and strategic anchor for ACEN.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): The other major U.S. nursing education accreditor, operating under the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. CCNE accredits baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, directly competing with ACEN for the same university programs at the upper-degree levels.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The national voice for baccalaureate and higher-degree nursing education programs. AACN oversees CCNE and is deeply embedded in nursing education policy, making it a direct institutional peer and ecosystem partner to ACEN.

Regional players

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC): A regional accreditor for institutions in the western U.S. While not a nursing-specialized accreditor, WSCUC's institutions frequently hold ACEN accreditation for their nursing programs, creating a peer relationship at the institutional/program level.

Emerging players

International Council of Nurses (ICN): The global federation of national nursing associations, which influences nursing education and accreditation standards internationally. ICN is a peer in the international nursing-quality space where ACEN is actively expanding its cross-border accreditation footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

ACENursing financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ACENursing leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

ACENursing funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

ACENursing M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACENursing

What does ACENursing do?

Is ACENursing a public or private company?

ACENursing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was ACENursing founded?

ACENursing was founded in 1997.

Where is ACENursing based?

ACENursing is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.

How does ACENursing make money?

One revenue line is on record: accreditation Fees.

Who are ACENursing's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Direct peers are National League for Nursing (NLN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is listed as a regional player. International Council of Nurses (ICN) is listed as an emerging player.

Does ACENursing have an API?

No public API is recorded for ACENursing.

What industry is ACENursing in?

ACENursing's product category is Nursing Education Accreditation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADACAB, National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.), with a secondary code of EDADACAJ, Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.