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Frequently Asked Questions
Practice doctorates with the degree title Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) will be eligible to pursue accreditation by CCNE. Research doctorates (e.g. PhD and DNSc) will not be considered for accreditation. As is the case with all degree programs that are accredited by CCNE, all tracks/program areas within the degree program must be presented for accreditation. The CCNE Board determined at its April 10-12, 2008 meeting that DNP programs with a nursing education track (major) will not be eligible to pursue accreditation, as CCNE subscribes to the definition of practice identified in The Essentials for Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2006), which states “Advanced nursing practice is broadly defined by AACN (2004) as ‘any form of nursing intervention that influences health care outcomes for individuals or populations, including the direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of nursing and health care organizations, and the development and implementation of health policy’ (p. 2).” CCNE encourages DNP programs that are preparing nurses for faculty roles to offer electives or a minor with focus on the education-related content in addition to the DNP practice content. As is the case for master’s degree programs, if a nurse midwifery or nurse anesthesia DNP program is accredited by its respective accrediting agency, it would still be included in the review of the institution’s overall DNP program. It is expected that programs preparing nurse-midwives and nurse anesthetists will continue to also be accredited by their respective accrediting agencies. 2. When should an institution notify CCNE that a DNP program is under development? Institutions should notify CCNE as soon as possible. When CCNE is notified that an institution is developing a DNP program, CCNE updates its database and other records and includes the institution in important correspondence. Such notification also allows CCNE to provide better services to its constituents and to project programming needs. To notify CCNE that a DNP program is under development, email Libby Cooperman, CCNE Executive Administrative Assistant, at lcooperman@aacn.nche.edu. Include the expected timeline for DNP implementation and graduation of the first class of students and when the program anticipates hosting a CCNE on-site evaluation for initial accreditation of the DNP program. 3. When should an institution notify CCNE that a DNP program has been implemented? Per the CCNE substantive change policy, an accredited program is required to notify CCNE of any new nursing program or track or any other significant change. The timeframe for notifying CCNE is no earlier than 90 days before the change but no later than 90 days after the change. With respect to implementation of a new DNP program, the notification must address how the new program affects (or is expected to affect) baccalaureate and/or master’s degree nursing programs already accredited by CCNE and the institution’s ability to continue to comply with the CCNE accreditation standards. The notification should also provide an overview of the DNP program, including information about its approval, timeline, point(s) of entry (post-baccalaureate, post-master’s), curriculum, and resources. Please submit the substantive change notification with the DNP Program Information Form. Direct all substantive change inquiries and submissions to Crystal Pool, CCNE Assistant Director, at cpool@aacn.nche.edu. 4. When will CCNE begin reviewing DNP programs for accreditation? CCNE will begin reviewing DNP programs for accreditation during the 2008-2009 academic year. More than 40 DNP programs are scheduled for a CCNE on-site evaluation within the next two years. DNP programs must have had students enrolled for at least one year before hosting a CCNE on-site evaluation. Importantly, CCNE accreditation is not retroactive and is effective on the date the CCNE Board of Commissioners takes its action. Programs wishing to host a DNP on-site evaluation should notify CCNE of the term (Spring or Fall) and year of interest so the staff can provide appropriate guidance on scheduling. Programs are advised to schedule the on-site evaluation with CCNE at least 12 months in advance of the visit. 5. Which accreditation standards will apply to DNP programs? In April 2008, the CCNE Board of Commissioners approved the amended Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Programs. This document addresses all three levels of nursing degree programs within CCNE’s scope of operation: baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral (DNP) programs. The 2008 standards will go into effect for all programs on January 1, 2009. Thus, any program hosting an evaluation or submitting a report to CCNE after January 1, 2009, will need to address the 2008 standards. (In addition, DNP programs hosting Fall 2008 on-site evaluations will need to address the 2008 standards because the 2003 standards do not pertain to DNP programs). All DNP programs should be developed in accordance with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006). In addition, DNP programs preparing nurse practitioners should be developed in accordance with the revised Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force, 2008). Programs are required to use these documents in accordance with the 2008 standards. 6. For what term of accreditation will DNP programs be eligible? Consistent with CCNE’s long-standing policy, any new program pursuing initial accreditation by CCNE is eligible for a term of accreditation of up to 5 years. Programs pursing continuing accreditation by CCNE are eligible for an accreditation term of up to 10 years. All DNP programs are considered by CCNE to be new programs and, thus, will be eligible for a maximum initial accreditation term of 5 years. 7. How can an institution schedule its nursing degree programs for the same CCNE accreditation review cycle? CCNE is willing to work with programs, as appropriate, that wish to coordinate the accreditation reviews of multiple nursing degree programs. Programs may request an early accreditation review of an already CCNE-accredited program in order to schedule multiple degree programs on the same accreditation review cycle. However, CCNE is unable to postpone an accreditation term beyond that which was granted by the CCNE Board of Commissioners. 8. Will CCNE conduct joint accreditation visits with other entities? CNE has a history of strong collaboration with state boards of nursing, as well as with institutional and specialized accreditation bodies. If requested by the institution, CCNE is willing to collaborate with other agencies to conduct a joint or concurrent on-site evaluation of the DNP program. The institution is responsible for determining the feasibility of such a review and coordinating the effort in accordance with each participating agency’s policies and procedures. If an institution would like to request a joint/concurrent review by CCNE and another agency, please notify Marge Jackman, CCNE Associate Director, at mjackman@aacn.nche.edu. 9. What are the CCNE fees related to accreditation of a DNP program? If the institution has a CCNE-accredited program(s) already, the one-time fee to add a DNP program to the review schedule is $1,500 (FY 2009). Programs are sent an invoice for this new program fee a few months before the CCNE on-site evaluation. If the institution has no program affiliated with CCNE, new applicant fees apply. New applicant fees depend on the number of degree levels seeking CCNE accreditation. Click here to view the current CCNE Fee Structure, including on-site evaluation fees and annual fees.
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