Accreditation FAQ
IOWA BOARD OF NURSING
The Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) approves and regulates Iowa's pre- and post-licensure nursing education programs. These programs receive a site visit for evaluation and may receive approval for up to six years.
On April 5, 2023, the Iowa Board of Nursing approved the UNI nursing program proposal and curriculum for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Following the graduation of the first nursing cohort, the Iowa Board of Nursing will conduct a site visit evaluation of UNI’s nursing program.
ACCREDITATION COMMISSION FOR EDUCATION IN NURSING
UNI Nursing is currently a candidate for initial accreditation, the first step by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Why is accreditation important?
Becoming accredited means that UNI achieves the benchmarks required by governing bodies (amongst the best of the best). Accreditation by ACEN assures that UNI students are receiving the highest-level nursing education possible and are set for success in:
- Employment: Many large healthcare providers only accept applicants who graduate from an accredited program.
- Advanced Education: Accreditation is required by many nursing programs for admission to other undergraduate and graduate programs. Transfer credits from accredited organizations are widely accepted by most graduate schools.
What does this mean?
All programs seeking initial accreditation must first apply for and be approved as a Candidate. This is where UNI is in the accreditation process (effective June 26, 2024). Our program then has two years in Candidacy before hosting its initial accreditation visit.
Being a candidate means that UNI Nursing has demonstrated that our program has demonstrated the potential to be compliant with selected ACEN Standards and Criteria within two years of notification of achieving Candidacy, and has the potential to achieve ACEN accreditation based upon the selected standards and criteria reviewed in our Candidacy Presentation.
What’s next?
In early March 2026, UNI Nursing will host an initial accreditation site visit by the ACEN. Our program must comply with all ACEN Standards and Criteria at that time.
What does this mean for UNI Nursing students?
If this candidacy period leads to initial program accreditation, the effective date of the initial accreditation will be our date of candidacy: June 24, 2024.