OAR 851-021-0012: Accreditation Requirements of Nursing Education Programs

(1) New nursing education programs must acquire national nursing accreditation from an agency approved by the United States Department of Education. This accreditation must occur within four years of the full approval of a new nursing education program. (2) Except as provided in (1) all nursing education programs must obtain national nursing education accreditation from an agency approved by the United States Department of Education by July 1st, 2029. (3) Nursing education programs must notify the Board of accrediting agency site visit dates within 30 days of scheduling the visit. A site survey will be conducted alongside the accrediting agency by a representative of the Board. (4) All nursing education programs that are accredited or candidates for accreditation must submit to the Board: (a) The program’s most recent national nursing accreditation agency written self-study report; (b) Any report or letter exchanged between the nursing education program and the national nursing education accreditation agency, including but not limited to: continuous improvement progress reports, substantive change notification and accreditation action letters, mid-cycle review documentation, site visit reports and program response letters, and final site visit report; and (c) Any notice of change in nursing education program or institutional accreditation status. (5) The documents listed in OAR 851-021-0012(4) must be submitted to the Board within 30 days of completion or receipt by the nursing education program. The nursing education program must report any non-compliance with accreditation standards within five business days. (6) The Board may authorize a program survey for: (a) Failure to submit documentation as listed in OAR 851-021-0012(4) above. (b) Failure to achieve or maintain national nursing accreditation.