National Nursing Accreditation FAQs

Question: Are the nursing programs at Northwest Technical College (NTC) approved?
Answer: Yes!  Both the Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate of Science in Nursing (AD) programs at NTC are approved by Minnesota State and through the Minnesota Board of Nursing (MBON). The state boards set and regulate standards as well as provide approval of nursing school’s curriculum. The goal of both boards is for nursing students to be eligible to sit for the National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX) examination upon completion of their nursing education.  As one of the two-year colleges in Minnesota State, NTC has been accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and School (Higher Learning Commission) since 1995.

Question: Are NTC’s nursing programs currently nationally accredited?
Answer: Yes!  Both the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).  Candidacy status was granted June 2017, and formal notification of national accreditation was received October 15, 2019.

Question: How do I submit a comment or question to ACEN about the nursing programs at NTC?
Answer:  Questions or comments about NTC are welcome at ACEN.  Use the ACEN contact information shown below:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

33423 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; phone 404-975-5000. www.acenursing.org.   

Question: Did NTC Nursing programs lose their national nursing accreditation?
Answer:  No, NTC received formal notification from ACEN on October 15, 2019, of initial national nursing accreditation, effective as of June 2017. Nursing students who graduated in May 2018 and May 2019, and those graduating in the future, may proudly say they graduated from NTC, an accredited nursing program.

Question:  What effect does NCLEX pass rates have on the national accreditation process?
Answer:   Eighty percent of first-time pass rates of nursing student graduates is required by ACEN.  Seventy-five percent is required by the MBON.

NTC Associate of Science in Nursing: 2019 – 88.84%, 2020 – 83.33%, 2021 – 82.82%

NTC Practical Nursing: 2019 – 77.78%, 2020 – 90%, 2021 – 100%

Question: May NTC graduates transfer to a four-year university for their baccalaureate of science or arts (BSN or BAN) completion?
Answer: Yes! National accreditation provides increased opportunities for students’ educational and career paths in the nursing profession.  Also, NTC has articulation agreements with several Minnesota State colleges to allow for seamless transition from our two-year college to a four-year program. AD graduates from NTC may also transfer to private universities in pursuit of their BSN or BAN degree. Interested students should contact the college they wish to transfer into for specific program requirements.  Based on our 2016-2017 graduate survey results (the most current data available), 12% of our AD students and 19% of our PN students are continuing their education.

Question: Can NTC graduates get jobs after taking their LPN or RN NCLEX?
Answer: Yes! NTC has a high placement rate of their nursing graduates in the surrounding area workforces.  Of AD graduates available for employment, 90% are employed, and 75% of PN graduates are employed (2016-2017 graduate data). Many clinical sites have seen our nursing students in action, know our program, and look forward to being able to offer nursing positions for our graduates. Graduating from an accredited nursing program opens even more opportunities statewide and nationally.  Some employers prefer nurses who have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program, and some employers require it.

Question: Are nursing programs required to have national nursing accreditation?
Answer: Yes. The MBON requires all nursing schools to have been minimally in candidacy for their nursing accreditation by either ACEN or CNEA by 2018.  NTC was granted ACEN candidacy in June of 2017 and has achieved national accreditation status as of that date. Formal notification from ACEN was received October 15, 2019.