Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant (NP&PA) Residency Program Accreditation
Dual Accreditation for Advanced Practice Provider Trainee Programs
Recognizing the desire for accreditation of Advanced Practice Providers (APP) residency programs, and the reality of dual enrolling residency program, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) have partnered to offer Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant (NP&PA) Residency Program Accreditation. This collaboration has been intentional and thorough to ensure the highest standard of quality and excellence in clinical specialty training for APPs.
About the Organizations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by providing specialized accreditation for all levels of nursing education and transition-to-practice programs. The ACEN is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, and participation in its accreditation process is voluntary.
The ACEN is recognized as an accrediting body by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The ACEN is one of the largest specialized accrediting agencies, accrediting nursing programs throughout the United States, its territories, and internationally.
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and PA profession by defining the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.
The ARC-PA is an independent accrediting body authorized to accredit qualified PA educational programs leading to the professional credential, Physician Assistant (PA). Accreditation is a process of quality assurance that determines whether the program meets established standards for function, structure and performance. The ARC-PA does not accredit any academic degree awarded by the sponsoring institution of the PA program.