Accreditation of continuing education: the critical elements

Accreditation in nursing continuing education (CNE) is central to professional values such as accountability, competence, and knowledgeable practice. Organizations choosing to participate in the accreditation/approval system make a commitment to quality. This article reviews the history of accreditation, defines the language, describes the system and process, and discusses agency/institution characteristics that should be in place before beginning an accreditation application process. The American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation model is used as the prototype.