With over 130 schools of nursing in Canada offering entry-to-practice pre-licensure education, increased government demands for student admissions, and higher nursing student enrollment than ever recorded, formal recognition that your program meets national standards of excellence is paramount.
Your school produces nursing graduates that possess an in-depth theoretical and scientific foundation, strong clinical reasoning skills, solid clinical judgement, honed technical skills, compassion, caring, and emotional resilience. Your faculty work tirelessly to maintain the high-quality of nursing education that Canada is known for worldwide.
Accreditation lets the world know that an institution meets or exceeds quality standards and is accredited by a recognized national agency like CASN.
Recognized internationally, CASN Accreditation supports student recruitment by attracting high-quality applicants, drawn to schools who meet the national ‘gold standard’ for programs of nursing.
On the administrative side, CASN accredited schools are armed with a report featuring evidence-based recommended improvements (including staffing, fiscal, etc.) that provide program heads with negotiation power to support requests for program enhancements.
While the approval process administered by regulatory bodies focuses on patient safety and provincial competencies, CASN Accreditation is a multi-stage process that involves rigorous assessment of national standards of academic excellence.
CASN accredited schools benefit from an evolving national program, based on over 30 years of experience, that ensures nursing education programs are thoughtfully designed, relevant to the current needs of Canadians, innovative, and promote equity, diversity and inclusion in health care.
The CASN Accreditation Bureau (CAB) is an independent decision-making body for CASN’s accreditation reviews. It is composed of experienced faculty, a student, a public representative, a nursing employer, and a member of a nursing regulatory body. For more information on our accreditation program, please contact Layal Bou Abdo, Managing Director of Accreditation and Evaluation <lbou-abdo@casn.ca>.
The CASN Accreditation Program is guided by core values and fundamental principles. Its standards apply to new and existing programs. The standards represent the quality expectations for nursing education programs and are stated broadly. Four overarching quality dimensions guided the development of the accreditation program standards and are infused throughout program:
Hear directly from the educators and institutions who trust CASN Accreditation to elevate the quality of nursing education across Canada.
“Attaining CASN Accreditation status has brought the University College of the North and the Diploma of Practical Nursing Program to a new level of recognition in the province as well as nationally. It was very rewarding to receive this level of acknowledgment.” [1-PN]
Associate Dean Diploma of Practical Nursing, uCollegeNorth (UCN)
“I really enjoyed the expertise of the reviewers who asked knowledgeable questions and, through their careful questions, revealed strengths we didn’t recognize and more importantly, areas to focus on. I am very proud to be CASN accredited!” [7-IEN]
Dip. Nursing, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
“We had a great experience with CASN during the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Accreditation process. CASN was responsive and provided valuable information that guided us.” [11-NP]
University of Manitoba
“The CASN Accreditation process is important for our program as it indicates to potential students and partners that our program meets national standards, and we produce well qualified and rounded nursing graduates.” [2-PN]
“The process gave me time to reflect on the program itself and what we do well, where we can improve. Accreditation, therefore, puts us in the forefront of other post-secondary institutions that strive to provide similar program for IENs!” [8-IEN]
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
“We are proud of our CASN Accreditation, which reflects our NP program’s commitment to excellence. It has helped us to be successful in our proposal to double our student enrollment from 25 to 50 while maintaining a 100% Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination (CNPE) pass rate.” [12-NP]
“I liked that CASN Accreditation allowed us to have a more comprehensive picture of what our program is doing. It shows that we are meeting national standards, and that we provide a well-rounded program that is suited to the needs of our students from a national perspective. It also adds a measure of interest and credential to our program.” [3-PN]
“CASN Accreditation solidified our program’s work and dedication to support our IENs. It was much work in terms of planning and staging the work we do, but it was a great experience to go through and of course, a proud moment to be accredited.” [9-IEN]
“For our graduates aiming to work as NPs in the United States in the future, CASN Accreditation is crucial, as it’s recognized by key U.S. institutions.” [13-NP]
“Receiving CASN Accreditation is a testament to how good our program is at VCC and demonstrates to other programs, colleges and potential students that we have an excellent Practical Nursing Program.” [4-PN]
Dept. Head, Practical Nursing Program, Vancouver Community College (VCC)
“We appreciate the extensive analysis of our program and are very excited to be accredited. I was VERY proud when we passed. We take pride in our program and the fact that CASN has given it their stamp of accreditation.” [10-IEN]
“Joining the NP Accreditation program was a wise decision, offering significant benefits at an affordable cost. Overall, CASN Accreditation has been an invaluable asset to our program.” [14-NP]
“CASN Accreditation helps identify gaps in the program and where we need to focus our energy to improve. It helps identify what we are doing well and what we need to work on.” [5-PN]
“CASN NP accreditation gives me confidence that our program meets the highest standards. It protects our students, safeguards the public, and upholds the reputation of our profession.” [15-NP]
University of Alberta
“We worked very hard and were united as a team to ensure that every faculty member was included. The fact we did so well with our CASN Accreditation is something the department and faculty can be very proud of.” [6-PN]
Is it Time to Get Accredited?
Let’s talk about your school, your students, where you are in terms of accreditation, and how we can work together to help your program stand out from the crowd!
Call 613-235-3150 x 162 or email Layal Bou Abdo <lbou-abdo@casn.ca> today! Layal is CASN’s very knowledgeable and helpful Managing Director of Accreditation.
Download your copy of The Value of Accreditation Brochure.
Layal Bou Abdo
Managing Director, Accreditation and Evaluation Tel: (613) 235-3150, Extension 162 E-mail: lbou-abdo@casn.ca
Accreditation Programs Coordinator Tel: (613) 235-3150, Extension 128 E-mail: amakhoul@casn.ca