National nursing commission awards full reaccreditation to NICC nursing programs
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The accreditation agency specifically praised the two-year Associate Degree Nursing program at NICC for “demonstrating a culture of excellence and quality in nursing education.”
NICC DISTRICT—The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) has awarded full 10-year reaccreditation to Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs—the only community college Nursing programs in Iowa that are accredited. The programs previously earned six-year accreditation from NLN CNEA.
"We are incredibly proud of our nursing staff and faculty, whose dedication and expertise make our program one of the very best in the state of Iowa. Our students consistently demonstrate excellence and this continued accreditation is a testament to their hard work and the outstanding education they receive at Northeast Iowa Community College. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to preparing highly skilled, compassionate nurses who will make a meaningful impact in healthcare,” said NICC Dean of Nursing, Sarah Carlson.
The NLN CNEA evaluated Northeast Iowa Community College's nursing programs using five accreditation standards. The five standards are:
- Culture of Excellence – Program Outcomes
- Culture of Integrity and Accountability – Mission, Governance and Resources
- Culture of Excellence and Caring – Faculty
- Culture of Excellence and Caring – Students
- Culture of Learning and Diversity – Curriculum and Evaluation Processes
The accreditation agency specifically praised the two-year Associate Degree Nursing program at NICC for “demonstrating a culture of excellence and quality in nursing education.”
The NLN CNEA accreditation is effective immediately and in place through Oct. 31, 2034. For more information on accreditation through NLN CNEA, visit www.nln.org.
The Nursing programs at NICC are recognized for their academic rigor, exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art health simulation labs and emphasis on clinical experience. Students who complete a two-year degree take their national board exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN). These graduates have a five-year NCLEX-RN pass rate of 92%. Practical Nursing students who take their board exam have a five-year NCLEX-PN pass rate of 97%. The Practical Nursing program at NICC is currently ranked #1 in the state of Iowa by practicalnursing.org. Employment opportunities in Iowa and throughout the Midwest are very plentiful and graduates have a 100% job placement rate. Information about both programs is available at nicc.edu/nursing and nicc.edu/practicalnursing.
ABOUT THE NLN CNEA MISSION: The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation promotes excellence and integrity in nursing education globally through an accreditation process that respects the diversity of program mission, curricula, students and faculty; emphasizes a culture of continuous quality improvement; and influences the preparation of a caring and competent nursing workforce.