Ok gang, here is a question I could use some help with. I am finishing my nurse practitioner from a Canadian university. But various boards of nursing here in the US are asking me if it is accredited. The college is legitimate but what response will show it is the equivalent of a regionally accredited university here in the US? Does anyone have an idea how CHEA looks at a college from up north? Thanks Jeremy
Canadian universities are authorized by an act of their respective provincial legislature. They would not be specifically accredited. The answer to the question is yes, they are accredited. Blahblah University is a provincialy operated university and its nursing program is approved by the RN Association of Blahblah to train Registered Nurses. (Assuming it is a public university)
In Canada, unlike the US, the government takes the responsiblity of regulating education seriously, so government permission to operate a university in Canada is equivalent to accreditation in the US. Canadian universities sometimes seek professional accreditation from an American professional accreditor. Find out what organization accredits nurse-practioner programs in the US, and see if they accredit the Canadian program you are in. If not, see if there is a professional organization in Canada that accredits nurse-practioner programs. Finally, ask your school if they have any professional accreditations.
The way it works in Canada is generally the normal way for the rest of the world as well. Although in some other parts of the world the government may not take this responsibility as seriously as they do in Canada. I also note that there are a few states in the USA that take what could be considered the more "normal" approach.
