As of this month, vital signs for the associate degree and practical nursing diploma programs in the Health Sciences Division at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) are all clear, after having been awarded initial accreditation by the Board of Commissioners for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs are two of the stalwart Health Sciences degrees offered by the College. Alongside key administration, Institutional Effectiveness, Academic Affairs, committees and student service areas, faculty sought out early accreditation to maximize the reputability of the programs statewide.

ACEN accreditation will soon be a requirement of the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Technical College System of Georgia. Academic Affairs, the Health Sciences Division, and Nursing faculty saw fit to pursue early accreditation from ACEN in 2017. The programs earned candidacy in 2018 and followed it up with a site visit from ACEN in February.

 “This is an outstanding achievement for our students, college, and community in demonstrating our programs’ commitment to quality nursing education,” said vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Amy Holloway. “Our continued commitment to students and our community does make a difference.”

Holloway added that this outcome is a result of considerable time, effort and expertise over the last two years by a team of dedicated professionals. Having previously achieved approval from the state board of nursing, initial accreditation from ACEN solidifies each program’s quality for years to come.

CGTC director of Nursing, Jessica Willcox, was integral in the programs’ pursuit of accreditation.

“I am proud of our team at CGTC. Earning this is a great achievement for students, faculty, and the community,” Willcox said.  “The nursing faculty and staff put in a tremendous amount of effort to achieve accreditation. They are continuously working on improvements to make our programs the best. We will keep this momentum and make a difference at CGTC in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff.”

ACEN’s next site visit to the programs will occur in 2024.