Chipola College Practical Nursing Program Earns ACEN Accreditation

Chipola College’s Practical Nursing program has earned initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), marking a significant milestone for the program and affirming the quality of nursing education offered at the college.

The ACEN Board of Commissioners granted initial accreditation to Chipola’s Practical Nursing program at its September 2026 meeting. The accreditation is effective November 22, 2024, and the program’s next evaluation visit is scheduled for Spring 2031.

Because the effective date precedes the graduation of Chipola’s first Practical Nursing class in December 2024, every student who has graduated from Chipola’s Practical Nursing program is a graduate of an ACEN-accredited program.

“I am incredibly proud of our Health Sciences department and of Stefanie Barnes for the hard work, dedication and vision they have poured into building this program,” said Chipola College President Dr. Sarah Clemmons. “I am equally proud of every student who has been part of the Practical Nursing program, from our very first class to those who will walk through our doors in the years ahead. This accreditation recognizes what has already been accomplished while setting the tone for an exciting future for the program and for the students whose careers will begin here.”

ACEN accreditation is a voluntary peer-review process through which nursing education programs are evaluated according to established standards of educational quality. The accreditation process examines areas including curriculum, faculty, resources, student outcomes and overall program effectiveness.

Chipola’s Practical Nursing program is a 1,350-clock-hour program designed to prepare students for employment as Licensed Practical Nurses. Students receive classroom instruction, laboratory experience and hands-on clinical training designed to prepare them to provide quality patient care in a variety of healthcare settings.

The accreditation builds on the program’s early success. Chipola’s inaugural Practical Nursing class graduated in December 2024, and all 13 first-time test-takers from the class passed the NCLEX-PN licensure examination, giving the program a 100 percent first-time pass rate. In 2026, PracticalNursing.org ranked Chipola’s program No. 2 among Licensed Practical Nursing programs in Florida.

“This accreditation represents countless hours of work and a tremendous commitment to building a program our students and community can be proud of,” said Stefanie Barnes, Chipola College Director of Health Sciences. “We are especially proud that the effective date includes our very first graduating class, meaning every Practical Nursing graduate from Chipola has graduated from an ACEN-accredited program. This achievement strengthens the foundation of our program and gives our students another reason to be confident in the education and preparation they receive at Chipola.”

ACEN formally notified Chipola of the Board of Commissioners’ decision in a letter dated Oct. 1, 2026, congratulating the college on the achievement.

The Practical Nursing program at Chipola College, Marianna campus is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

For more information about Chipola College’s Practical Nursing program, visit the Chipola College website or contact Stefanie Barnes, Director of Health Sciences, at 850-718-2278 or barness@chiipola.edu.