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Accreditation and Licensure

Simmons is accredited by the Commission for Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. All prelicensure Nursing Programs are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Nursing.

Notice of Accreditation

We are pleased to announce that the CCNE will be conducting a re-accreditation visit for our DNP program and an accreditation visit for our Post Graduate Certificate FNP and PMHNP programs. The visit will take place from September 16th to 18th.

NECHE Accreditation

Simmons University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Nursing Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Simmons University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

ProgramInitial Accreditation DateMost Recent Accreditation DateAccreditation Term ExpiresLast On-Site Evaluation
BaccalaureateApril 21, 2004November 14, 2018June 30, 2029November 2018
Master’sApril 21, 2004November 14, 2018June 30, 2029November 2018
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)April 15, 2010April 8, 2015December 31, 2025April 2015

Individuals can provide written input to the CCNE evaluation team as part of the process. CCNE will accept written and signed comments until 21 days before the site visit.

Written and signed comments should be sent to:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attention: Third-Party Comments  
655 K. Street NW, Suite 750
WASHINGTON, DC 20001
or
emailed to: [email protected]

For further information about this notice or  the accreditation visit, please feel free to
Contact:
Dr. Heather Shlosser, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Dean | School of Nursing (Graduate, Undergraduate & On-line Programs)
Associate Professor of Practice
Simmons University
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
(Phone) 617-521-3984 (EST)
(Email) [email protected]
(Web) https://www.simmons.edu/academics/colleges-schools-departments/nursing-programs

Nursing

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Simmons University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program track has been approved by CCNE as part of our Master's degree program.

The Post Graduate Certificate FNP & PMHNP certificate programs at Simmons University are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) Seal

The baccalaureate degree in nursing and the pre-licensure Direct Entry program is fully approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

Nursing Licensure

Graduates of the School of Nursing programs routinely perform well on licensing/certification exams.

NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam First Time Pass Rate

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

BSN NCLEX-RN Licensure Examination Performance*

YearSimmons Students Licensure Examination Pass RateNCLEX National AverageNCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average
202193.17%86.06%87.30%
202290.15%82.32%82.40%
202390.68%90.17%92.10%

*first time test takers only

Master of Science in Nursing - Direct Entry (DE) - Family Nurse Practitioner

DE NCLEX-RN Examination Performance*

YearSimmons Students Licensure Examination Pass RateNCLEX National AverageNCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average
202197.14%86.06%87.30%
2022100.00%82.32%82.40%
202386.67%90.17%92.10%

*first time test takers only

FNP Certification Exam First Time Pass Rate

Students take the ANCC or AANP certification exam.

Board Certification Pass Rates*

YearSimmons AANP Pass RateNational AverageSimmons ANCC Pass RateNational Average
202094%85%98%89%
202195%84%97%87%
202289%74%98%87%
202399%73%97%85%

*first time test takers only

Bar Graph - FNP Certification 1st Time Pass Rate

School of Nursing Degree Conferral or Program Completion by Conferral Date

Degree ConferralTotal BSN (ABSN + BSN)Pre-Licensure -> Post-Licensure DE*RN-MSNFNPPMHNPMSN - Nursing AdministrationMSN LeadershipMSN EducationDNPDNP Health Systems Administration
10/31/2024N/AN/AN/A19Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
8/30/202436N/A356Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/20258N/A
7/31/2024N/AN/AN/A26Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
5/17/202467N/A391Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
3/29/2024N/AN/AN/A21Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
1/31/20243433674Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/202512N/A
10/31/2023N/AN/AN/A33Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
8/31/202352N/A978Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/20257N/A
7/31/2023N/AN/AN/A25Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
5/19/202371N/A958Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/202529Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/20251N/A
3/31/2023N/AN/AN/A37Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
1/31/202348216108Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025825
10/31/2022N/AN/AN/A27Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/20251N/A
8/31/202225N/A969Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/202512N/A
7/29/2022N/AN/AN/A39Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
5/20/202259N/A1995Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
3/31/2022N/AN/AN/A47Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
1/31/20224813483Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/20259N/A
10/29/2021N/AN/AN/A31Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A
8/31/202157N/A1096Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AAnticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025Anticipated first degree conferral of 1/31/2025N/AN/A

*This data is reporting the students in the Direct Entry MSN program that completed their pre-licensure course work and is transitioning to their post-licensure course work.