5601 INITIAL ACCREDITATION

5601.1 A nursing school desiring initial accreditation of a nursing program shall submit to the Board the following information and pay the required review fee:

1. (a) A statement of intent to establish a basic program or advanced practice program; and
2. (b) A proposal which includes the following information:
3. (1) Documentation of the present and future need for the program and the need for entry-level nurses in the District;
4. (2) The rationale for establishment of the program;
5. (3) The potential effect on other nursing programs in the area;
6. (4) The organizational structure of the educational institution documenting the relationship of the program within the institution;
7. (5) The accreditation status of the controlling institution;
8. (6) The purpose, mission, and level of the program;
9. (7) The availability of qualified administrators and faculty pursuant to the qualifications established under this chapter;
10. (8) Hiring procedures for ensuring administrators and faculty will meet the requirements of this chapter;
11. (9) Budgeted faculty positions;
12. (10) The source and description of adequate clinical resources for the level of the program;
13. (11) Documentation of adequate academic facilities and staff to support the program;
14. (12) Evidence of financial resources adequate for the planning, implementation, and continuation of the program;
15. (13) The anticipated student population;
16. (14) The tentative time schedule for planning and initiating the program;
17. (15) Admissions criteria and procedures;
18. (16) Graduation criteria and procedures;
19. (17) A curriculum plan including conceptual framework, program objectives, course objectives, and clinical objectives; and
20. (18) A systemic plan for evaluation of the program.

5601.2 The Board shall approve or disapprove the proposal within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of receipt of the final proposal.

5601.3 If the Board disapproves the proposal, the nursing school may reapply pursuant to § 5601.1.5601.4 If the Board approves the proposal, the nursing school may submit to the Board an application for initial accreditation after the following conditions have been met:- (a) A nurse administrator or program coordinator, as applicable, meeting the educational and experiential requirements of this chapter for the program level has been appointed; or

- (b) The nursing school has provided documentation that the nurse administrator or program coordinator has a substantially equivalent education or experience; or

- (c) The nursing school can provide a rationale to the Board for acceptance of other than the minimum required graduate credentials.

- (d) There are sufficient faculty meeting the requirements of this chapter for the program level to initiate the program;

- (e) The nursing school has submitted to the Board a description of each faculty member including credentials; and

- (f) A site visit has been conducted by the Board, or if applicable, a joint site visit has been conducted by the Board and the Education Licensure Commission.5601.5 Board review of the application for initial accreditation of the proposed program, the Board may grant or deny initial accreditation, or may grant conditional accreditation. The Board shall issue a letter indicating its decision within a reasonable time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the receipt of the application.5601.6 The Board may grant initial accreditation to a newly established program upon receipt of evidence that the standards and requirements of this chapter are being met.5601.7 Following initial accreditation by the Board, the program shall submit progress reports to the Board as requested.5601.8 Initial accreditation status shall remain in effect until two (2) National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) reporting quarters have passed from the graduation date of the program's first graduating class, unless otherwise withdrawn by the Board.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 7190 (July 23, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 2116 (March 9, 2007).