Nursing Education Programs Eligible for Approval

(1) In-state Programs. Nursing education programs offered by a parent institution with a principal place of business in Massachusetts must obtain Board approval in accordance with 244 CMR 6.05 and must: (a) be offered by a parent institution that has and maintains parent institution accreditation; (b) be designed to prepare and qualify a graduate to write the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN; and (c) confer the following evidence of completion of course work: 1. For Practical Nursing programs, one of the following: a. a diploma of completion from a hospital-based diploma program; b. a certificate of completion from a community college; c. a certificate of completion from a vocational postsecondary school; or d. an associate degree. 2. For Registered Nursing programs, one of the following: a. a diploma of completion from a hospital-based diploma program; b. an associate degree; c. a baccalaureate degree; or d. a certificate of completion from a prelicensure graduate degree program granted Full approval. (2) Out-of-state Programs. Nursing education programs offered by a parent institution with a principal place of business outside of Massachusetts must: (a) be offered by a parent institution that has and maintains parent institution accreditation; (b) be designed to prepare and qualify a graduate to write the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX–PN; (Mass. Register #1496, 5/26/2023) (c) be approved to operate by the board of nursing or corresponding body in the state where the parent institution has its principle place of business; (d) be located in a jurisdiction which maintain standards substantially the same as those required for an approved nursing education program in Massachusetts; and (e) obtain Board approval of any didactic learning experiences or clinical learning experiences conducted in Massachusetts by submitting a completed application to the Board at least six months prior to the start of any such learning experiences. Such programs must demonstrate to the Board's satisfaction that the program: 1. complies with 244 CMR 6.03(2)(a) through (d); 2. has and maintains its program accreditation by a Board-recognized accrediting agency; 3. has appointed faculty that meet requirements at 244 CMR 6.04(2)(b); 4. has appointed preceptors, if applicable, that meet requirements at 244 CMR 6.04(2)(c); 5. maintains written agreements with cooperating agencies utilized as clinical learning sites that meet requirements at 244 CMR 6.04(5)(b); and 6. maintains faculty-student ratios of 1:10 or less in accordance with 244 CMR 6.04(5)(c).