Richmond Practical Nursing Program Now Accredited by ACEN

The Practical Nursing Program (PN) at Bryant & Stratton College Richmond campus is the fifth practical nursing program in Virginia to be awarded accreditation. There is a total of 54 Practical Nursing Programs in Virginia that are not accredited. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) granted Bryant & Stratton College Richmond accreditation for the maximum initial award period of five years.

“We are thrilled to announce the accomplishment of accreditation beginning with the first graduates of our Practical Nursing Program” said Debi Erick, Nursing Program Director at Bryant & Stratton College. “Our Practical Nursing Program puts students on a path to complete their diploma in as little as 12 months. Virginia has a shortage of nurses with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating a need of 1,070 new LPNs each year in Virginia. In addition, we have a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2019 for our Practical Nursing Program. “

Licensed practical nurses are predicted to be one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S., according to the BLS. The baby boomer population is behind the trend; they are retiring at the rate of four million Americans per year while also needing more healthcare as they age.

Graduates of Bryant & Stratton College’s practical nursing program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN® exam, a requirement to enter the profession. Licensed practical nurses can then begin providing care to patients in a variety of healthcare environments, ranging from physician’s offices, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home healthcare settings.

Students also benefit from Career LifePrep®, a unique set of experiences offered exclusively by Bryant & Stratton College that helps prepare students at every step in their academic journey, both while in school and after graduation. With a dedicated team of associates, especially faculty, to support and help them navigate their path to their career, students will experience what their chosen career is like while they are still in college, developing skills and confidence, and creating a competitive advantage when they graduate.

About Bryant & Stratton College

Founded in 1854, Bryant & Stratton College has built its reputation and success on a commitment to excellence and high standards.

Bryant & Stratton College is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Bryant & Stratton College’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 25, 2026, was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

For 170 years, Bryant & Stratton College has offered students access to career-relevant education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, business, criminal justice, design, financial services, hospitality, human resources, paralegal studies and information technology. In addition to access to education, Bryant & Stratton College offers students access to tools to help ensure their greatest chance at success through their Career LifePrep® program. Bryant & Stratton works with students to best map individual career paths – teaching the soft skills employers value most, helping establish valuable professional connections and internships and offering career services support even after graduation. Bryant & Stratton College is committed to helping students succeed in their education and beyond.

General information can be found on the college’s website at https://www.bryantstratton.edu.