About ECPI University

Accreditation, Licensure & Approvals

Accreditation - Institutional

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements | ECPI UniversityECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. ECPI University also offers credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of ECPI University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

ECPI University’s accreditation status includes all campuses. ECPI University’s accreditation is dependent on the continued accreditation of the parent campus located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  All campus sites, regardless of location or mode of delivery, are evaluated during reviews for the reaffirmation of accreditation.  All other extended sites under the accreditation of the parent campus are also evaluated during such reviews.

State Licensure

Florida
ECPI University is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, toll-free telephone number (888) 224-6684.

North Carolina
ECPI University is licensed by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina to award degrees.

The State Authorization Unit of the University of North Carolina System Office serves as the official state entity to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina. If students are unable to resolve a complaint through the institution’s grievance procedures, they can review the Student Complaint Policy (PDF) and submit their complaint using the online complaint form at https://studentcomplaints.northcarolina.edu/form.

For more information contact:
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 962-4550

To file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice, please visit the State Attorney General’s web page at: http://www.ncdoj.gov/complaint. North Carolina residents may call (877) 566-7226. Outside of North Carolina, please call (919) 716-6000. En Espanol (919) 716-0058. If you choose to mail a complaint, please use the following address:

Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

ECPI University is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges to award diplomas. The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges is not an accrediting agency.

South Carolina
ECPI University is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (1122 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201, telephone 803.737.2260, www.che.sc.gov/).

Licensure by this Commission indicates only that minimum standards have been met, and it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality. Licensure is not equivalent to or synonymous with accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

For information regarding SC student complaints, please see the Student Complaint and Procedures Form from South Carolina Commission on Higher Education:
https://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/academicaffairs/license/Complaint_Procedures_and_For m.pdf.

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education can be contacted at:

SC Commission on Higher Education
Academic Affairs
1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
Telephone: 803-737-2260
Website: https://www.che.sc.gov

Texas
ECPI University – San Antonio is authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct courses, grant degrees, grant credit toward degrees, and to use certain protected academic terms in the State of Texas until expiration of its current grant of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Students wishing to file a complaint with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may contact the Board at the following web address: www.thecb.state.tx.us/studentcomplaints. The rules governing student complaints may be found in Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110-1.120, at the following web address: http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=1&ch=1&sch=E&rl=Y.

Virginia
ECPI University has authority issued from the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia to offer degrees, courses for degree credit, and programs of study leading to a degree.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
NC SARAECPI University is an institutional participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education course and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. A directory of SARA states and institutions can be found at the following link: https://nc-sara.org/directory

Note on student complaint resolution process: ECPI University’s Student Grievance Procedures can be found in the Catalog's Student Grievance Procedures section. These procedures are applicable to all students, including those taking distance education under the aegis of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

All students are first encouraged to seek and exhaust resolution of grievances/complaints with University officials or through the anonymous third-party system. If those processes do not resolve the issues, ECPI recognizes that in all matters related to SARA, any student may then communicate a grievance/complaint directly to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), as noted below.

Complete a Student Complaint Form from https://schev.edu/index/students-and-parents/resources/student-complaints and submit the form to:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
Private and Out-of-State Postsecondary Education (POPE)
101 N. 14th Street, 9th floor
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: 804-371-2285
Fax: 804-225-2604

Nursing and Health Science Programs Licensure or Certification information is found here.

State Nursing Board Approvals

Florida
The Associate Degree in Nursing is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campus in Lake Mary, Florida.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at ECPI University Orlando, Florida is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( http://www.ccneaccreditation.org ).

Nursing education programs in Florida that hold specialized nursing accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) are not regulated by the Florida Board of Nursing. Consumers are advised that the Board is not authorized to conduct site visits, and oversight of approved nursing education program quality measures is limited by Florida law.

North Carolina
The Associate Degree in Nursing is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campus in Charlotte, and Raleigh North Carolina.

The Diploma in Practical Nursing is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campuses in Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

South Carolina
The Diploma in Practical Nursing is approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, South Carolina Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campuses in Columbia, Greenville, and North Charleston, South Carolina.

The Associate Degree in Nursing is approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, South Carolina Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campuses in Greenville and North Charleston, South Carolina.

The Associate Degree in Nursing has initial approval of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, South Carolina of Nursing at the ECPI University campus in Columbia.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing has initial approval of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, South Carolina of Nursing at the ECPI University campus in North Charleston.

Virginia
ECPI University has received approval for the Practical Nursing (PN) by the Department of Health Professions, Virginia Board of Nursing at the Newport News, Northern Virginia, Richmond/Emerywood, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach, Virginia campuses.

ECPI University has received approval for an Associate Degree in Nursing by the Department of Health Professions, Virginia Board of Nursing at the Newport News, Northern Virginia, Richmond/Emerywood, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach, Virginia campuses.

ECPI University has received initial approval for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing by the Department of Health Professions, Virginia Board of Nursing at the Virginia Beach, Northern Virginia, and Richmond/Emerywood campuses.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at ECPI University Virginia Beach, Virginia campus is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( http://www.ccneaccreditation.org ).

Texas
The Associate Degree in Nursing has been granted initial approval by the Texas Board of Nursing at the ECPI University campus in San Antonio, Texas.

 

Other Approvals

ECPI University is eligible to participate in federal Title IV financial aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

ECPI University is approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons.

ECPI University is an eligible institution to train students under the sponsorship of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

ECPI University is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students at ECPI University campuses in Newport News, VA; Northern Virginia, VA; Raleigh, NC; and Virginia Beach, VA.

Programmatic Accreditation

ECPI University has met the standards of accreditation for the following specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies that are recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and/or the US Department of Education.  Copies of the accreditation approvals are available for inspection during regular business hours at the respective local campus.

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

The Health Science/Medical Assisting programs at ECPI University are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) at the following ECPI University campuses: Newport News, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina and San Antonio, Texas. This is a programmatic accreditation by ABHES, a recognized accrediting agency for allied health programs, including medical assisting.   For more information, visit www. abhes.org.

The Surgical Technology programs are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) at the following ECPI campuses:  Northern Virginia and Richmond, Virginia campuses.  This is a programmatic accreditation by ABHES, a recognized accrediting agency for allied health programs including surgical technology.  For more information, visit www.abhes.org.

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 730
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Telephone: 301-291-7550
Email: info@abhes.org

Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation

The AAS in Culinary Arts degree is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACF) at the following ECPI University locations in Virginia: Norfolk. This is a programmatic accreditation by ACF, a specialized accreditation agency for postsecondary educational programs in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

ACF requires assessment outcomes data to be available for all accredited programs, which can be found by clicking here.

American Culinary Federation

180 Center Place Way
St. Augustine, Florida 32095
Telephone:  940-824-4468

Commission on Physical Therapy Education

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at ECPI University (Newport News and Richmond/Emerywood, Virginia campuses) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 757.490.9090 or email PTADirector@ecpi.edu.

*Notice to students and prospective students in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at the Orlando (Lake Mary) campus: Effective July 13, 2021, the Physical Therapist Assistant program at ECPI University’s Lake Mary, Florida campus has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706- 3245; email: accreditation@apta.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 757-490-9090 or email PTADirector@ecpi.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

The Medical Radiography program is accredited, with an 8 year award, by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology at the following ECPI campus locations: Newport News, Virginia and Northern Virginia. This is a programmatic accreditation by JRCERT, which is the only agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), for the accreditation of traditional and distance delivery educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance, and medical dosimetry. For more information, visit http://jrcert.org/.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Telephone: 312-704-5300
Fax 312-704-5304
email: mail@jrcert.org

Graduates qualify to sit for the national exam of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The next scheduled review is 2025.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

The RN - BSN Nursing degree completion program located in Newport News, VA is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the RN - BSN nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The associate nursing program at ECPI University at the Newport News campus located in Newport News, Virginia is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is initial accreditation.

The associate nursing program at ECPI University at the Manassas campus located in Manassas, Virginia is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is initial accreditation.

The associate nursing program at ECPI University at the Richmond campus located in Richmond, Virginia is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is initial accreditation.

The associate nursing program at ECPI University at the Roanoke campus located in Roanoke, Virginia is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is initial accreditation.

The associate nursing program at ECPI University at the Virginia Beach campus located in Virginia Beach, Virginia is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is initial accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding these programs at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The Baccalaureate Degree Program in Nursing at ECPI University Orlando, Florida campus is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at ECPI University Virginia Beach, Virginia campus is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( http://www.ccneaccreditation.org ).

The Master's Degree Program in Nursing at ECPI University Virginia Beach, Virginia campus is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

The Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
214-703-8445
www.coaemsp.org

Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services 

The ECPI University Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program is accredited by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services (www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services) upon the recommendation of Division of Accreditation, Certification and Education.

Virginia Office of EMS
1041 Technology Park Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Telephone: 804-888-9100
www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services

ABET

ABET | ECPI UniversityThe Bachelor of Science in Electronic Systems Engineering Technology at the Virginia Beach and Newport News, VA campuses and Online is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Electrical/Electronic(s) Engineering Technology and Similarly Named Programs Program Criteria.

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Virginia Beach campus and Online is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Similarly Named Programs Program Criteria.

ABET
415 North Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: 1.410.347.7700
www.abet.org