--- title: "CHANGES IN PROGRAM OUTCOMES" canonical: "https://resources.acenursing.org/space/SC1/1997733949/CHANGES%20IN%20PROGRAM%20OUTCOMES" format: markdown --- Program Outcomes are measurable indicators that reflect the extent to which the purposes of your nursing program are achieved and by which nursing program effectiveness is documented. Changes involving unmet benchmarks for program completion rates follow Procedure 4 for review and may be accepted by the ACEN Staff without requiring Board approval. The ACEN requires you to report the following program outcomes when your program does not meet the established benchmark or expected level of achievement (ELA): ## **Licensure/Certification Examination Rate:** | | | --- | | The ACEN requires you to submit a substantive change report for any year when your program's overall annual licensure/certification examination pass rate (for all locations, program options, etc. combined) does not meet the benchmark established in Criterion 5.3 (2023 Standards and Criteria). | | **NOTE:**** **For graduate programs (clinical doctorate and master’s/post-masters) offering multiple certifications, the aggregate pass rate for all certification examinations is used to determine if a substantive change is required. | | **Criterion 5.3 states:** The program’s most recent annual pass rate **OR** the mean pass rate for three most recent years must meet at least one of the following based on the total number of test-takers:
- 80% or greater for all first-time test-takers; or - 80% or greater for all first-time test-takers and repeaters; or - at or above the national/territorial mean based on the nursing program type. | | **When to Report**
If the program’s licensure/examination pass rate does not meet one of the benchmarks established in Criterion 5.3 (2023 Standards and Criteria), a substantive change is required. Changes involving unmet benchmarks for licensure/certification examination pass rates follow Procedure 4 for review and may be accepted by the ACEN Staff without requiring Board approval.
**NOTE:** If your program is currently being monitored for non-compliance with Criterion 5.3 (2023 Standards and Criteria) (i.e., conditions, warning, or good cause accreditation status), a substantive change report is not required.
**All programs with APRN options are also expected to adhere to the current**** National Task Force Guidelines for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs ****as well as other requirements of the specialty organizations as they apply to the current ACEN Standards and Criteria.* | | | | | --- | --- | | **Licensure and Certification Pass Rate Guidance: ** | **Form for Reporting:** | ## **Program Completion Rate:** | | | --- | | The ACEN requires you to submit a substantive change report for your program's annual program completion rate if the following conditions are applicable:
- **Condition 1 **Your program's overall (all locations, program options, etc.) annual completion rate falls 25% or more below your program's established expected level of achievement (ELA) for two (2) consecutive years.
**OR**
- **Condition 2 **Your program's overall (all locations, program options, etc.) annual completion rate falls 40% or more below your program's established ELA for a single year.
The minimum threshold for reporting is determined by finding the difference in percentages (NOT points) between the established your program's ELA for completion and your program's actual completion rate. | | **NOTE**: If your program is currently being monitored for non-compliance with Criterion 5.2 (2023 Standards and Criteria) (i.e., conditions, warning, or good cause accreditation status), a substantive change report is not required. | | **Determining if a Program Completion Report is Required**
To determine if a report is required, calculate the minimal completion rate threshold for your program based on your established ELA.
**Condition 1: 25% or More Below for Two (2) Consecutive Years**
Calculate 25% of your program's ELA by multiplying your program's ELA for program completion by 0.75.
**EXAMPLE:** ELA: 75% 25% of ELA: 75 x 0.75 = 56.25%
In this example, 56.25% represents the threshold for reporting program completion rates that are 25% below the ELA for two (2) consecutive years.
**When to Report**
- If your program's completion rate is 25% or more below the program’s ELA for two (2) consecutive years, a substantive change report is required. - If your program's completion rate is less than 25% below the program’s ELA, a substantive change report is not required. - If your program’s completion rate is 25-39% below the ELA for a single year, a substantive change is not required. If the program’s completion rate falls 25% or more below the ELA for a second year, a report is required. | | **Condition 2: 40% or More Below for a Single Year**
Calculate 40% of your program's ELA by multiplying your program's ELA for program completion by 0.60.
**EXAMPLE:** ELA: 75% 40% of ELA: 75 x 0.60 = 45%
In this example, 45% represents the threshold for reporting program completion rates that are 40% or more below the ELA for any single year.
**When to Report**
- If your program's completion rate is below the 40% threshold for any single year, a substantive change report is required. | | **Form for Reporting: **[https://acenursing.atlassian.net/helpcenter/sub-change/portal/6/group/10/create/74](https://acenursing.atlassian.net/helpcenter/sub-change/portal/6/group/10/create/74) | ## **Job Placement Rates:** | | | --- | | The ACEN requires you to submit a substantive change report for your program's annual program job placement rate if the following conditions are applicable:
- **Condition 1 **Your program's annual job placement rate falls 25% or more below your program's established expected level of achievement (ELA) for two (2) consecutive years.
**OR**
- **Condition 2 **Your program's job placement rate is at 45% or falls below 40% or more below your program's established ELA for a single year.
The minimum threshold for reporting is determined by finding the difference in percentages (NOT points) between the program's established ELA for job placement and your program's actual job placement rate.
**NOTE:** If your program is currently being monitored for non-compliance with Criterion 5.4 (2023 Standards and Criteria) (i.e., conditions, warning, or good cause accreditation status), a substantive change report is not required. | | **Determining if a Job Placement Rate Report is Required**
To determine if a report is required, calculate the minimal job placement rate threshold for your program based on your established ELA.
**Condition 1: 25% or More Below for Two (2) Consecutive Years**
Calculate 25% of your program's ELA by multiplying your program's ELA for job placement by 0.75.
**EXAMPLE:** ELA: 95% 25% of ELA: 95 x 0.75 = 71.25%
In this example, 71.25% represents the threshold for reporting job placement rates that are 25% below the ELA for two (2) consecutive years.
**When to Report**
- If your program's job placement rate is 25% or more below the program’s ELA for two (2) consecutive years, a substantive change report is required. - If your program's job placement rate is less than 25% below the program’s ELA, a substantive change report is not required. - If your program’s job placement rate is 25-39% below the ELA for a single year, a substantive change is not required. If the program’s job placement rate falls 25% or greater below the ELA for a second year, a report is required.
**Condition 2: 45% or More Below for a Single Year**
Calculate 45% of your program's ELA for job placement by multiplying your program's ELA for program completion by 0.60.
**EXAMPLE:** ELA: 95% 40% of ELA: 95 x 0.60 = 57%
In this example, 57% represents the threshold for reporting job placement rates that are 40% or more below the expected level of achievement for any single year.
**When to Report**
- If your program's job placement rate is below the 40% threshold for any single year, a substantive change report is required. | | **Form for Reporting: ** | For more information please review [Policy #14 Reporting Substantive Changes](https://www.acenursing.org/accreditation/accred-manual/policy14)