Accreditations

University Accreditation Misericordia University has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1935 and was most recently reaffirmed in 2014. Misericordia University’s official Statement of Accreditation Status is maintained at the Middle States website.

Click here to view the University's current Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS), which includes summary of recent accreditation activities.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation in higher education is a process of peer review for colleges, universities, and educational programs. In the United States, accreditation is carried out through private, nonprofit organizations that are recognized and approved by the federal government. Misericordia University is accredited through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation is voluntary but it is required in order for students to gain access to federal funds including student grants and loans. Non-accredited institutions are not eligible to receive for federal financial aid.

Types of Accreditation

• Institutional accreditation: Institutional accreditors review entire institutions. Misericordia University is accredited through Middle States, an entity established to provide accreditation for institutions in the mid-Atlantic region of the US.
• Specialized and Professional Accreditation: Specialized and professional accreditors operate throughout the country and review programs and some single-purpose institutions. Click here for a list of programs that have specialized or professional accreditation.

Process

Accreditation typically requires a thorough self-study by the institution or program under review followed by a review by peers who visit campus. Accreditation judgments are based on standards of quality developed by the accrediting organization in consultation with the higher education community.

Misericordia University Self-Study and Reaccreditation

https://misericordia.edu/about/fast-facts/accreditations/self-study-and-reaccreditation

State Authorization and Professional Licensure

Misericordia has been approved as a participating institution member in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. For more information about the NC-SARA initiative, visit https://nc-sara.org.

Misericordia programs which are licensed in a profession are designed to fulfill the educational prerequisites for licensure in Pennsylvania. Misericordia is also required by the Federal Government to provide information on educational requirements for licensing in other U.S. States and territories. Please refer to the table below of State Licensing Boards in the relevant program of interest:

Eligibility for professional designations varies by profession and state location, and often involves more than successful degree completion (such as submitting an application, passing an examination, paying an entrance/application fee, or providing evidence of work experience). In addition, educational requirements for professional licensure may vary from state to state. To assist students who now live or may one day live outside of Pennsylvania, Misericordia University is currently updating individual academic program information that explains whether each professional program fulfills educational requirements for a licensing credential in each US state and territory. As this work progresses, students seeking assistance can contact their academic advisor or refer to the table below of State Licensing Boards in their program of interest.

State Licensing Boards

Nursing	National Council of State Boards of Nursing – State Licensure Requirements https://ncsbn.org/index.page
Occupational Therapy	National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy List by State https://myaota.aota.org/regulatorycontacts.aspx
Physician Assistant	National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) – State Licensing Boards https://nccpa.net/state-licensing-boards/
Physical Therapy	The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) – Licensing Authorities Contact Information https://fsbpt.org/Free-Resources/Licensing-Authorities-Contact- Information
Radiology	Technician American Society of Radiology Technologists (ASRT) – Individual State Licensure Information https://www.asrt.org/main/standards-and-regulations/legislation-regulations-and-advocacy/states-that-regulate
Social Work	Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) License Map https://aswb.org/regulation/help-with-federal-financial-aid-disclosure- requirements
Speech Pathology	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) State Requirements and Contact Information https://asha.org/advocacy/state/
Teacher Education	National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) – Websites of Jurisdictions: https://www.nasdtec.net/page/State_Directory_Map

 

Student Grievances

Information on how to file a complaint with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) regarding an accredited MSCHE institution can be found on its website at: https://www.msche.org/.

Misericordia University was chartered by the State of Pennsylvania on January 31, 1927, and is empowered to grant the following degrees:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy
• Doctor of Physical Therapy
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Nursing
• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
• Master of Science in Physical Therapy
• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (Accreditation - Continued)
• Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
• Master of Science
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Social Work