Programmatic Accreditation

The associate degree nursing program and the vocational (practical) nursing program at Hartnell College is in accordance with ACEN records, located in Salinas, California is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

Email: info@acenursing.org 
Web: www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program and the vocational (practical) program is initial accreditation.

The ACEN is an entity that is responsible for the specialized accreditation of nursing education programs, both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer either a certificate, a diploma, or a recognized professional degree (clinical doctorate, master’s/post-master’s certificate, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical).

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P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA. 94244-2100

Phone: (916) 322-3350
Website: http://www.rn.ca.gov/   

The Hartnell College Registered Nursing Program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.  The Board of Registered Nursing awarded Hartnell College "Continued Approval" status in October 2020.  Nursing faculty was commended for academic and clinical instruction, relationships with clinical partners and community stakeholders, and commitment to students.  Faculty keeps pace with the changing demands of the healthcare industry and community. The nursing curriculum is dynamic and ever-changing. 

What is the Board of Registered Nursing?

The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) is a state governmental agency established by law to protect the public by regulating the practice of registered nurses. The BRN is responsible for implementation and enforcement of the Nursing Practice Act: the laws related to nursing education, licensure, practice, and discipline. The Nursing Practice Act created a nine-member Board which serves as the BRN decision-making body.

Board Members

The nine-member Board is composed of four members of the public and five registered nurses. The five registered nurses include three direct-client care nurses, a nurse administrator, and a nurse educator. Seven members are appointed by the Governor and two are appointed by the Legislature. Each member serves a four-year term and can be re-appointed, although the member cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

BRN Regulation

The BRN regulates California registered nurses. There are over 300,000 registered nurses in California providing health care services in a variety of settings. Regardless of the title or setting, the registered nurse's practice is governed by the Board of Registered Nursing.

BRN Consumer Protection

The BRN performs a variety of activities in its mission to protect consumers, including

• Setting RN Educational Standards: The BRN sets educational standards for nursing programs which prepare individuals to become licensed as registered nurses.
• Approving California Nursing Programs: There are approximately 100 nursing programs which have been approved because they meet BRN educational standards.
• Evaluating Licensure Applications: Applications are evaluated to determine whether the applicant meets all licensure requirements. To be licensed the applicant must:
  • complete the educational requirements
  • pass a national licensing examination
  • be cleared through a background check for conviction of any crime which might make the applicant ineligible for licensure.
• Issuing and Renewing Licenses: Licenses are issued to applicants who meet the licensing requirements. The license must be renewed every two years.
• Issuing Certificates: The BRN issues certificates to eligible public health nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. The BRN also maintains a list of eligible psychiatric/mental health nurse specialists.
• Taking Disciplinary Action: If a nurse violates the Nursing Practice Act, the BRN may take disciplinary action against the nurse's license. Grounds for discipline focus on behaviors that place clients at risk of harm. The disciplinary action is dependent on the nature and severity of the violation and what is necessary to protect the public. The disciplinary action becomes a part of the RN's file and is accessible to the public.
• Managing a Diversion Program: The BRN's Diversion Program is an alternative to the discipline process for nurses whose practice may be impaired due to chemical dependency or mental illness. This confidential Program protects the public while enabling the nurse to be rehabilitated.

SB 466 (Hill)- Military Education and Experience Proposed Regulatory Change

SB 1348 (Cannella, 2016)- Licensure Applications: Military Experience

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3750 Rosin Court, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (916) 999-2190
Fax: (916) 263-7311
Email: rcbinfo@dca.ca.gov

Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) or Respiratory Therapists (RTs) in California are licensed and regulated by the Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB). 

What is the RCB?

The RCB is a state governmental agency established by law to protect the public by regulating the practice of respiratory care practitioners. The mandate of the Respiratory Care Board is to protect and serve the consumer by administering and enforcing the Respiratory Care Practice Act and its regulations in the interest of the safe practice of respiratory care. Its mission is to protect and serve the consumer by enforcing the Respiratory Care Practice Act and its regulations, expanding the delivery and availability of services, increasing public awareness of respiratory care as a profession, and supporting the development and education of all respiratory care practitioners.

RCB Public Regulation

Public protection is the highest priority of the Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions.

To protect the public, the RCB:

• Establishes the minimum requirements for licensure.
• Adopts regulations to clarify the performance, practice and disciplinary standards for its licensees.
• Enforces the regulations governing the continued education of its licensees.
• Enforces the regulations governing RCPs by taking appropriate disciplinary action against incompetent or unsafe licensees efficiently and effectively.

RCB Regulation

The RCB regulates California respiratory care practitioners. More than 29,000 RCP licenses have been issued in the State of California. Regardless of the title or setting, the RCPs practice is governed by the Respiratory Care Board.

2535 Capitol Oaks Drive Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

Phone: (916) 263-7800
Email: bvnpt@dca.ca.gov 
Website: www.bvnpt.ca.gov

The Hartnell College Vocational Nursing Program is accredited by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians awarded Hartnell College "Continued Approval" status in February 2021.The mission of the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) is to protect the public. Public protection is paramount to the Board and its highest priority in exercising its licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions. Toward this end, the Board ensures that only qualified persons are licensed vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians by enforcing education requirements, standards of practice and by educating consumers of their rights. The nursing curriculum is dynamic and ever-changing. 

Board Members

The Board is composed of eleven members with a public member majority. There are six public members and five professional members. Nine members are appointed by the Governor, one by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one by the Senate Pro Tempore.

BVNPT Public Protection

The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) protects the consumer from unprofessional and unsafe licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and psychiatric technicians (PTs). Public protection is the highest priority of the Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions.

To protect the public, the Board

• Establishes the minimum requirements for examination and licensure.
• Establishes educational standards for the accreditation of Vocational Nursing (VN) and Psychiatric Technicians (PT) schools in California.
• Adopts regulations to clarify the performance, practice and disciplinary standards for its licensees.
• Enforces the regulations governing the continued accreditation of VN & PT schools in California.
• Enforces the regulations governing LVNs and PTs by taking appropriate disciplinary action against incompetent or unsafe licensees efficiently and effectively.

The Board is responsible for examination and licensure of over 9,500 VN applicants and 1,000 PT applicants annually. The Board contracts with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. for the year-round computer-adaptive vocational nurse licensure examination (NCLEX) administered at over 200 test centers nationwide. After an application has been approved, the applicant is sent an NCLEX Registration Bulletin with instructions on registering for the examination. Once the applicant has registered for the NCLEX, an Authorization to Test will be mailed from the NCLEX Data Center in Minnesota. The applicant is then responsible for calling to schedule an appointment to test. A licensed vocational nurse is an entry-level health care provider who is responsible for rendering basic nursing care. A vocational nurse practices under the direction of a physician or registered nurse. The licensee is not an independent practitioner.

Curricular Requirements

Licensed vocational nursing programs must consist of 1,530 total instructional hours:
Theory - *576 Hours which includes 54 hours of pharmacology for nurses
Clinical - 954 Hours
Programs are located in community colleges (47.0%); adult education/high schools (24.0%); private schools (20.0%); regional occupational centers (8.0%); and hospitals (1.0%).

LVN Employment

There are more than 200,000 licensed vocational nurses in California providing health care services in a variety of settings. Regardless of setting, the vocational nurse's practice is governed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

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Program Number: 200610
Website:  www.coarc.com
Programmatic Outcomes Data: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

Hartnell College Associate of Science in Respiratory Care, Program number 200610, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). The program is offered at Hartnell College main campus.  Hartnell is recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

What is the CoARC? 

The CoARC accredits Entry into Professional Practice respiratory care programs at the Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s degree levels, as well as post-professional Degree Advancement respiratory care programs at the Baccalaureate and Master’s degree levels and Advanced Practice respiratory care programs at the graduate level. The CoARC also accredits certificate programs that train sleep disorders specialists offered by any of its accredited respiratory care programs. CoARC accreditation is limited to programs physically located in the United States and its territories. (2020).

The Hartnell College Respiratory Care Program is accountable to the CoARC for the effective delivery and outcomes of the RCP program. Public protection is paramount to the CoARC and its highest priority is exercising its regulatory and disciplinary functions. Toward this end, the CoARC ensures that only qualified persons are licensed Respiratory Therapists by enforcing education requirements and by educating consumers of their rights.

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1441 Schilling Place
Salinas, CA 93901 

Website:  https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/health/emergency-medical-services

The Monterey County EMS Agency is the designated approving authority for EMT Training Programs in Monterey County under Section 100057 Title 22, CCR. The EMS agency has granted Hartnell College approval for the EMT Training Program. The term of this approval is four (4) years as established by Section 100069, Title 22, CCR. The Hartnell College EMT Training program is also approved as an EMS Continuing Education (CE) provider with a term concurrent with the EMT Training program approval.

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