Accreditations
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation
230 South LaSalle Street / Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL, 60604-1411
800.621.7440 / info@hlcommission.org
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. Institutional accreditation
validates the quality of an institution's academic programs at all degree levels,
whether delivered on-site, online or otherwise. Institutional accreditation also examines
the quality of the institution beyond its academic offerings and evaluates the institution
as a whole, including the soundness of its governance and administration, adherence
to mission, the sustainability of its finances, and the sufficiency of its resources.
HLC maintains an active relationship with its member institutions, with frequent communication
and regular reviews to ensure quality higher education.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College completed the HLC Open Pathway and
received reaffirmation of accreditation until 2031. The Open Pathway is one of two
options institutions have for maintaining their accreditation with HLC. It follows
a 10-year cycle and, like the Standard Pathway, is focused on quality assurance and
institutional improvement. The Open Pathway is unique in that its improvement component,
the Quality Initiative, affords institutions the opportunity to pursue improvement
projects that meet their current needs and aspirations.
Open Pathway: Final Review Reaffirmation Final Report, 2021
Minnesota West Assurance Argument, 2021
Quality Initiative Final Report, June 2019
Program Accreditations and Approvals
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
90 West Plato Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
651-297-2200
Surgical Technology & Medical Assistant
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
The Minnesota West Community & Technical College Surgical Technology Program is accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical
Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N. #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation
1503 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Suite 401
Leesburg, VA 20176
703-669-6650
National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)
PO Box 578
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Minnesota Board of Barber and Cosmetologist Examiners
2829 University Ave. SE #710
Minneapolis, MN 55414
651-201-2472 - office
612-432-0225 - cell
https://mn.gov/boards/cosmetology
American Dental Association
Commission of Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60601-2678
312-440-2500
https://www.ada.org/en/coda
NC-SARA
3005 Center Green Drive | Suite 130
Boulder, Colorado 80301
720-680-1600
Minnesota West Community & Technical College participates in the State Authorization
Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
www.nc-sara.org
United States Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
800-872-5327
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Board of Electricity
443 Lafayette Road N
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-284-5315
Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board
2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 310
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3222
651-201-2800
www.emsrb.state.mn.us
Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP)
AHIMA
233 North Michigan Avenue. 21st Floor
Chicago Illinois 60601-5809
312-233-1100
https://ahima.org/pcap
National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5119
773-714-8880
https://www.naacls.org/about.aspx
Minnesota State Approving Agency for Veterans Education
MDVA-MN SAA
206 Veterans Service Building
20 West 12th Street
St. Paul, MN 55155-2079
651-296-2562
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 Degree Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for
the Practical Nursing Program is Initial Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm
Minnesota Board of Nursing
8229 University Ave SE, #500
Minneapolis MN 55414-3253
612-317-3000
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
6116 Executive Boulevard
Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
www.acoteonline.org
This associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training
1600 University Avenue, Suite 200
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104-3825
651-643-3060
Minnesota Department of Rehabilitation Services
390 North Robert Street, 1st Floor
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-5616