Accreditations

Minnesota State is the third-largest system of state colleges and universities in the United States and the largest in the state with 26 colleges, 7 universities, and 54 campuses.

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.

HLC Letter of Reaffirmation

Open Pathway: Final Review Reaffirmation Final Report, 2021

Minnesota West Assurance Argument, 2021

Quality Initiative Final Report, June 2019

Contact Us
Questions about the institutional or program accreditations that ensure Minnesota West maintains a certain level of educational standards.

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

Recertification Letter

https://www.aseeducationfoundation.org/

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 Continuing 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