Is Northwest Career College Accredited? What You Need to Know Before You Enroll

Quick Answer

Yes-Northwest Career College (Las Vegas, NV) is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) , a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Several programs also hold programmatic accreditation or approvals. You can verify current status through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the school’s official disclosures, and ABHES contact information provided by the college. [1] [2] [3]

Why Accreditation Matters

Accreditation is a quality assurance process that evaluates whether an institution or program meets defined standards in areas like curriculum, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes. For students, accreditation can influence eligibility for professional licensure pathways, transferability of credits, employer recognition, and access to certain types of financial aid. While ABHES accreditation is widely recognized, requirements for licensure and credit transfer vary by state and by institution, so applicants should verify details that apply to their target career and any future colleges they might transfer to. [1]

Institutional Accreditation at Northwest Career College

Northwest Career College states that it is institutionally accredited by ABHES. The school’s institutional disclosures page lists ABHES as the accreditor, and its accreditation and licensure PDF provides ABHES contact information for independent verification. This means the institution’s overall operations and many of its programs are covered under ABHES’s institutional review framework. [2] [3]

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) lists Northwest Career College and identifies numerous programs under recognized accreditors, reinforcing that the institution’s offerings align with national accreditation structures. Students should always cross-check specific programs and delivery modalities (in-person, blended, or distance) as noted in public accreditation listings. [1]

Programmatic Accreditation and Approvals

Beyond institutional accreditation, some programs carry specialized or programmatic accreditation. According to CHEA’s page for Northwest Career College, examples include program listings under ABHES and a radiography program noted with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Programmatic accreditation can affect eligibility for certification exams, clinical placements, and licensure where applicable. Because program availability and accreditation status may change, applicants should verify their intended program’s current standing directly via the school’s disclosures and the relevant accrediting body’s directory. [1] [2] [3]

How to Verify Accreditation Step by Step

Check the school’s official disclosures: Visit the college’s institutional disclosures page to confirm current institutional accreditation and to identify any program-specific approvals or recognitions listed there. [2]
Review the accreditation PDF: Download the provided accreditation/licensure PDF for ABHES contact details. You can use these details to contact ABHES directly and request confirmation of the institution’s status and scope. [3]
Cross-check with CHEA: Use CHEA’s page to see recognized accreditors and program mentions associated with the institution. Confirm your exact program and delivery format against these listings. [1]
Contact admissions for the latest updates: Accreditation details can evolve. The school’s admissions page provides general guidance and a phone number for questions so you can request written confirmation for your specific cohort and start date. [4]

Real-World Implications for Students

Licensure and certification: In fields like allied health, dental assisting, or radiography, programmatic approvals may be important for exam eligibility or clinical placements. For example, CHEA references a radiography program noted with JRCERT, which is significant in radiologic technology pathways. Always confirm whether your target role in Nevada-or any state where you plan to work-requires graduation from a program approved by a particular body and whether the listed program meets that requirement. [1]

Credit transfer: Institutions set their own transfer policies. While national accreditation (ABHES) demonstrates recognized quality, some regionally accredited colleges or universities may evaluate transfer credits differently. To avoid surprises, request a written pre-evaluation from any future transfer destination and retain course syllabi, outlines, and official descriptions from the school’s catalog for review. [2]

Employer recognition: Many employers in career-oriented fields focus on demonstrated competencies, certifications, externship performance, and references. Ask prospective employers or professional associations whether graduation from an ABHES-accredited institution meets their typical hiring expectations for your target role and locale. The school’s disclosures and program pages can help you map coursework to role requirements. [2]

How to Evaluate Your Specific Program

Because accreditation can vary by program, delivery mode, and cohort, it is prudent to verify the program you intend to join. Start with the school’s disclosures and program list to identify the exact credential (e.g., diploma, certificate, Associate of Applied Science) and whether there is any program-specific accreditation or approval. Then, confirm that the accrediting body’s public directory lists that program or the institution with the correct modality and campus. This due diligence is especially important for programs tied to third-party licensure exams or clinical placements. [2] [1]

As a practical example, if you are considering a healthcare administration AAS or a dental assisting diploma, match the credential title and format to the entries you find on CHEA and the school’s disclosures. If anything appears unclear-such as differences in program names or changes over time-contact the school and ask for an official, dated statement, and consider calling the accreditor to cross-verify using the contact information provided in the school’s accreditation PDF. [1] [3]

Action Plan: Apply With Confidence

Verify institutional status: Confirm ABHES accreditation via the school’s disclosures and the accreditation PDF, then save screenshots or PDFs for your records. [2] [3]
Confirm your program: Identify the exact program name, credential level, and delivery format, and cross-check against CHEA’s listing for additional program-specific notes. [1]
Clarify licensure pathways: If your target career requires licensure, ask the program director for written guidance on exam eligibility, clinical requirements, and state board expectations. Where applicable, you can also contact the relevant state licensing board identified by the school.
Ask about outcomes: Request recent data on graduation rates, exam pass rates, externship placement, and job outcomes for your program. Many career colleges track these metrics for disclosures.
Discuss transfer goals: If you might pursue a bachelor’s degree later, speak with receiving institutions now. Share course outlines and request a preliminary, written credit evaluation.
Connect with admissions: The college provides an admissions contact page and phone number for questions about requirements and documentation. Use this to schedule an advising call, review program fit, and confirm application steps. [4]

FAQs

Is the college nationally recognized? The school reports institutional accreditation by ABHES, a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Recognition supports credibility, but students should still verify program-specific needs and licensure pathways for their intended careers. [2] [1]

Do all programs have programmatic accreditation? Not every program requires programmatic accreditation; however, fields like radiologic technology or certain allied health specialties often benefit from it. Review the CHEA page and the school’s disclosures to find program-level details and follow up with the accrediting body if needed. [1] [2]

How do I get official confirmation? Use the accreditation PDF’s ABHES contact information to request a status confirmation, and ask admissions to provide a current, dated statement for your records. [3] [4]

How to Start Your Application

You can begin by contacting the admissions office to review entry requirements, schedules, and documentation. The admissions page offers general information and a phone line for questions. Consider asking for an application checklist, deadlines, financial options, and any program-specific prerequisites such as immunizations or background checks when relevant for externships or clinicals. [4]