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Used to define quality in nursing education, the AACN Essentials outline the necessary curriculum content and expected competencies of graduates from baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. AACN is dedicated to providing resources and support to facilitate this shift in nursing education. Whether you're an educator, student, or healthcare professional, explore this microsite to stay informed and engaged as we shape the future of nursing education together.
This video is an essential starting point for those new to The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Essentials website, guiding you through key resources and tools for implementing competency-based education (CBE). Watch now to take your first steps with confidence.
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Resources for Faculty Focused on Competency Assessment
July 1, 2026 AACN’s Essentials Tool Kit provides a variety of resources for faculty engaged in transitioning to competency-based education and adapting their programs to prepare more practice-ready graduates. This online hub offers guidelines for schools working to integrate the Essentials into curricula and highlight a range of faculty development options and teaching resources. A special section of the tool kit focuses on Competency Assessment, featuring links to AACN’s Guiding Principles for Competency-Based Education and Assessment and the Essentials Competency Assessment Framework. The site also aligns the Essentials Progression Indicators and Nursing Practice Scenarios with AACN’s approach to competency assessment.
2026 Edition of the AACN Essentials Available in Two Formats
June 24, 2026 In April, AACN announced the release of the 2026 edition of The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. AACN made targeted refinements to the initial document released in 2021 to reinforce compliance with federal guidelines and expectations. Clarifications were made to support schools of nursing as they evaluate program requirements, student experiences, and learning environments in keeping with federal standards. The updates align with AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) framework that was introduced to the membership in July 2025. The new language reinforces our commitment to ACE, emphasizing support for student success, workforce preparation, and academic–practice partnerships. The Essentials may be downloaded free from the AACN website; print copies are also available and may be ordered here.
Upcoming Faculty Workshops on Competency-Based Education and Assessment
June 17, 2026 This fall, AACN will offer a series of faculty development workshops to aid schools in their transition to competency-based education (CBE). Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with CBE, AI, and simulation experts, while discovering new strategies, resources, and solutions for adapting nursing programs to align with the Essentials. Register now for the following in-person and virtual events:
Journal Reviewers Needed for Essentials-Related Manuscripts
June 10, 2026 AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing (JPN) is currently seeking reviewers to provide timely feedback on articles focused on the AACN Essentials and the move to competency-based education. JPN is a peer-reviewed publication ranked among the top sources for scholarship on academic nursing. The journal features original work, research findings, reviews, and opinion pieces that inform the future of nursing education, leadership, research, practice, and health policy. Reviewers are needed to read and critique articles about research, curriculum redesign, and implementation efforts connected to the transition to the latest competency standards outlined in the Essentials. Deans, faculty, and others interested in serving as reviewers are encouraged to contact AACN’s Associate Director of Publications, Kara Tucker, at ktucker@aacnnursing.org.
Designate the Essentials Champion for Your School of Nursing
June 3, 2026 For schools currently not participating in this information-sharing network, AACN is asking each member school dean to identify one lead faculty member to serve as an Essentials Champion. This individual will be your school’s central point of contact and communication liaison who will have access to leaders engaged in Essentials implementation. Champions are encouraged to share updates and information with your administrative staff, faculty, practice partners, and students as well as identify issues, ask questions, and share ideas during virtual Q&A sessions held each quarter with AACN staff. Click here to fill out a short online form to designate your Essentials Champion. Please direct any questions to essentials@aacnnursing.org.
Progression Indicators Updated to Align with the 2026 Edition of the Essentials
May 27, 2026 Progression Indicators (PIs) are used at the Essentials sub-competency level to provide clear descriptions of what a learner should be able to do at specific points in their education, helping faculty assess student success on the road to competency. PIs translate sub-competencies into clear, observable behaviors that faculty, preceptors, and students can use as a shared roadmap for learning. AACN has developed resources to help faculty use the PIs to strengthen experiential learning opportunities and promote readiness for practice. In addition to instructional videos, implementation guides, and two on-demand webinars are also available:
The webinars are free to faculty at AACN member schools and award continuing education credit. Non-members may also access the webinars for a $59 fee. The PIs were updated to align with the 2026 edition of the Essentials, published in April 2026. For a summary of edits, including changes to the sub-competencies, click here.
Only a Few Seats Left for Upcoming Workshop on Essentializing Your Curriculum
May 20, 2026 Back by popular demand, AACN is hosting an online program for faculty seeking strategies, resources, and solutions for adapting their nursing programs to meet the AACN Essentials. This workshop, Essentializing Your Curriculum: Moving Forward with Competency-Based Education (CBE), provides an introduction to CBE, in-depth training on curricular transition, and instruction on how to use AI to develop assessment rubrics based on progression indicators. Held June 2-3 from 12:00-4:00 pm (ET), the two-day event features instruction from AACN’s Essentials Coaches and experts with the Competency-Based Education Network. Participants will engage in collaborative learning through virtual breakout rooms to apply concepts and develop practical solutions. Registration will be capped at 100 attendees to allow for more personalized instruction. Register now.
Getting Started with the Essentials Video and Online Resource
May 13, 2026 AACN offers a quick start guide for schools moving to implement the latest Essentials and transition to competency-based education. Designed for institutions in the early stages of their journey, this resource includes an overview video outlining how to begin the process of aligning nursing programs to meet contemporary standards. Click here to view the "Getting Started with the Essentials" video. In addition, a webpage was created identifying a systematic approach to curriculum redesign, including suggested resources in four areas. The specific steps include: Familiarize Yourself with the Essentials; Review AACN Guides and Talking Points; Strategizing Ways to Approach Implementation; and Engaging with Peers and Practice Partners. Access the online resource.
CCNE Issues Call for Comments on Proposed Revisions to its Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (2024)
May 6, 2026 In light of the recent updates made by AACN to the Essentials, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Board of Commissioners has launched a focused review of CCNE’s 2024 Standards, which apply to baccalaureate and master’s degree nursing programs, Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. Some of the Essentials updates impact CCNE’s 2024 Standards, which require baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs to incorporate the 10 Domains for Nursing, 8 Concepts for Nursing Practice, and 45 Competencies from AACN’s 2021 Essentials. At this time, CCNE is releasing the CCNE Board-approved proposed changes (with tracking) to its Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs for public comment. To see the Call for Comments, which provides details about the proposed revisions to the CCNE Standards and directions for submitting comments to CCNE, click here.
View all Updates
September 9, 2026 | Virtual Mini Workshop Building a Competency-Based Curriculum: Connecting Outcomes, Activities, and Assessments
September 22, 2026 | Virtual Mini Workshop Aligning Outcomes, Progression Indicators, and Assessment: The Competency Design Studio
October 21, 2026 | Virtual Workshop The Power of Coaching: Transforming Faculty Feedback for Competency-Based Success
December 2, 2026 | Transform 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop | Indianapolis, IN High-Impact Teaching: Applying Lessons from Simulation Across the Curriculum
January 14-15, 2027 | Doctoral Education Conference Post-Conference Workshop | Coronado, CA Designing the Future of Nursing Education with AI: Using Artificial Intelligence to Implement the AACN Essentials and Strengthen Competency-Based Learning
The AACN/AONL Academic-Practice Partnership Playbook: From Shared Vision to Action