1974
The American Nurses Association (ANA) established a voluntary system for accreditation of organizations providing continuing nursing education. The essential purpose of this system is to provide professional nursing judgment on the quality of the continuing nursing education offered. The original governance structure of the accreditation program was a National Accreditation Board with five regional accrediting committees (RACs) and a National Review Committee, which evaluated nurse practitioner certificate programs.

1976
The first ANCC Accreditation is awarded.

1979
The work of two RACs and the National Review Committee was consolidated into three regional committees: the eastern, central, and western regional committees.

1984
The National Accrediting Board became the Board on Accreditation.

1988
A revised governance structure was implemented, eliminating the RACs and restructuring the Board on Accreditation, to ensure an equitable system and to make that system more accessible. Providers of continuing nursing education were now able to apply to the Board on Accreditation for an organizational accreditation or to apply to an accredited approver.

Also in 1988, the Board on Accreditation implemented the 1984 ANA House of Delegates resolution requiring a master's degree to be the minimum preparation for entry into advanced practice levels and ceased accreditation of nurse practitioner certificate programs.

1991
The ANA Center for Credentialing Services became the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). As a separately incorporated subsidiary of the association, ANCC administers the credentialing programs of ANA — both accreditation and certification —which are based on ANA's standards for nursing education, nursing practice, and nursing service.

2003
The Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) became an additional peer review body in the ANCC Accreditation process and began reviewing evidence from various sources regarding applicants. A summary report on each applicant and an accreditation recommendation is to be sent to the Commission on Accreditation (COA) for final action.

2005
The organization outside the US is accredited: American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon.

2007
Adopted the American Nurses Association (ANA) guideline for Commercial Support for Continuing Nursing Education. These standards were developed by ANA to assist nurse educators who wish to utilize the resources of corporations to provide continuing education programs. These guidelines enable the provider to maintain a balance between the need for industry-supported dissemination of scientific information and promotional activities which meet the requirements of law, as well as professional standards of the American Nurses Association.

Also in 2007, the first Premier Program status was awarded to Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and Nursing Spectrum Continuing Education (CE) as the best-of-the-best in providing excellence in continuing nursing education. The Premier Program recognizes ANCC-accredited continuing nursing education providers that continually raise the bar for quality and/or employ cutting-edge practices in continuing nursing education. These organizations provide models and act as exemplars of excellence in the field of continuing nursing education.

The Nursing Skills Competency Program accreditation was awarded to the first skills-based competency programs.

ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification in the design, development, and delivery of global credentialing services and support products for nurses and healthcare organizations.

2009
Began offering joint accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) in support of healthcare team-focused education that improves patient care. The Joint Accreditation for the Provider of Continuing Education for the Healthcare Team was available to organizations already accredited by at least two of the three national accrediting bodies: ACCME, ACPE, and/or ANCC.

2010
Two organizations received Joint Accreditation: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and VHA, Inc. Restructuring of the ANCC Accreditation program was initiated.

2011
A new accreditation manual was published. The American College of Cardiology Foundation received the Premier Program award. Criteria for the Nursing Skills Competency Program were revised.

2012
Organizations completing an accreditation review with no progress report requirement are eligible for Accreditation with Distinction. The first Accreditation with Distinction recognitions awarded in January 2012.