If you read our FAQs on accreditation, you may have been left wondering if you really need to attend an accredited health care school or program.

The truth is that the answer varies depending on the specifics of your career goals—some students do end up choosing to attend a non-accredited school. But there are some definite consequences of going the non-accredited route you should be aware of when you’re trying to answer this question for yourself.

You may not find a job in your profession

Depending on the profession and the state you live in, you may have difficulty finding a job if your credential is from a non-accredited school or program. Some employers will not hire you unless you attended an accredited institution. If you are enrolled in a non-accredited school, talk to students who graduated recently and ask if they were able to find a job.

You may not be able to attend a four-year or graduate school

It is in your best interest to attend an accredited institution if you plan to further your education. Your acceptance to a four-year or graduate school could be denied because the institution may not recognize courses taken at a non-accredited institution.

You may discover you’ve wasted time and/or money

If you graduate from a non-accredited school and find out you cannot obtain employment, you will have lost valuable time and money to pursue your dream of becoming a health professional.

It may be harder to re-pay your student loans

Two thirds of students borrow to pay for college. If you are one of these students, you may have challenges repaying your student loans if you don’t earn enough money or cannot find suitable employment. The increase in borrowing and loan default rates has caused the federal government to create regulations that help ensure that students are getting what they pay for in an academic program and can find a job once they graduate.