Recognized Accrediting Associations in US

Each association listed below is recognized by CHEA, ASPA, and/or the Secretary of Education, and the institutions it accredits may be considered legitimate components of the U.S. education system. The web sites of the associations contain lists of the accredited member institutions and programs as well as information on the policies and standards used to evaluate them. For definitions of each type of accrediting association, and descriptions of accreditation and recognition, go to Accreditation Described.

Note: Associations in these directories preceeded with an asterisk (*) are those currently recognized by the U.S. federal government under the laws regulating the student financial assistance programs for U.S. citizens. The number of federally recognized associations varies over time due to changes in regulations and how these changes affect the types of accreditation needed for institutions participating in federal assistance programs.

Regional Accrediting Associations

This directory includes the specialized commissions of each of the 6 regional accreditors that oversee the accreditation of different levels and types of institutions. Each association organizes its commissions separately, so variations exist. Please check each regional link to be sure you have located the level and type of institutional accreditation you are seeking.

All regional accrediting associations are developing and implementing policies on the accreditation of distance education. Please check each association's web site for its current policies and the providers it has accredited.

*1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Higher Education

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Elementary Schools

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Secondary Schools

*2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Independent Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Public Elementary Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Public Secondary Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Technical and Career Institutions

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Committee on American and International Schools Abroad

*3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Includes Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the international locations of accredited members.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

North Central Association, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement

*4. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC). Includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Northwest Association of Accredited Schools

*5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Commission on Colleges

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

*6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Includes California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, and other Australasian locations.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Senior College Commission

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Accrediting Commission for Schools

National Accrediting Associations

This directory lists all recognized national accrediting associations that accredit entire institutions, as well as associations that accredit both free-standing institutions and programs within accredited institutions. For associations that accredit only programs within accredited institutions, go to Professional/Specialized Accrediting Associations.

Professional Schools of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)

Postsecondary Allied Health Career Training Institutions:

*Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

Postsecondary Schools of Fine and Performing Arts:

*National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Commission on Accreditation

*National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), Commission on Accreditation

*National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Commission on Accrediation

National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), Commission on Accreditation

Professional Schools of Chiropractic, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), Commission on Accreditation

Postsecondary Commercial and Business Institutions:

*Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)

Postsecondary Non-Degree Continuing Education Providers:

*Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)

Professional Schools of Cosmetology and Related Grooming Programs, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)

Postsecondary Distance Education Providers, Degree and Non-Degree:

*Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Accrediting Commission

Professional Funeral Service/Mortuary Science Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), Committee on Accreditation

Professional Law Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Bar Association (ABA), Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

Association of American Law Schools (AALS)

Postsecondary Institutions Emphasizing Traditional Liberal Arts Curricula, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

* American Academy of Liberal Education (AALE)

Professional Schools of Medicine and Medical Programs within Accredited Institutions

*Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) of the America Medical Association (AMA) and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Professional Montessori Teacher Training Schools and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)

Professional Schools of Naturopathic Medicine and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

* Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)

Professional Nurse-Anesthesia Training Institutions and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs

Professional Licensed and Registered Nurse Training Institutions, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

National League for Nursing (NLN) Accrediting Commission

Professional Schools of Osteopathic Medicine (Osteopathy), and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Bureau of Professional Education Policies and standards.

*American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Bureau of Professional Education List of accredited institutions.

Professional Schools of Podiatric Medicine (Podiatry), and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), Council on Podiatric Medical Education

Professional Radiologic Technology Training Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Secondary and Postsecondary Institutions Emphasizing Religious Training, and Theological Seminaries:

*The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation

*Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS) (The Association does not maintain a web site, but may be contacted by telephone at 1-212-477-0950 or Fax at 1-212-533-5335.)

*Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)

*Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), Accreditation Commission

Postsecondary Vocational/Technical Training Institutions:

*Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)

*Council on Occupational Education (COE)

Professional/Specialized Accrediting Associations

This directory lists recognized accrediting associations that accredit specialized programs of study offered within institutions that are themselves regionally or nationally accredited.

Certificate, Diploma, and Degree Programs in Allied Health Fields:

*Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

Degree Programs in Architecture:

National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB)

Degree Programs in Business Administration:

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Degree Programs in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Technology, and the training of Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technicians, Histotechnologists, Histologic Technicians, and Pathology Assistants:

*National Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

Degree Programs in Computer Science:

Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC), Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB)

Degree Programs in Building/Construction Science, Technology, and Management:

American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)

Degree Programs in Counseling and Related Fields:

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Apprenticeship, Non-Degree, and Associate Degree Programs in Culinary Arts:

American Culinary Federation (ACF)

Degree Programs in Dentistry, and Degree and Non-Degree Programs in Dental Hygiene, Dental Laboratory Technology, and Dental Assisting:

*American Dental Association (ADA), Commission on Dental Accreditation

Degree Programs in Dietetics, Clinical Nutrition, and the training of Dietetic Technicians:

*American Dietetic Association, Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)

Degree Programs in Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Engineering-Related Fields:

*Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Degree Programs in Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics):

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), Council for Accreditation

Certificate and Degree Programs in Fire Service and Fire Science:

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)

Degree Programs in Forestry and Forest Technology:

Society of American Foresters (SAF)

Degree Programs in Health Services/Hospital Administration:

*Accrediting Commission for Education in Health Services Administration (ACEHSA)

Degree Programs in Industrial Technology Fields:

National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT)

Degree Programs in Interior Design:

Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research (FIDER)

Degree Programs in Journalism and Mass Communications:

*Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)

Degree Programs in Landscape Architecture:

Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB)

Degree Programs in Library Science (Librarianship):

American Library Association (ALA), Committee on Accreditation

Degree Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy:

*American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Commission on Accreditation

Certificate and Degree Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology:

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT)

Degree Programs in Nurse-Midwifery:

*American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Division of Accreditation

Degree Programs preparing Nurse Practitioner Specialists in Women's Health:

*National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), Council on Accreditation

Degree and Advanced Degree Programs in Nursing, General and Specializations:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Degree Programs in Occupational Therapy:

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education

Degree Programs in Opticianry:

*Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA)

Degree Programs in Optometry:

*American Optometric Association (AOA), Council on Optometric Education

Degree Programs in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies:

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)/American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR), Council on Accreditation

Degree and Advanced Certificate Programs in Clinical Pastoral Counseling:

*Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), Accreditation Commission

Degree Programs in Pharmacy:

*American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)

Degree Programs in Physical Therapy:

*American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Commission on Accreditation

Degree Programs in City, Community, Urban, and Regional Planning:

Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)

Degree Programs in Psychoanalysis:

American Board for Accreditation in Psychoanalysis (ABAP) (No web site, but can be contacted via telephone at 1-815-964-6066, via Fax at 1-815-397-7729, or email at dalrymdmin@aol.com.)

Degree Programs in Professional (Clinical, Counseling, School) and Scientific Psychology:

*American Psychological Association (APA), Committee on Accreditation

Degree Programs in Public Administration and Public Affairs:

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation

Degree Programs in Public Health:

*Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Degree Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling:

Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)

Degree Programs in Social Work:

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Degree Programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology:

*American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Council on Academic Accreditation

Degree Programs in Teacher Training and Education:

*National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Degree Programs in Veterinary Medicine:

*American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Council on Education

A Guide To Online Accredited Degrees

By: Bob Hett

While many people dream of getting some kind of degree, it is often impossible to interrupt your career to go to school. Most people have a job, and the hours and classes of a regular university or college often do not fit into their schedule. Or they have a family to support and can’t take the time to attend a university. Non-traditional students are becoming the norm instead of the exception, and many colleges and universities are recognizing this fact and responding to it by providing online instruction.

One great option for this type of person is to earn an online accredited degree. This is a degree from a college or university that has accreditation, which means it meets established criteria for each degree it offers.

The programs at these online colleges vary. It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about each one before making your decision about which one to attend. Request information and study it closely to make sure they offer the degree of your choice. For whatever kind of degree you want to earn, there is probably an online college that offers it. You can get Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, a post-graduate degree or simply a certification that is needed to get a better job. Many of these online programs offer financial aid, as well.

There are so many advantages to getting an online degree. You do not have to commute at all. You can arrange your classes to fit into your life, not the other way around. Distance learning saves you time and money by being able to do it at your convenience around your life. The flexibility is one of the greatest assets of the online degree. You also get the added benefits of meeting and interacting with other teachers and students, and having a degree usually means having a better job and an increased salary.

However, it is important to make sure that your program is accredited. It does you no good to earn a degree from a fly-by-night program that leaves you with a degree or certification that no one will recognize and is only as valuable as the paper it is printed on. Your education is the key to your future, so you need to make sure that it is a good education.

If you were every considering getting a degree to get a different or better job, now is the time to do it. Online accredited degrees are receiving a lot of attention, and before long, they will be considered similar to degrees that are earned in the traditional way. Whether you sit in a classroom or sit at your computer, the same academic standards are applied to these degree programs. Get yours!

Bob Hett offers great tips and advice regarding all aspects of online degrees. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.onlinedegreesreview.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Hett

Accreditation in the United States

FINANCIAL AID FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS

Accreditation in the U.S.

The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority exercising single national control over postsecondary educational institutions in this country. The States assume varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs.

In order to insure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations of regional or national scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a sound educational program and have developed procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic levels of quality.

Some Functions of Accreditation

1. Verifying that an institution or program meets established standards;
2. Assisting prospective students in identifying acceptable institutions;
3. Assisting institutions in determining the acceptability of transfer credits;
4. Helping to identify institutions and programs for the investment of public and private funds;
5. Protecting an institution against harmful internal and external pressure;
6. Creating goals for self-improvement of weaker programs and stimulating a general raising of standards among educational institutions;
7. Involving the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning;
8. Establishing criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation; and
9. Providing one of several considerations used as a basis for determining eligibility for Federal assistance.

The Accrediting Procedure

1. Standards: The accrediting agency, in collaboration with educational institutions, establishes standards.
2. Self-study: The institution or program seeking accreditation prepares an in-depth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the standards established by the accrediting agency.
3. On-site Evaluation: A team selected by the accrediting agency visits the institution or program to determine first-hand if the applicant meets the established standards.
4. Publication: Upon being satisfied that the applicant meets its standards, the accrediting agency grants accreditation or preaccreditation status and lists the institution or program in an official publication with other similarly accredited or preaccredited institutions or programs.
5. Monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors each accredited institution or program throughout the period of accreditation granted to verify that it continues to meet the agency's standards.
6. Reevaluation: The accrediting agency periodically reevaluates each institution or program that it lists to ascertain whether continuation of its accredited or preaccredited status is warranted.

Types of Accreditation

There are two basic types of educational accreditation, one identified as "institutional" and one referred to as "specialized" or "programmatic."

Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives, although not necessarily all at the same level of quality. The various commissions of the regional accrediting associations, for example, perform institutional accreditation, as do many national accrediting agencies.

Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution. The accredited unit may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline. Most of the specialized or programmatic accrediting agencies review units within an institution of higher education that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions. However, certain accrediting agencies also accredit professional schools and other specialized or vocational institutions of higher education that are free-standing in their operations. Thus, a "specialized " or "programmatic " accrediting agency may also function in the capacity of an "institutional " accrediting agency. In addition, a number of specialized accrediting agencies accredit educational programs within non-educational settings, such as hospitals.

Accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance by an institution of credit earned at another institution, nor does it give assurance of acceptance of graduates by employers. Acceptance of students or graduates is always the prerogative of the receiving institution or employer. For these reasons, besides ascertaining the accredited status of a school or program, students should take additional measures to determine, prior to enrollment, whether or not their educational goals will be met through attendance at a particular institution. These measures should include inquiries to institutions to which transfer might be desired or to prospective employers and, if possible, personal inspection of the institution at which enrollment is contemplated.

Non-governmental Coordinating Agency

For more than 50 years, there has been some type of nongovernmental coordinating agency for accreditation. This body, whatever its form, has existed primarily for the purpose of coordinating and improving the practice of accreditation. For example, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), which was established in 1974 and existed until December 1993, served as a nongovernmental organization whose purpose was to foster and facilitate the role of accrediting agencies in promoting and ensuring the quality and diversity of American postsecondary education. Through its Committee on Recognition, COPA recognized, coordinated, and periodically reviewed the work of its member accrediting agencies and the appropriateness of existing or proposed accrediting agencies and their activities, through its granting of recognition and performance of other related functions. COPA itself was created through the merger of two organizations: the National Commission on Accreditation, founded in 1949 as the first national organization to develop criteria and recognize accrediting agencies; and the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commission of Higher Education.

After COPA voted to dissolve in December 1993, a new entity, the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA) was established in January 1994 to continue the recognition of accrediting agencies previously carried out by COPA until such time as a new national organization for accreditation could be established. CORPA was dissolved in April 1997 after the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) was created. CHEA is currently the entity that carries out a recognition function in the private, nongovernmental sector. Information about CHEA may be found on the agency's website, www.chea.org.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg2.html#U.S.