What is Accreditation?

One of the first questions you should ask when considering a degree program is "Is it accredited?" Knowing the accreditation of a college or university will help you assess what the college community thinks of the school, as well as an individual program. Accrediting boards can be regional or national, and can accredit institutions or specific departments or schools within an institution. It can get a little confusing. Here is a primer to help you navigate the accreditation terrain.

Understanding School Accreditation

Accreditation is used as an evaluation tool. Independent bodies assess the strengths and weaknesses of a school or degree program to ensure that standards of quality are being met. Consider it to be a system of checks and balances. If colleges were left to evaluate themselves, they would likely not have the same objectivity, nor might they be aware of better standards at other colleges. Accrediting agencies are a neutral, third-party with specific criteria that must be met by each school, such as the number of professors, quality of instruction, and depth and breadth of courses offered. Often, those on accreditation committees are made up of peers from other schools. Who better to judge Harvard Medical School than Stanford's doctors? The process of accreditation is a rubber stamp of sorts; a marker that says others working in the field believe that the program is worthwhile.

Who Accredits

Accreditation agencies are private—not government run. Schools voluntarily put themselves through the process of accreditation in order to gain insight into the quality of their own programs. It is a way of getting advice and suggestions. Think of it as a consultation. Some examples of accreditation agencies are:

• Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
• American Academy of Liberal Education and the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Universities and institutions of higher education are usually accredited by regional accreditation bodies such as:

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

What Does Accreditation do for You?

For the university, accreditation serves to instill public confidence in the institution and assure quality curricula. For the student, accreditation serves several important purposes:

• Financial Aid. A degree from an accredited university or program allows you access to state and federal financial aid. The government will only provide financial aid to students enrolled in schools accredited by accrediting bodies recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE).
• Transfer of Credits. Degrees from accredited schools and programs are recognized by other accredited institutions. In other words, if you want to transfer schools or earn a higher-level degree, your credits will only be recognized by accredited universities. Think of how disappointed you would be if you spent time and money completing undergraduate work that you had to repeat when you decided to get your master's degree. It can happen easily if you do not study at an accredited school.
• Licensing. Many health care careers, such as nursing, physical therapy or massage require licensure in order to work in a particular state. In many states, you cannot sit for their licensing or certification exams unless you have graduated from an accredited program recognized by that state. If you want to study for a health care career that requires licensing, be sure to check whether your state's licensing is contingent upon your school or program being accredited, and which accrediting bodies are recognized. This information is easily retrieved from state government websites under licensing.
• Job Market. Getting your degree from an accredited institution will improve your value in the job market. The respect that your degree will get will hinge upon this. It isn't enough to just find out that the school and program that you are interested in are accredited. You should also find out how long they have been accredited and how recently they have been evaluated. Sometimes, due to changes in staff, practices or courses, schools lose their accreditation. Life University, a chiropractic school in Marietta, Georgia, lost its accreditation in 2002. Life did not regain its accreditation until 2005. When selecting a program, consider factors such as this—it is important to be aware of a school's past and present as far as accreditation is concerned.

It may sound like extra work, but when considering a university or program it's in your best interest to find out if they are accredited, by whom and whether that accreditation will allow you to become licensed in your state.

University vs. Department vs. Program Accreditations

Accrediting bodies might accredit a university, a department within the university, or a specific program within a department. Look for accreditation at all of these levels. Let's use George Washington University (GWU) as an example:

• University Level. If you want financial aid or the ability to transfer credits, then a regional accreditation at the university level is the minimum you should look for. GWU is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
• Department Level. Specialties within a career or profession may have additional accrediting bodies. GWU's Department of Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Program Level. Getting even more granular, some career fields, such as public health, are accredited by career organizations or associations. GWU's School of Public Health and Health Services is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Bear in mind that not all programs or departments may be broad enough to justify an accrediting body. But asking about accreditation at each level is good place to start.

Where to go From Here

Now that you know the basics, you can do a little digging of your own to find the information you need. Once you have the degree itself picked out, find out exactly what accrediting agency is relevant to your degree. Check your state's local government site for licensing requirements, then the DOE site. The DOE provides an online search for accrediting agencies. You can search the database to find out exactly what schools and programs are accredited. Take advantage of these online resources to identify critical school accreditation information.