There are two basic types of Postsecondary Accreditation available for schools across the United States – Institutional, which can be broken down into National and Regional Accreditation, and Specialized Accreditation or Programmatic Accreditation.

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation usually refers to a whole educational institution, showing that all of the sections of the post-secondary institution are contributing to the achievement of the institution’s goals, though not all at the same level of quality. This type of accreditation comes in two sub-categories – national, and regional accreditation. Each type of accreditation offers advantages. Regionally accredited educational institutions are generally the best place to go for an academic degree, while nationally accredited ones are a good choice for those looking for a vocational program.

National Accreditation

National accreditation covers higher education institutions across the U.S. However, this accreditation is more for schools that focus on career education, such as vocational schools or technical schools, as well as schools that focus on faith-based programs. Schools that obtain this type of accreditation are often seen as providing a less rigorous higher education than those that receive regional accreditation; therefore, it is quite common that credits earned at nationally accredited institutions will not readily transfer to regionally accredited institutions. That does not mean that nationally accredited schools should be dismissed. Depending upon what a student is seeking in their educational experience, one of these schools might be what they need. For instance, in many cases a nationally accredited school does not require the usual general education courses that one will find in a more traditional school; that means that if the grad student’s career goals are very focused, they might be able to get to the finish line faster. The following are national accreditation agencies:

• Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission (ABHE)
• Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies (AIJS)
• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
• National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)

Regional Accreditation

When a student looks for the accreditation status of a school, regional accreditation is often what they will find. As the most common type of accreditation, this accreditation is awarded by one of several independent accrediting agencies, responsible for colleges and universities within a certain region. Over 85 percent of all colleges in the U.S. hold this form of accreditation through one of the following regional accrediting organizations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
• New England Association of Colleges and Schools (NEASC)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
• Northwest Accreditation Commission (NAC)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Programmatic Accreditation

For some master’s students, programmatic accreditation will matter just as much as regional accreditation. This type of accreditation is higher education accreditation that focuses on educational programs offered through the school. Specialized accrediting agencies go through a college degree to see if it meets certain guidelines, and is of standing quality. In some cases, attending a program with programmatic accreditation is essential for the graduate to later receive a certification or other work-related credential. There are a host of accreditation agencies in the United States that programmatic accreditation. A few examples of such programmatic accrediting agencies include:

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (APTA-CAPTE)
• American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)

Many professions, particularly those in healthcare, will not allow the candidate to appear for a certification exam unless they have a degree from a recognized institution. This is very dependent on the sector and the state in which the candidate lives, but it is worth investigating whether a particular program is an accredited program or an unaccredited program, before enrolling. Another crucial decision prospective students will make is which college to attend. For these and other reasons illustrated in this guide, it is always advisable to attend a school that meets the expected educational quality, and all accreditation requirements, so that they may feel assured that their education fulfills certain academic criteria and will be recognized by the job market.

Prospective students considering a program or school (especially law schools and vocational schools) but who are not sure if it is accredited, have a few ways to find out if a school is accredited, and which accrediting agency it is associated with. Many educational institutions are proud of their accreditation status and will have a page on their website that points it out. Other schools will include it on their “About Us” page.

Even if a school or program touts their higher education accreditation, students should double-check the accreditation before applying. This can be accomplished by reviewing the college through the following sites online:

• The U.S Department of Education The United States Department of Education maintains a list of accredited educational institutions. Grad students can browse through the list or use the search function to look up a specific school and the recognized accrediting agency, along with relevant education statistics. The U.S Department of Education also maintains a list of which accrediting body or accrediting agency is authorized to confer accreditation.
• The Council for Higher Education Accreditation The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is also a great resource for those seeking information about the accreditation process and accrediting organizations.

Prospective students can also call the school directly and ask for information on the institutional accreditation.

Conclusively, accreditation is a quality assurance process that culminates in a seal of approval – for meeting all set standards. While certain accrediting agencies may look for granular details of an institution, other accreditation agencies may take a broader approach. Overall, a school or program must be accredited, and equally important is which type of accrediting body is associated with it – a regional accreditor or an accreditation agency that accredits schools programmatically.

Before choosing a school or enrolling in a program, students should always visit the U.S Department of Education website and check to see which accrediting agency has conferred accreditation. A list of accrediting agencies is also available to peruse.