Articles - Testing And Assessment

A Guide to Accrediting/Certifying Agencies and Organizations in Career and Technical Education

This online guide is intended to help students, parents, and others understand more about educational and technical credentials and certifications and how to find educational programs that meet their needs. It gives an overview of accreditation and provides links to selected online sources of information.

Contents

What Is Accreditation?

What Other Types of Credentials Are There?

How Do I Know What Certificates I Should Get?

Sites that Provide General Information

Sites that Identify Accredited Schools

Sites Related to Accreditation for Specific Occupa

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation may be defined as "a validation—a statement by a group of persons who are, theoretically, impartial experts in higher education, that a given school, or department within a school, has been thoroughly investigated and found worthy of approval" (Degree.net). It applies to postsecondary institutions (vocational schools, two-year colleges, colleges, universities) and to specific programs (engineering, teacher education) within institutions.

The U.S. Department of Education does not itself accredit institutions or programs, but does publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that the Secretary of Education "determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit. An agency seeking national recognition by the Secretary must meet the Secretary's procedures and criteria for the recognition of accrediting agencies, as published in the Federal Register. Some of the criteria for recognition, such as the criterion requiring a link to Federal programs, have no bearing on the quality of an accrediting agency; however, they do have the effect of making some agencies ineligible for recognition for reasons other than quality. The recognition process involves not only filing an application with the U.S. Department of Education but also review by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which makes a recommendation to the Secretary regarding recognition. The Secretary, after considering the Committee's recommendation, makes the final determination regarding recognition" (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/accreditation/index.html).

When considering a college or other postsecondary institution, it is important to make sure that the school is accredited by a recognized agency. Unaccredited institutions and other educational providers (sometimes called diploma mills or degree mills) that have been repeatedly denied recognition and/or prosecuted for fraud by state governments may claim to be accredited, but the agency accrediting them may be equally bogus.

State departments of education may be able to alert you to unrecognized institutions (for example, see Oregon's: http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html). "Accrediting Agencies Not Recognized Under GAAP (Generally Accepted Accreditation Principles" (http://www.degree.net/guides/non-gaap_listings.html) is a useful list of unrecognized and in some cases fraudulent accrediting associations. The list is maintained by Dr. John Bear, a leading authority on academic fraud. A GAAP school must meet at least one of these criteria (http:// www.degree.net):

• Accredited by a accreditor recognized by Council on Higher Education Accreditation (http://chea.org) and/or the U.S. Department of Education
• Listed in the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook
• Listed in UNESCO's Handbook of Universities
• Listed appropriately in PIER, the Project in International Education Research, a joint venture of the registrars and the American Council on Education
• Listed by the Australian Qualifications Framework

The U.S. Network for Education Information (USNEI) notes (http://www.ed.gov/NLE/USNEI/us/accred-fraud.html):

"Authoritative lists of U.S. institutions accredited by recognized accreditors, and therefore recognized as part of the U.S. education system, are published in two places.

Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education (AIPE) (http://www.acenet.edu/bookstore/) is the official list of all recognized freestanding institutions and branches accredited by the member associations of the (CHEA). This publication can be ordered online and is updated annually. (On the Bookstore page, click on Quick Peek By Subject and then select Guides and Directories.)

Federal School Code Search Page (Title IV Code List) provides a searchable database of all the institutions that are approved to participate in federal financial assistance programs for US students. This list (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet) differs in detail from the AIPE list because (a) not all accredited or recognized institutions choose to participate; and (b) participation in the student assistance program requires additional undertakings besides accreditation by a federally recognized association."

In addition to accrediting agencies for schools that award traditional degrees (associate's, bachelor's), the US Department of Education maintains a list of National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies for specialties as varied as acupuncture, bible college education, cosmetology, dance, midwifery education, physical therapy, and veterinary education (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/accreditation/natlinstandspec.html).

States are responsible for licensing professions within their borders. Some occupations may require a license in one state, but not in another. "The Licensed Occupations Tool allows you to search for occupational licensing requirements by state, occupation, or agency. This tool includes information on licenses that may be required by law in order for you to practice a particular occupation. Keep in mind that information for all states, agencies, and licenses may be not be included" (http://www.acinet.org/acinet/lois_start.asp).

What Other Types of Credentials Are There?

The most familiar credential is the postsecondary degree (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorate) that is obtained through attendance at an accredited postsecondary institution, but there are other recognitions of educational and training accomplishment. Industry and professional organizations and individual companies offer certifications that may be of value. An ERIC Digest, Vocational Certificates and College Degrees, compares the various credentials, their benefits in relation to employment, and their role in the lifelong learning patterns of career-focused individuals (http://ericacve.org/docgen.asp?tbl=digests&ID=96).

Some certificates indicate knowledge of a specific skill within an industry or sometimes a specific company's products:

Examples of specific skills

A+ - Computer hardware (http://www.comptia.org/certification/a/default.asp)

ACI (American Concrete Institute) - Concrete testing (http://www.concrete.org/CERTIFICATION/cert.asp)

Examples of specific companies

MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/default.asp)

Cisco Systems Certified Networking (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3/learning_career_
certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html)

The Riley Guide lists certification resources and links to many associations and organizations that provide certification and often continuing education (http://www.rileyguide.com/certif.html#top).

How Do I Know What Certificates I Should Get?

Know your profession or industry! Ask your more experienced colleagues about what certifications are respected. Find out about certification/education that is requested or mandated for entry and advanced positions in your own and other companies.

Sites that Provide General Information

Degree.net provides an overview of the accrediting process and defines accreditation, explains its importance, and discusses accrediting agencies (http://www.degree.net/guides/accreditation_guide.html).

There are specialized accrediting bodies for occupations such as acupuncture, allied health, cosmetology, nurse practitioners, and optometry (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/accreditation/natlagencies.html)

National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) sets quality standards for credentialing organizations. Through its annual conference, regional seminars, and publications, NOCA serves its membership as a clearinghouse for information on the latest trends and issues of concern to practitioners and organizations focused on certification, licensure, and human resource development. (http://www.noca.org/index.htm)

Sites that Identify Accredited Schools

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredits postsecondary institutions specializing in allied health education and specialized programs for medical assistants in the private sector and medical laboratory technicians in the public and private sectors. (http://www.abhes.org/)

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) is a private, nonprofit, independent accrediting agency whose goal is maintaining educational quality in the career schools and colleges it accredits by striving to assure academic excellence and ethical practices. ACCSCT is dedicated to the more than 360,000 students who annually pursue career education at its accredited institutions. (http://www.accsct.org/)

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs preparing effective nurses. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs and the continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education. (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation/index.htm)

Continuing Education Unit (CEUs) certification is granted by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 620 I Street NW, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20006, 202/463-2905, fax: 202/463-8497, e-mail: iacet@iacet.org, http://www.iacet.org.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) provides a database of accredited schools. (http://www.chea.org/Institutions/search.cfm)

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. (http://www.ceph.org/)

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a leader in global distance learning. DETC has accredited members in Canada, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With its 75-plus years of history and its highly refined and federally recognized accreditation program, DETC offers distance learning institutions the most current, relevant and practical services for the 21st century. (http://www.detc.org/)

Information Technology Industry Sector Standards Guide to Certifications. The Business Education Resource Consortium, Central Coast Articulation Group in cooperation with the High School Initiatives Office, High School Leadership Division, California Department of Education, developed these standards to be consistent with industry practices and ensure that educational programs using them prepare students for entry into a career field, as well as prepare them for postsecondary education (http://www.bused.org/itcerts.html). Also see A Parallel Postsecondary Universe: The Certification System in Information Technology (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ParallelUniverse/).

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) promotes excellence in education and enhances quality and safety of patient care through the accreditation of educational programs. (http://www.jrcert.org/)

The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) is recognized by the US Department of Education as a national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences, including specialized schools. It presently accredits approximately 1,000 institutions that serve over 100,000 students. (http://www.naccas.org/)

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is the profession's mechanism to help establish high-quality teacher preparation. NCATE's performance-based system of accreditation fosters competent classroom teachers and other educators who work to improve the education of all P-12 students. The NCATE accreditation system is a voluntary peer review process that involves a comprehensive evaluation of the professional education unit (the school, college, department, or other administrative body within the institution that is primarily responsible for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel). (http://ncate.org/)

Sites Related to Accreditation for Specific Occupa

The following sites include associations and professional organizations that certify individuals (and sometimes also programs or schools) for specific occupations. This list is not comprehensive, but it should give you an idea of the wide range of organizations that exist. To find a certifying body for your area of interest, try using an Internet search engine such as Google and the name of the occupation with the term "association" or "organization" (see the help screens on the advanced section of the search engine for assistance in constructing your search).

Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) provides a variety of certifications and specialty workshops including TeleFitness education courses. (http://www.afaa.com/)

American Academy of Micropigmentation "founded in 1992, is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote excellence in micropigmentation, permanent makeup, and cosmetic tattooing by a national board certification and continuing educational process while supporting appropriate legislation for self-direction for all practitioners." (http://www.micropigmentation.org/)

American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers certification for Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H). (http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.htm)

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is the only national forum where K-12 teachers, university educators and corporate executives collaborate to improve the quality of individual and family life. To become certified, an individual must earn a minimum of a baccalaureate degree and successfully complete the National Family and Consumer Sciences Examination. (http://www.aafcs.org/certification/achievement.html)

American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) offers a voluntary two-part exam to individuals who wish to become certified medical transcriptionists. (http://www.aamt.org/agate/aamt_oms/content/chub.asp)

American Concrete Institute (ACI) "offers 13 certification programs designed to form a minimum qualification for personnel employed within the concrete industry. Certification examinations and optional training courses are conducted through a network of over 100 Local Sponsoring Groups operating both domestically and internationally. Since 1983, ACI has administered exams to over 200,000 individuals, with over 60,000 individuals currently certified by ACI." (http://www.concrete.org/CERTIFICATION/cert.asp)

American Council on Exercise (ACE) currently offers four fitness certifications: Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, and Clinical Exercise Specialist. (https://secure.acefitness.org/getcertified/index.cfm)

American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) "is the only membership organization exclusively for the professional designer drafter in all disciplines including manufacturing, utilities, construction, engineering, government and education." ADDA offers the Drafter Certification Program, a nationwide program that allows drafters to demonstrate their knowledge in drafting concepts, standards, and practices. Through a national school curriculum certification program, ADDA ensures that the variety and caliber of curriculum in participating schools is appropriate for the design drafting profession. (http://www.adda.org)

American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA) provides the following reasons to obtain their certification: demonstrates your commitment to the profession, enhances your professional image, reflects personal achievement, and establishes professional credentials (http://www.afpafitness.com).

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides information and materials for Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) certification. (http//www.ahima.org/certification/index.html)

American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America is a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs and professional certification to people in all segments of the property and liability insurance business (http//www.aicpcu.org).

American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) offers the Certified Bookkeeper program (http://www.aipb.org/certification_program.html).

American Occupational Therapy Association provides certification and licensure information to members on their website. (http://www.aota.org/index.asp)

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has a list of frequently asked questions related to certification of physical therapists. (http://www.apta.org/Education/specialist/ABPTSCert/initial_certification_faq)

American Welding Society certification programs deliver the credentials needed to succeed in a competitive world market. AWS offers certification in the following categories: CW - Certified Welder, CAWI - Certified Associate Welding Inspector, CWI - Certified Welding Inspector, SCWI - Senior Certified Welding Inspector, CWE - Certified Welding Educator, CWEng - Certified Welding Engineer, Certified Welding Fabricator, NDE - Nondestructive Examination. (http://www.aws.org/certification/)

Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) "sets the certification standards for security service providers worldwide and is the administrator of the Proficiency Registration Program by which professionals in the industry are certified." (http://www.aloa.org/education/education.htm)

Certification Board for Music Therapy (CBMT) is the only organization to certify music therapists nationally. Since 1986 it has been fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Nearly 4,000 music therapists have attained the Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) credential, and now participate in a program of recertification designed to maintain or increase initial competence. (http://www.cbmt.org/default.asp)

CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) certification programs are the recognized industry standards for foundation-level information technology (IT) skills. Best known for the A+ certification, CompTIA offers the following certifications in key technology areas: A+, e-Biz+, IT Project+, Security+, CDIA+, HTI+, Linux+, Server+, CTT+, i-Net+ and Network+. (http://www.comptia.org/certification/default.asp)

Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), an affiliate of the Society for Human Resources Management, certifies Professional in Human Resources and Senior Professional in Human Resources. (http://www.hrci.org/certification/)

International Association of Information Technology Trainers (ITrain) offers a vendor-neutral certification program for individuals (Professional Technical Trainer), companies (Professional Training Center) and training materials (Professional Training Materials) (http://itrain.org/certification/).

International Fitness Association (IFA) offers Aerobics and Fitness Instructor and Sports Nutritionist certificates that are nationally and internationally recognized in over 80 countries worldwide. (http://www.ifafitness.com/)

National Association of Radio and Television Engineers (NARTE) is a professional telecommunications association that certifies qualified engineers and technicians in the fields of telecommunications, electromagnetic compatibility/interference (EMC/EMI), electrostatic discharge control (ESD) and wireless systems installation. NARTE also administers FCC commercial operator license exams. (http://www.narte.org/)

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is a not-for-profit credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational therapy profession. NBCOT serves the public interest by developing, administering, and continually reviewing a certification process that reflects current standards of competent practice in occupational therapy. They work with state regulatory authorities, providing information on credentials, disciplinary actions, and regulatory and certification renewal issues. (http://www.nbcot.org/)

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) issues the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) credential. The PAC is a mark of professional accomplishment, indicating the achievement and maintenance of established levels of knowledge and clinical skills. The PAC credential is widely recognized within the medical professions and beyond. In fact, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the American territories require the mark for licensure or regulation of physician assistants. (http://www.nccpa.net/)

National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) "certification recognizes that an individual has met minimum competency standards for the practice of interior design. NCIDQ's role in the certification process includes the establishment of standards for education and experience and the administration of a minimum competency examination. The examination tests the candidate's performance within the profession." (http://www.ncidq.org/certframe.htm)

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification provides the following benefits: knowing that you are among the elite in your profession, having the credentials to prove your competence, and getting increased respect from your peers and your employer. Additionally, many ASE-certified technicians report added responsibilities, selection for advanced training, improved job opportunities, and salary increases. (http://www.asecert.org/subchannels/pro_cert_general.cfm)

National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) is designed by industry experts to provide engineering technology fields with a qualified work force. Its programs are increasingly used by employers and specifiers to measure job skills and knowledge. Technician certification requires testing (written, multiple choice) and documentation including a work history, recommendations, and, for most programs, supervisor verification of specific experience. Technologist certification requires a 4-year engineering technology degree (no testing required), and at the advanced level, documentation including a work history and endorsements. (http://www.nicet.org/certification/index.html)

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) has the mission to "certify and register Emergency Medical Services Professionals throughout their careers by a valid and uniform process that assesses the knowledge and skills for competent practice." (http://www.nremt.org/about/nremt_news.asp)

Nursing. Links to all state boards of nursing can be found at http://www.nyerrn.com/nursing/b.htm. Each will have information about license requirements.

Webliography

by Judith O. Wagner and Cheryl R. Sturko Grossman

This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under Contract No. ED-99-CO-0013. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.  ERIC/ACVE publications may be freely reproduced.

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