The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit schools or programs, but is required by law to publish a list of recognized accrediting agencies. The Secretary of Education has a set of procedures that these agencies must follow, such as linking to federal programs in order to be recognized.
In order to get accredited, schools in North Carolina must go through an application process with the accrediting agency; this generally involves a site visit and providing documentation that the school meets the standards set by the accrediting agency and the U.S. Department of Education. There are several national accrediting agencies recognized by North Carolina.
One of the largest accrediting bodies for North Carolina schools is the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association Colleges and Schools. The commission is a regional accrediting agency that issues accreditation to schools in 11 southern U.S. states. Higher education institutions seeking accreditation must first complete an application that documents compliance with certain standards. A candidacy committee will verify the information in the application through an on-site visit. A report is issued, and the school has a set time frame to respond to the report. If the school gets a favorable recommendation to the full commission, it will get a candidacy status designation and later full accreditation after the school has demonstrated a continued compliance with the standards.
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools has accredited more than 800 schools around the United States, including North Carolina. A non-profit organization located in Virginia, it offers national, regional and specialized accreditation designations. Schools must demonstrate minimum eligibility standards before submitting an application. The application process includes an initial visit, and the school has a chance to submit a response to the visit team's report. The council meets three times a year to decide which applications to accept.
More specialized schools can seek accreditation through agencies such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training and the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.