How to Get Educational Online Programs Accredited

Accreditation is a voluntary process that determines if a university's programs offer a quality, uniform education. The university may determine which accreditation agency it wishes to apply to. There is no single governing body that can determine a university's accreditation. The US Department of Education determines the six major regional accreditation agencies while the Council for Higher Education Accreditation determines many more. Regional accrediting agencies are most commonly recognized for residential universities. Two important nonregional accreditation agencies for online schools are the Higher Accreditation Association for Online Schools and the Distance Education and Training Council.

Instructions

  1. Higher Accreditation Association for Online Schools

    • 1

      Submit a request for a membership evaluation form to the Higher Accreditation Association for Online Schools (HAAOS). This accrediting agency requires that an online university does not discriminate against any individual; provides a confidentiality policy for student records; is registered in the country in which the school is located; and offers degree programs that can be completed entirely online.

    • 2

      Send additional required information and agree to the Higher Education Association for Online Schools' fees, terms and regulations.

    • 3

      Take tests and complete development phases to determine your university's worthiness of accreditation. If the university meets all of the Higher Education Association for Online Schools' criteria and passes all of its tests, the university will receive accreditation.

    Distance Education and Training Council

    • 4

      Obtain the Distance Education and Training Council's Accreditation Handbook. The handbook establishes all of the required qualifications for DETC accreditation that a university must meet before applying. If the university meets these requirements, an official of the university must complete a course to become a compliance officer who then must fill out a self-evaluation report. The compliance officer should submit all required materials to the DETC for application.

    • 5

      Undergo a readiness assessment to determine if the university is ready for a full evaluation. If approved, the university must submit course materials and the DETC will schedule on-site visits and will survey 100 students at the university.

    • 6

      Submit the final draft of the SER. An examining committee will send subject reports to the university and the DETC will send student surveys to the university. Subject reports will be graded. The DETC will provide complaints with the student evaluations, and the university must address these complaints.

    • 7

      Allow several on-site visits from members of the DETC. Examiners will write reports and submit them to the chair of the examining committee. The chair will write reports and submit them to the university for a response.

    • 8

      Receive notification of accreditation status. The DETC reviews all of the materials and determines whether the university is fit for accreditation.

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