Licensing and Accreditation
I was always confused about the importance of license and accreditation. For me, they were seemed to have the same purpose. The only difference that I can make is that the a school must be accredited in order to accept credit from other schools; and licensed in order for the students to be able to take the state exam.
Thank you for clearing that up. I was confused as well.
Erik,
They are two very different organizations. Regional and national accreditors must be approved by the US DOE in order to be able to disperse financial aid. There are a lot of bogus accreditors out there and students should be aware of who the accreditor is and is it recognized by US DOE.
Patty Aronoff
I think one of the most confusing aspects regarding accreditation for prospective students is the difference between regional and national accreditation. National sounds bigger than regional but that can be deceiving.
Summer,
Accrediting agencies must be approved by the US DOE. The difference between regional accreditation and national accreditation is simply the organization for which they belong. Schools maybe institutionally accredited for programmatically accredited. Institutional means all programs are recognized by the accrediting agency. Programmatic accreditation recognizes a single or similar programs. There are many bogus accrediting agencies out there. Make sure accreditation is recognized by the US DOE.
Patty Aronoff
There are so many accrediting agencies out there, so what is the difference between all of them? What about institutionally accredited vs. regionally accredited?
Schlegel,
There are many accrediting bodies out there. Not all are recognized by the US DOE which is an important factor not only for title IV funding but also for credibility. You will find that many the diploma mills or bogus schools will use fake accrediting agencies. It is important to research thoroughly the validity of an accrediting body.
Patty Aronoff
This is great information. Licensing must be achieved before any accrediting agency will consider your institution. However, there are so many accrediting bodies that one must know the advantages and disadvantages of the agency to work with. The process is grueling. To achieve such a high standard is rewarding. It is terrific to be accredited but it not just for the financial incentives of Title IV but the high regards in the academic community. Can you tell me why so many accrediting agencies? Regional? National?
Sandra,
That is a lot of work. You are maintaining that your school meets all the requirements within the tenants of the accrediting body. They often have regulations stricter than the state of Florida.
Patty Aronoff
Thank you so much for clarifying this, it can be confusing especially in the midst of admissions training.
We do not have it yet at our institution; we are still waiting. It seems like a great opportunity; I cannot wait to experiment all its components.
Interesting information. Thanks Patty
Sherri,
Excellent! There is always something new to learn. Keep on learning!
Patty Aronoff
Jennifer,
The accreditation process can be brutal. But there is such a satisfaction that school has achieved that high level of recognition.
Patty Aronoff
Even though I have completed my in-house training for my college, I was not aware of the difference. Glad I read this important information on this agenda!
CLEOPHAT,
The school must be licensed to operate in the state of Florida. Accreditation allows the school to offer title IV financial aid.
Patty Aronoff
I know for our school, we just went through the Regional accreditation process. One of the main reason was financial aid such as FAFSA, for our students. It also means we are assessed on our Mission Statement, Objectives and Goals, Faculty Reputation, Quality of Education, and transferable credits after obtaining a degree. Ours would allow for more opportunities for post graduates to continue their education.
