Education at Distance

Accreditation is the process of establishing the authenticity of the educational institution through an autonomous appraisal of the quality standards of its learning programs. Accreditation is needed if you want your degree to be recognized and accepted by other educational institutions. Though checking is exacting institution is accredited, one should check if the accreditation is from a recognized agency.

The USA has no main authority to control post-secondary education. Therefore, the practice of official approval arose to ensure the quality of education. Accreditation is carried out by government and non-government agencies. The US Department of Education, though does not accredit any institutions, publishes every year a record of recognized accrediting agencies. The agencies that conduct the accreditation are: the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, a private non-profit national organization of accrediting agencies; the Distance Education and Training Council is a nationally acknowledged accreditation agency for higher education programs that concentrate on distance learning. Though, the most commonly recognized accreditations come from the six local accreditation boards: Middle States Association, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Every agency gives its accreditation to the institutions in its territory.

Accreditation can be for the whole institution or for a certain program from the institution. It is necessary to validate whether the authorization given to the institute widens to its distance education programs too. Accreditation is timely subject and after this period expires, it needs re-validation. All through the validity time the institute and the program is checked by the accrediting agency. Particular careers require degrees accredited by appropriate agencies. For example, if you are getting a teaching program by means of distance learning you must ensure that the accreditation of this institute is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.