Types of Accreditation

Throughout the world, more and more students are obtaining college degrees and reaching their educational goals through distance and e-learning programs. Now it is easier than ever to make education a part of your daily life because the industry of online and distance education is growing rapidly.

However students, educators, and others interested in distance education and e-learning programs should be aware of the importance of obtaining a college degree from a college, university, or other institution of higher education with accreditation. They should also be aware of the dangers involved in obtaining a degree or diploma from an institution without accreditation.

It is easier to understand the importance of accreditation if you know how accreditation works.

Only one kind of accreditation would not be sufficient to address the accrediting needs of the various institutions that require accreditation status. This is why accreditation organizations provide two major types of accreditation. They are Institutional accreditation and Specialized, professional, or programmatic accreditation.

Institutional accreditation is achieved by a college or university that meets the quality standards and fulfils the requirements designated by the accreditation organization.

In order to meet the requirements for institutional accreditation status, all aspects of the college or university, including academic quality, administrative effectiveness, and all other related services of the institution, are reviewed by the accreditation organization.

Institutional accreditation affirms that the college or university operates with a high level of quality in all its aspects. This type of accreditation is comprehensive and indicates that the institution has achieved quality standards in areas such as faculty, administration, curriculum, student services, and overall financial well-being. This type of accreditation is held in high regard in the world of education.

Specialized, professional, or programmatic accreditation is a type of accreditation status that is designated for specialized departments, programs, schools, or colleges within a college or university that have already been awarded institutional accreditation.

Specialized, professional, or programmatic accreditation focuses on particular aspects of the department, program, school, or college's specified academic field of study. For instance, this type of accreditation status recognizes particular aspects of quality in the academic fields of engineering, nursing, law, or education, among others.