Accreditation of Canadian and US universities
The quality of American universities is assured by accreditation. By attending an accredited US university, you can be confident that you are obtaining a level of quality education that will be recognized by employers, professional associations, and other universities.
Accreditation in North America
In the USA, private educational associations - recognized by the US government - determine and regulate the educational standards of American universities. Universities that meet and maintain these standards are considered accredited. Many employers, other universities, and governments around the world, do not recognize degrees from unaccredited US universities.
In Canada, there is no national accreditation of higher education. Universities are regulated by provincial government, not by the Canadian federal government. Each Canadian province allows universities to grant degrees according to specific quality assurance standards. Universities that are recognized under these provincial standards are considered authorized.
Types of accreditation and authorization
There are two basic types of university accreditation and authorization in the USA and Canada:
- Institutional accreditation covers the whole university and is the primary type of official university recognition in North America. Accreditation is granted by organizations that cover different geographic regions.
- Specialized accreditation (also called programmatic or professional accreditation) covers a program or department within a university. Earning a degree that carries specialized accreditation may be a requirement for practicing in certain professions.
Regional institutional accrediting organizations
The universities we work with are accredited by the appropriate regional organization:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
MSCHE is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits universities in the Middle States region: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Long Island University is accredited by MSCHE.
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of universities in the Southern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites.
James Madison University is accredited by SACSCOC.
British Columbia Education Quality Assurance
EQA is a quality assurance designation that identifies British Columbia public and private post-secondary institutions that have met or exceeded provincial government recognized quality assurance standards and offer consumer protection. British Columbia's Ministry of Advanced Education sets all EQA policies.
Royal Roads University is authorized by the Province of British Columbia.
Specialized accrediting organizations
In addition to institutional accreditation, many universities are accredited by national organizations that recognize certain academic programs:
ABET (formerly Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology)
 ABET is the recognized US accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. ABET accredits 2,800 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities in the USA. Accreditation is granted for a maximum of six years, after which the institution must request another evaluation. Graduation from an ABET-accredited program is commonly required for professional engineers. |
ABET-accredited institutions: |
American Chemical Society (ACS)
 ACS promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students through approval of baccalaureate chemistry programs. ACS-approved programs offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals. |
ACS-accredited institutions:
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Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
 An association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations devoted to the advancement of higher education in management education. It is the premier accrediting agency for business and accounting programs around the world. The AACSB accredits more than 560 institutions on six continents - around 5% of business schools worldwide. |
AACSB-accredited institutions: |
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) - formerly the American Dietetics Association
 Formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the new accrediting agency is the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). It accredits education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitians or dietetic technicians. The Council is recognized by the US Department of Education, and serves to ensure the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. |
AND-accredited institutions: |
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
 The national accrediting agency for art, design and related university programs. NASAD is an association of approximately 294 schools of art and design. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas including art history, art therapy, film/video production, digital media, fashion, graphic design, and photography. |
NASAD-accredited institutions: |
American Psychological Association (APA)
 The Commission on Accreditation of the APA accredits over 900 doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology; doctoral internship programs in professional psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in traditional and specialty areas of psychology. |
APA-accredited institutions: |
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
 The sole accrediting agency for social work education in the USA, the CSWE represents educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and more than 3,000 individual members. The Commission on Accreditation confers accreditation status on graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. |
CSWE-accredited institutions: |
