Online Accreditation - The Mark of Quality
Nancy Lambert
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As you consider the details of your educational future online, accreditation should be at the top of your list. Anyone can put together a web page, but serious online education institutions will be certified by legitimate accreditation organizations. 
How Accreditation Works
Accreditation organizations look at every detail of a school, making sure it meets standards to give you the best education for your money. These accrediting agencies aren't connected to the schools, so they can offer an unbiased opinion. They use a specific procedure when considering a school for accreditation.
Do Your Accreditation Homework before You Begin
Accreditation is an important consideration when choosing the institution from which you are planning to pursue your online degree.
Accreditation is a tough and expensive process to go through; thus, it can be considered a good measure of integrity. It makes sense to do your homework regarding accreditation before you decide on the online program that's right for you. The U.S. Department of Education provides a list of approved accrediting agencies, which will easily provide the information regarding the legitimacy of the school in which you are interested.
Make Certain Future Employers Will Recognize Your Completed Degree
To ensure that your future employers and other schools recognize your online degree as credible, you should seek a degree from a reputable accredited college or university. The Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA) is one of the primary online accreditation organizations.
The Accreditation Plan
Standards Set: Together, accrediting agencies work with educational institutions to establish standards for evaluation. Think of it as a study group for schools.
Self-Evaluation: The institution is given time to prepare for an in-depth self-evaluation, and prepare to be evaluated by the agency.
On-Site Evaluation: A team visits the institution in-person to be sure that established staff and education standards are met.
Monitoring: Once an institution receives accreditation, it is monitored to be sure standards remain high.
How Accreditation Works
Accreditation organizations look at every detail of a school, making sure it meets standards to give you the best education for your money. These accrediting agencies aren't connected to the schools, so they can offer an unbiased opinion. They use a specific procedure when considering a school for accreditation.
Do Your Accreditation Homework before You Begin
Accreditation is an important consideration when choosing the institution from which you are planning to pursue your online degree.
Accreditation is a tough and expensive process to go through; thus, it can be considered a good measure of integrity. It makes sense to do your homework regarding accreditation before you decide on the online program that's right for you. The U.S. Department of Education provides a list of approved accrediting agencies, which will easily provide the information regarding the legitimacy of the school in which you are interested.
Make Certain Future Employers Will Recognize Your Completed Degree
To ensure that your future employers and other schools recognize your online degree as credible, you should seek a degree from a reputable accredited college or university. The Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA) is one of the primary online accreditation organizations.
The Accreditation Plan
Standards Set: Together, accrediting agencies work with educational institutions to establish standards for evaluation. Think of it as a study group for schools.
Self-Evaluation: The institution is given time to prepare for an in-depth self-evaluation, and prepare to be evaluated by the agency.
On-Site Evaluation: A team visits the institution in-person to be sure that established staff and education standards are met.
Monitoring: Once an institution receives accreditation, it is monitored to be sure standards remain high.
- The primary purpose of UCOEA is to promote high-quality distance education.
- Accreditation is a lengthy process and can take years to fulfill all the necessary requirements.