| Accreditation means establishing the authenticity | | | | can check its website to confirm whether the |
| of the educational institution through an | | | | accrediting agency is recognized or not.The |
| independent review of the quality standards of its | | | | Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is |
| learning programs. Accreditation is compulsory if | | | | a nationally recognized accreditation agency for |
| you want your degree to be recognized and | | | | higher education programs that specialize in |
| accepted by other educational institutions, | | | | distance learning. The Accrediting Council for |
| professional bodies and employers.While checking | | | | Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is |
| whether a particular institution is accredited, one | | | | another recognized accrediting agency.However, |
| should check whether the accreditation is from a | | | | the most widely recognized accreditations come |
| recognized agency. Accreditation by an | | | | from the six regional accreditation boards, viz. |
| unrecognized agency is a common ploy used by | | | | Middle States Association (MSA), Northwest |
| many counterfeit organizations.The USA has no | | | | Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC), North |
| central authority to regulate post-secondary | | | | Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), |
| education. Therefore, the practice of accreditation | | | | New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| arose to ensure the quality of education. | | | | (NEASC), Southern Association of Colleges and |
| Accreditation can be by government as well as | | | | Schools (SACS) and Western Association of |
| non-government agencies. The US Department of | | | | Schools and Colleges (WASC). Each agency |
| Education, though does not accredit educational | | | | accredits the institutions in its territory. Many |
| institutions, publishes every year a list of | | | | prefer accreditation of the regional agencies as |
| recognized accrediting agencies.The Council for | | | | they have more stringent requirements than the |
| Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private | | | | DETC.A team of the accrediting agency visits the |
| non-profit national organization, maintains an on-line | | | | institute and verifies the quality of its programs. |
| directory of recognized accrediting agencies. One | | | | |