Conference Circuit: Stakeholder Questions—Do You Know the Difference Between Accreditation and Certification?
November 26, 2013
Conference Circuit: Stakeholder Questions is a blog series on Study in the States that answers questions that stakeholders ask at conferences. Representatives from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) frequently attend and participate in international education conferences in person and via teleconference or webinars. If you would like to view SEVP's conference presentation, read our monthly Conference Bulletin, or take our Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey, visit our Conference Materials page.
Question: What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
Various accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) accredit many schools in the United States. SEVP must certify any U.S. school that wants to enroll F and/or M students. It is important to understand both certification and accreditation to be aware of the differences.
What is certification?
To enroll F and/or M students lawfully, a school must be SEVP-certified. Being SEVP-certified means that school officials must submit a Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student” and receive permission to enroll F and/or M students and the school must have approved designated school officials (DSOs) to issue Forms I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” A nonimmigrant must have a Form I-20 to apply for a visa to enter the United States as an F or M student.
Maintaining SEVP certification is an important responsibility. DSOs must update the school’s Form I-17 information when necessary. The principal designated school official has the responsibility to apply for and complete recertification every two years. To learn more about SEVP certification, visit our certification pages.
What is accreditation?
The purpose of accreditation is to have an assurance from an ED-recognized regional or national organization that a school’s “education meets an acceptable level of quality.” ED maintains a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies.
There are legitimate unaccredited schools providing comparable levels of educational excellence. Accreditation, however, provides a measure of quality assurance that an unaccredited school has not undergone. You should consider all factors when looking at a school, including accreditation. You also can find information about the importance of choosing an accredited school as an F or M student from EducationUSA.
For more information, please read this blog post on recognized accrediting bodies.
Sources
- Accreditation in the United States, The U.S. Department of Education
- Accreditation, EducationUSA