Private: COE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPLIANCE DIVISION
Students
Student FAQ’s
Accreditation is a quality assurance process that schools and colleges undergo to ensure they meet specific educational standards. Accredited institutions are recognized for providing quality education and training. This is important because it can impact your ability to transfer credits, access financial aid, and ensure employers recognize your qualifications.
Accredited schools are more likely to accept credits from other accredited institutions. However, the ability to transfer credits depends on the receiving institution's policies. Always check with the school you're transferring to for their credit transfer policies. Per COE’s policy, Institutions that elect to accept credit earned from other sources must verify that the source of the credit accepted is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or whose acceptance is required by a state or federal approving agency. (COE Handbook of Accreditation, page 49).
The Council on Occupational Education accredits post-secondary occupational institutions that offer certificate, diploma, or applied associate degree programs. The Council does not accredit institutions that offer credentials above an applied associate degree. These institutions include public technical colleges, private career colleges (both for-profit and not-for-profit), federal institutions including Army, Navy, and Department of Defense institutions, Job Corps Centers, Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and ERISA Training Institutes. The Council also accredits institutions that offer distance education programs, though limits are placed on these activities (see the following eligibility requirements below).
Yes. Many professional licenses and certifications require you to graduate from an accredited program. COE accreditation helps ensure that your program meets the industry standards necessary for certification and licensing in your chosen field.
Schools undergo periodic reviews to maintain their accreditation. If an institution's accreditation status changes, it can impact students' eligibility for financial aid and the recognition of their degrees by employers. It's important to stay informed about your institution’s accreditation status.
Institutions are required to clearly and publicly share their current accreditation status. If you have concerns first contact your institutions Chief Administrator’s office. If there are further issues and you’d like to file a complaint you may follow our complaint process listed on our website.
You can check the COE's official website for a list of accredited institutions. This ensures that the school you are interested in meets the high standards set by COE.Â
COE accreditation ensures that your school’s programs are of high quality, preparing you with the necessary skills for your career. Employers and industry leaders value accredited education, which can give you an advantage in the job market.
Regional accreditation typically applies to academic and degree-granting institutions, while national accreditation often applies to technical, vocational, and career-focused schools. COE provides national accreditation for career and technical education programs.
The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is a national accrediting agency that evaluates career and technical education institutions as a whole, focusing on schools that provide hands-on, vocational training. In contrast, there are programmatic or specialized accrediting agencies that focus solely on specific academic programs. Institutions accredited by COE may also hold additional accreditations for individual programs. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies.
A course completed from an accredited institution remains accredited regardless of what happens to the institution at a later date.
COE does not handle or keep any institution’s transcripts. However, an institution’s records, including transcripts, are generally kept and maintained after a closure. State agencies handling higher education matters are generally the best place to go when seeking information on closed schools and their records.
