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Programmatic Accrediting Organizations

Programmatic accreditors usually review programs or schools within institutions, although some accredit freestanding institutions dedicated to a particular profession. Most universities and some colleges carry a number of accreditations simultaneously: institutional accreditation for the entire institution and programmatic accreditation for various professional schools or programs. When an institution is accredited by more than one organization, the institution has to identify for governmental purposes which of the organizations is its “primary” accreditor. Programmatic accreditation standards are frequently linked to the requirements for professional licensing of individuals. In many states, individuals wishing to enter certain professions (including law and architecture, among others) are required to take licensing examinations. States may also require students who sit for a licensing examination to provide evidence that they graduated from an accredited institution that offers a degree or certificate in the profession.

Figure 17:

*Data not provided by 11 accrediting organizations.

Figure 18:

*Data not provided by 11 accrediting organizations.

Figure 19:
Programmatic Accrediting Organization Name (2020-2021) Year Founded Programs Number of Students
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 1982 133 5,960
Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education 2003 7 292
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 1997 1,355 154,754
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education 1955 45 3,195
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs 1988 4,154 300,000
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 1917 628 16,128
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education 1932 142 45,261
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education 1934 26 7,771
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. 1971 302 29,657
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications 1945 119 80,000
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission 2002 53 863
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Council for Accreditation 1909 N/A N/A
American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation 1958 48 6,954
American Council for Construction Education 1974 99 10,000
American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, INC., Accrediting Commission 1929 433 1
American Library Association, Committee on Accreditation 1924 68 19,994
American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education 1923 480 30,602
American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation 1897 N/A N/A
American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education 1928 640 49,202
American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric Medical Education 1918 8 2,541
American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation 1948 1,262 N/A
American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education 1863 56 15,157
Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation 117 30,551
Association for Behavior Analysis International 38 1,738
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education 310 6,000
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Accreditation Commission 1967 310 N/A
Aviation Accreditation Board International 1988 107 28,304
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education 2006 344 25,163
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy 1946 124 8,878
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care 1954 416 7,800
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education 705 19,974
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 1994 2,635 49,493
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education 2006 276 4,794
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education 1968 141 9,915
Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc. 1988 227 1,682
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 1996 2,102 493,628
Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association 1975 1,424 N/A
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation 1999 331 65,697
Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation 1996 12 1,500
Commission on Opticianry Accreditation 1985 19 635
Commission on Sport Management Accreditation 2008 53 0
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs 1981 926 56,879
Council for Interior Design Accreditation 1970 171 19,000
Council for Standards in Human Service Education 1979 N/A 11,000
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation 2013 594 115,805
Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, American Bar Association 1893 N/A 116,727
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 1959 394 25,450
Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions 1965 62 8,130
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs 1975 124 8,737
Council on Chiropractic Education 1971 28 11,611
Council on Education for Public Health 1974 254 N/A
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education 1978 6 1,500
Council on Social Work Education, Commission on Accreditation 1952 823 125,323
International Accreditation Council for Business Education 1997 1,703 N/A
International Fire Service Accreditation Congress - Degree Assembly 1990 38 N/A
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology 1971 676 27,400
Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology 1970 68 575
Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board, American Society of Landscape Architects 1899 102 6,000
Liaison Committee on Medical Education 1942 155 94,096
Midwifery Education Accreditation Council 1991 2 798
Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education 1991 112 2,550
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences 1973 608 17,421
National Association for the Education of Young Children 178 0
National Association of Schools of Art and Design N/A 85,793
National Association of Schools of Art and Design Commission on Accreditation 1944 N/A 135,301
National Association of Schools of Dance Commission on Accreditation 1981 0 5,446
National Association of Schools of Music 0 101,015
National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation and Commission on Community College Accreditation 1924 N/A 96,707
National Association of Schools of Theatre 0 20,641
National Association of Schools of Theatre Commission on Accreditation 1969 N/A 23,665
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation 1970 189 10,800
Planning Accreditation Board 1984 94 5,511
Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System 1995 46 1,205
The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering 1967 428 0
Programmatic Accrediting Organizations Total 27,530 2,669,170

* n/a - not available or not applicable