| In general terms, accreditation is the | | | | this conflict, be sure to check whether |
| means by which a school is officially | | | | or not an online school is accredited by |
| recognized as a provider of a | | | | one of the six major regional |
| satisfactory education that public | | | | accrediting agencies. These include the |
| institutions (i.e. employers) can trust. | | | | New England Association of Schools and |
| It is a voluntary process that requires | | | | Colleges (NEASC), North Central |
| the school to meet minimum requirements | | | | Association of Schools and Colleges |
| that are established by various regional | | | | (NCA), Middle States Association of |
| accrediting agencies. | | | | Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern |
| The lack of one official accrediting | | | | Association of Schools and Colleges |
| agency creates an opportunity for sub | | | | (SACS), Western Association of Schools |
| par online schools that are trying to | | | | and Colleges (WASC), and the Northwest |
| obtain students through any means | | | | Association of Schools and Colleges |
| possible. In other words, just about | | | | (NWCCU). |
| any organization can say that they are | | | | If your online school is accredited by |
| an accrediting agency, so potential | | | | one of the above agencies, your degree |
| online school enrollers should do their | | | | will be seen as legitimate by most |
| research before signing up for classes | | | | employers. However, if your online |
| at a particular online school. | | | | school is not accredited by one of the |
| Sadly, a number of online schools create | | | | above agencies but by a false |
| false accrediting agencies in order to | | | | accrediting agency, your degree may not |
| make candidates think that they are | | | | be acceptable to most employers. |
| trustworthy and established. To avoid | | | | |