Masters in Education Accreditation Guide

Many of the most important questions about a Masters in Education are really about finding the one that best suits the needs of the student in terms of convenience while simultaneously providing a quality degree that won’t be discounted by prospective employers. Here are a few questions that should be asked about any prospective degree program—but often are not.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a guarantee of competence issued by a third party. The purpose of accreditation with regards to a degree program is to ensure that the degree obtained meets a core standard of learning applicable to the field of study.

Is it important for your Masters in Education to be Accredited?

Much of the nation’s public financial aid and corporate educational benefits are dependent on the student attending an accredited institution to prevent fraud. Accreditation also aids in transfer of courses from one recognized institution to another. It is therefore a critical necessity for degree seekers to obtain their education at an accredited facility.

What are the types of accreditation?

Accreditation comes in two distinct flavors—national accreditation is primarily for trade and technical schools, whereas regional accreditation is for traditional college degree programs. Course transfers between the two academic accreditation types are difficult at best and impossible at worst.

What is regional accreditation?

Regional accreditation is for colleges and universities that offer academic studies such as bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It is easiest to transfer credits between schools that are members of the same regional accreditation body than it is to move them over to a school in a separate region.

What is national accreditation?

National accreditation is the process by which vocational schools are rated. These schools tend to offer certificates rather than degrees. Coursework from a nationally accredited institution very seldom transfers to a regionally accredited establishment.

What is NCATE accreditation?

NCATE is the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The purpose of NCATE is to provide a degree-specific accreditation program for educators, regardless of a school’s membership in any regional accreditation organization. NCATE is a form of additional accreditation that shows an institution meets widely-accepted standards in its teacher training and certification programs.

What is CHEA accreditation?

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is the umbrella organization that covers all of the other accreditation organizations in the United States. There are approximately 3000 individual schools and 59 organizations that are currently members of CHEA.

What are the differences between the various types of accreditation?

The primary difference between all of the various forms of accreditation is that they tend to overlap in function and thus complement each other. A good Masters in Education online program would be one that is both regionally accredited as an institution and degree-certified through NCATE as well—a double stamp of approval.

Are online Masters in Education degrees accredited?

Not all of them are accredited regionally or by NCATE. As a result, it is important to make sure that the chosen program is one that meets these important requirements so that a student isn’t left with a useless non-accredited degree that will not be accepted by many employers.

How can accreditation impact tuition reimbursement?

Many large public and private employers support the concept of continuing education through various tuition reimbursement programs. Since the employee pays for tuition upfront and then submits the paperwork for reimbursement afterwards, it is important to select a program that is accredited since most employers insist upon it as a pre-condition of repayment.

Can accreditation impact eligibility for scholarships?

Sometimes. The wide variety of public and private scholarship programs all have different requirements. It is safe to say that attending an accredited school will not adversely affect any awarded scholarships, whereas attendance at a non-accredited program may potentially do so.

How does accreditation impact the program reputation?

Most academic institutions rely on their own individual record of achievement. Having multiple sets of accreditations to add to this reputation, such as both regional and NCATE accreditation, offers some additional benefit but it remains the school’s own academic history that really makes the difference.

Can accreditation impact my ability to become a licensed teacher?

In most cases, yes. The standards necessary to obtain a State Teaching Certificate are constantly tightening, but those standards are different in all 50 states. As noted above, attendance at an accredited institution offers no downside to possible licensing. A degree from a non-accredited school may not be accepted at all, or only with additional classes being required. Check with the individual State for their specific license requirements to make sure.

In today’s economy, a lot of mid-career professionals have discovered that a bachelor’s degree doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to. Given the number of people looking for work and the small number of openings, the competition is fiercer than it has ever been. For those who are on the inside looking to get ahead, as well as for those who are on the outside looking to come in from the cold, a Masters in Education Programs offers many resume-enhancing options that might well make the difference between success and failure.

In conclusion, there are many excellent Masters in Education Degrees for those who wish to enhance their academic credentials. Accreditation is a critical part of this process and the adult student should make sure they are attending an accredited school in order to gain the maximum benefit from their time and financial expenditure.