ACCET
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training
About ACCET
The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) is a voluntary group of educational organizations affiliated for the purpose of improving continuing education and training. Through its support of an independent Accrediting Commission, the ACCET membership promulgates and sustains the Standards for Accreditation along with policies and procedures that measure and ensure educational standards of quality. ACCET is recognized for this purpose by the U.S. Secretary of Education and, accordingly, is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
ACCET strives to identify, evaluate, and enhance the delivery of continuing education and training through an independent peer-evaluation process. With a global reach, ACCET's expansive scope is designed to support a diverse array of non-traditional post-secondary educational providers, including:
- Intensive English Programs (IEPs)
- Postsecondary Career/Vocational Colleges
- Trade and Professional Associations
- Corporate Training Departments
- Religious and Ethical Societies
- Public Affairs and Cultural Societies
- Social Science, Volunteer, and Personal/Professional Development Organizations
Membership Requirements
To be eligible for accreditation by ACCET, an institution must meet the following requirements:
- Have an identified body of individuals actively involved in continuing education and training
- Demonstrate commitment to educational quality and continuous improvement
- Undergo comprehensive self-evaluation review and reporting
- Submit to on-site professional peer review evaluation
- Comply with ACCET Standards for Accreditation
- Maintain adherence to ethical business practices
- Provide quality education and training to all enrolled participants
- Implement institutional and program goals focused on continuing education mission
The accreditation process includes four major components:
- Development and implementation of institutional and program goals and objectives that focus upon a continuing education mission
- A comprehensive, analytic self-evaluation review and report by the institution
- An on-site professional peer review to evaluate the adequacy and accuracy of the self-evaluation
- An independent review and decision by the Accrediting Commission
Complaint & Arbitration Procedure
ACCET provides a formal complaint process for addressing issues with accredited institutions:
- Complaints must be submitted in writing using the online Complaint Submission Form
- Complaints should clearly describe allegations with supporting documentation
- ACCET accepts complaints from current and former students, employees, and other officials
- Signed complaints with explicit requests for anonymity will be honored
- Actionable allegations must indicate a violation of ACCET's Standards for Accreditation
- Complaints are investigated through written correspondence with the institution
- The process typically takes at least six weeks but can take considerably longer
- Complainants receive notification of ACCET's findings and conclusions when the complaint is closed
- ACCET's role is to establish facts, encourage communication, assess compliance, and ensure corrective actions when applicable
General Information
Year of Foundation: 1974
Total Number of Members: Information available through member directory on website
Geographic Focus: United States (with global reach)
Organisation Type: Accrediting Agency
Recognition: Officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1978
Recognition Status: Receives back-to-back 5-year grants of recognition (longest period provided to an accrediting agency)
Contact Information
ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training)
Address: 1722 N St NW, Washington DC, 20036
Phone: (202) 955-1113
Email: info@accet.org
Website: https://accet.org/
Hours of Operation: 9 am - 5 pm Eastern