1. What do we have to do to get accredited?

   First, a program has to submit an eligibility/application form and show that it meets CEA's eligibility requirements. You must have an intensive English program that offers at least 18 hours of instruction per week for at least 8 months of the year. Next, a representative from your program must attend an accreditation workshop. These are held annually, often in conjunction with a TESOL or NAFSA conference or at CEA's offices in Alexandria VA.

   You must submit a self-study plan within 3 months of attending the workshop and your completed self-study within 18 months of attending the workshop. Then, CEA trained peer reviewers read your self-study and conduct a 3-day site visit. The Commission reviews their report, your response, and your self-study to make an accreditation decision.

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2. How long does it take to get accredited?

   The complete process takes about 2 years, depending upon when you start the process in relation to scheduled accreditation workshops and Commission meetings. It also depends on how long it takes you to complete the self-study.

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3. What does it cost to get accredited?

   There are fees for various steps in the process: an eligibility fee, a workshop fee, a fee for submission of the self-study plan, and a fee for the on-site site visit. Fees are the same for all sites, no matter what size they are. However, accreditation fees (paid at the time of the Commission's decision) and sustaining fees (due each year throughout the period of accreditation) are based on student weeks and thus vary from site to site. The CEA fee schedule explains the fees.

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4. Our program is in a university (or community college). I've heard that accreditation is a requirement for issuing the Form I-20 to international students. Do we have to be accredited?

   The Department of Homeland Security/Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services DHS/BCIS) requires that international students who enter the country on an F-1 visa attend an accredited institution. Since your program is within an accredited institution (probably accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies or other institutional accreditors), your students are able to get the Form I-20, which is required for the F-1 visa. Thus, CEA accreditation is not required. In fact, accreditation is theoretically a voluntary standard-setting and review process. A profession that establishes an accrediting entity does so to monitor itself and set benchmarks for the profession. Thus, accreditation becomes a professional endeavor, in which a program wants to be recognized by its peers as meeting nationally accepted standards set by the field.

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5. Why would we want to be accredited if it isn't a requirement?

   The process of self-study, which is integral to accreditation, offers many benefits. It stimulates a review of policies, requires a focus on the program's mission, leads to initiation of new endeavors, results in program improvement and renewal, and provides a framework for continued planning and growth.

   At the same time, it encourages openness and cohesion among faculty and staff, develops a heightened sense of collegiality, responsibility, and community, encourages faculty development and professionalism, identifies new leadership, and bridges the gap between personal and organizational goals.

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6. We are an independent proprietary English language school. Do we need to be accredited?

   Since July 2003, the easiest way for an independent school to be certified by the Department of Homeland Security/Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/BCIS) to issue the Form I-20, required for the F-1 visa, is to be accredited. Thus, although accreditation is a voluntary process, accreditation may be required in order for your school to enroll international students on F-1 visas. You will want to keep informed about issues surrounding the admittance and tracking of international students in the country. NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a good source of information.

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7. I understand that we must be in operation for at least one year before we can apply for accreditation. If we have to be accredited to enroll F-1 students, and we need to be in operation for at least a year before seeking accreditation, how can we get started?

   This is a common question when a school first considers offering an intensive English program for international students. Schools may start by offering the intensive program to adult immigrants or refugees or to the spouses of international students or business people. Then once the program is stable, the school is ready to seek accreditation.

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8. Who decides if we will be accredited or not?

   The 13-member Commission makes accreditation decisions and is also responsible for governing CEA. Of these, 11 elected members come from the field of postsecondary English language teaching and represent the various types of programs and institutions that CEA accredits. They have a great depth of experience in education and administration of intensive English programs. Two public members, as required by the US Department of Education are appointed by the Commission.

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9. For how long is accreditation granted? Do we have to do anything once we are accredited?

   Full accreditation is granted for a 5-year period. The Commission may also grant one-year accreditation to programs that have substantially met the standards but have minor standards-related deficiencies. Once the deficiencies are met, the program may become fully accredited for the remainder of the 5-year period.

   Fully accredited programs submit an annual report throughout the period of accreditation, which affirms continued compliance with the CEA standards. Also, sometimes when it grants accreditation, the Commission requires annual follow-up in a particular standard area. Two years prior to the end of the initial accreditation period, CEA reminds sites that need to begin the re-accreditation process. The process is similar to the process for initial accreditation, including a self-study and site visit by a review team. Re-accreditation may be granted for one year to programs and institutions that substantially meet the standards but have minor standards-related deficiencies up to and may be granted for 10 years to programs and institutions that fully comply with the CEA standards.

   Accredited programs become members of the CEA Constituent Council. They have an opportunity to nominate and elect new Commissioners and to attend an annual meeting of the Council.

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10. Is CEA recognized by the US Department of Education?

    On September 10, 2003, CEA was granted recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency. This recognition allows accredited freestanding English language institutions to establish eligibility to participate in the Department of Homeland Security's certification program, by which such institutions may issue the Form I-20.

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11. Does CEA accredit programs or schools outside the US?

    CEA accredits postsecondary English language programs and schools outside the US. Information about CEA's international accreditation activities can be found on the web site under "International Accreditation." In addition, the Policies and Procedures for International Accreditation [PDF download] explains the various steps in the accreditation process for international sites. For more information and for an eligibility application form, contact CEA."

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12. How many schools are accredited?

    The Commission meets three times a year to make accreditation decisions. You can see how many schools and programs are accredited at any time by going to Accredited Programs and Institutions.

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13. Are we ready for the accreditation process?

    The accreditation process involves a self-study in which a site evaluates itself in relation to the 52 individual CEA standards. The response requires a narrative, in which the site makes claims as to how it meets a standard, a document section in which the site gives evidence of its claims, an evaluative section, and a recommendation section, in which the site makes plans for future improvement, if necessary

    Throughout the self-study process, sites find that they make improvements in order to meet the standards, and this is an expected part of the accreditation review process. In other words, a program is expected to put changes into place throughout the process. However, if there are too many changes that need to be made in order to meet the standards, the site may not be ready to start the process, and needs time to put the new practices into operation.

    The following questions will help you to determine readiness:

    1. Have you reviewed the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions, including reading the discussion of each standard, to make sure that you understand the intent of each standard?
    2. Does your program or institution have a mission statement that clearly states the goals and objectives of the program or school and guides activities and the allocation of resources?
    3. Is there a written curriculum that includes goals and objectives for each course and level?
    4. Is there a means in place to assess student outcomes in relation to the goals and objectives of the courses and are there proficiency scales with expected student outcomes for each level?
    5. Do faculty and staff receive written job descriptions, and are they provided with performance criteria on which they are evaluated?
    6. Are the needs of students met through the provision of student services including orientation and counseling services?
    7. Do all materials used in marketing and recruitment accurately describe the program or institution?
    8. Do you have mechanisms in place for review of your activities, including written plans for review of curriculum, student services, and student achievement practices, as well as a process for development of the overall program or institution?
    9. Is your program or institution in a strong enough financial position such that reserves are adequate to meet obligations to students, staff, and contractual parties?
    10. Is your program or school prepared to show through narrative and documentation that it substantially meets the 52 standards?
    11. Do you have adequate faculty and staff to complete a self-study, which requires a response to 52 standards, with documentary support? Do you have the funds to commit resources to this activity?

    If you can answer "yes" to most of these questions, you may be ready to start the accreditation process. Click here to download the CEA Application / Eligibility Form.

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CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of instruction and services provided by accredited English language programs and institutions.

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This page was last modified: May 14 2008.