Home | About CEA | FAQs | For students | Contact CEA

•  
• Accredited
  Programs & Institutions
•  
• Accreditation Basics:
• Accreditation
  Process
• CEA Standards
• Application Forms
• Workshop Schedule
• Fee Schedule
• Governance:
• Commission
• Meeting Dates
• Recent Decisions
• Upcoming
  Reviews
• Constituent Council
• Reviewers
• International Accreditation
• CEA Policies & Procedures
• CEA News
• Complaints
• Conference Presentations
• Friends of CEA
• Commissioner Login
•  

International Accreditation

CEA accredits English language programs and independent English language schools outside the United States. The first programs to seek international accreditation were part of a pilot program in 2004. During the pilot year, CEA sought to determine whether its policies, procedures, and standards would be applicable for non-U.S.-based English language programs and institutions. Due to the success of the pilot year, at its December 2004 meeting, the Commission voted to expand CEA's scope of accreditation to include international accreditation.

What does accreditation by CEA outside the U.S. entail?

Policies and procedures for accreditation of non-U.S. sites parallel those developed for the U.S., with a consideration for cultural differences in the international setting. Briefly, to be accredited by CEA, a program must

1. Meet eligibility requirements
2. Submit an application form
3. Host a preliminary visit (based on review of submitted materials)
4. Attend a self-study workshop
5. Develop and submit a plan for how it will conduct its self-study
6. Submit a comprehensive self-study that addresses CEA's 52 standards
7. Have a site visit by a team of peer reviewers who verify the contents of the self-study
8. Be reviewed by the 13 commissioners who make the final accreditation decision

These steps are explained in more detail in the document, Policies and Procedures for International Accreditation [PDF download].

The self-study, on-site review, and final accreditation decisions are all based on the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. These standards were initially developed for the U.S. market. In 2007, through a project funded through the TOEFL Board, the standards were revised to address the cultural environment of the program or school seeking accreditation outside the U.S. The resulting publication CEA Standards for International Reviews is available for download here.

Why do programs seek accreditation?

English language professionals that are interested in offering a high quality educational experience to students seek accreditation for their schools. They want to judge their educational offerings and administrative practices against accepted standards, to benefit from the improvements that take place throughout the process, and to be recognized for success in meeting the standards.

CEA-accredited sites enjoy the professional and public recognition that accreditation brings. Students know that the English language training they receive will be of the highest quality. Also, if students have a choice among programs, they can use the accreditation to identify the best place to go for instruction.

In addition, accredited programs and schools become members of the CEA Constituent Council. The Constituent Council provides input to the Commission and can make recommendations on the CEA standards and on CEA policies and procedures. Thus, CEA becomes their avenue for affecting the quality of English language teaching throughout the world through the focus on standards and excellence.

What are the benefits of the accreditation process to the school, its faculty and staff, and students?

The process of CEA accreditation results in program development and on-going improvement as the site identifies its strengths and weaknesses in terms of meeting the standards.

1. Self-study: Improvement takes place in the various standards areas, including in curriculum, faculty, student services, and administration, as the site evaluates itself against the standards.
2. On-site review team report: The review team report following the site visits includes suggestions and comments in relation to the standards.
3. Review by the Commission: The final review by the Commission results in feedback that leads to future improvement and reporting.
4. Regular annual reporting requirements lead to continuous improvement, which is a focus of accreditation.
5. The result is that in the process of meeting the standards, CEA-accredited programs and schools come into compliance with the standards. Through this process, students are ensured of an excellent English language education in programs and schools that have undergone this intensive review.

Are any international programs or schools currently accredited?

The first non-U.S. English language program to be accredited by CEA is the Foundation English program at the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Among others  currently seeking accreditation are the English programs at the American University of Kuwait, the University of Qatar, the Academic Bridge Program in Qatar , the American University of Cairo, the Hellenic American Union in Athens, , Al Akhawayn University in Morocco, and IFISA in Lecheria, Venezuela.

CEA was developed to offer accreditation in the US. Why should a non-U.S. program seek accreditation by CEA?

Sites that are accredited by CEA, both US and non-US based, become members of the CEA Constituent Council, which is part of the governance of CEA. As it was developing its international review process, the Commission polled members of the Constituent Council. They supported the initiative, indicating that CEA's accrediting programs and institutions abroad would not only support improvement of English language program standards worldwide but could also support the development of linkages between US and international English language programs and schools. As more schools outside the US become accredited and join the Constituent Council, the Commission expects that accredited schools may create mutually beneficial linkages.

What is the cost of accreditation?

The Policies and Procedures for International Accreditation includes a summary of expenses. The Commission has determined that all costs related to accreditation outside the US be born by the program or school seeking accreditation. The cost depends on the direct costs related to visits to the school at the time of application and during the site visit.

What should I do if our international English language program or school is interested in seeking accreditation?

Print out a copy of the Policies and Procedures for International Accreditation [PDF download], which explains the various steps in the accreditation process for international sites. You should also print out and study the entire CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions [PDF download] to determine how applicable they are to your program. Then also look at the rest of the CEA web site to have a clearer idea about accreditation. If you feel you are ready to apply, download and complete the Application/Eligibility Form—International. If you have questions, contact CEA