NCATE: Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming Accredited

Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for Accreditation(General)

Why should teacher preparation institutions be professionally accredited?

Why does the accreditation process require extensive reporting?

Doesn’t the accreditation process duplicate the state approval process?

How much does accreditation cost?

Frequently Asked Questions About the Standards

Why should teacher preparation institutions be professionally accredited?

Accreditation is a voluntary activity. Only the state has the power to require it. In other professions, the professional schools must be accredited in order to operate, or individuals must have graduated from accredited schools to be licensed. This promotes public confidence in practitioners of those professions. The accrediting body renders a professional judgment about the quality of the education unit at the institution. The state decides the consequences of accreditation outcomes.

Accreditation of teacher preparation institutions, when accompanied by effective licensing, helps ensure well prepared teachers.

Why does the accreditation process require a self-study?

Every accreditation organization requires a self-study report. The report describes how the institution is meeting the expectations set forth in the standards. As a unit-wide activity, initiated two to three years before the visit, the self-study identifies strengths and needs so that changes can be made before the visit. Institutions report that the self-study improves their programs. The processes discussed in the Institutional Report should be an integral part of the ongoing operation and evaluation of the unit; then the report becomes a matter of summarizing outcomes.

Does the accreditation process duplicate the state approval process?

NCATE has agreements with 40 states to conduct joint reviews of schools of education; discussions are taking place with several other states. These agreements are designed to mesh state and national professional expectations, and to eliminate duplication of effort on the part of the institution. In partnership states, institutions can gain state approval and NCATE accreditation simultaneously with little or no duplication of effort. For more information, see the State Relations section of this website.

What are the initial costs to become accredited?

The institution bears the cost of the accreditation team visit, which usually runs between $3,000–$6,000. An annual fee is assessed, which ranges from $1,300 to $2,300, depending on the number of graduates. Expenses for NCATE beyond these are preparation for the visit (copying, secretarial support, and shipping). Some institutions pay for the release time of faculty to coordinate the visit. Other expenses are those that would be considered normal operating expenses necessary for a quality teacher education program (i.e., adequate number of faculty, adequate classroom and clinical experiences), which would not be attributed to accreditation, but to operating a high quality professional school for teacher candidates.

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