If you’ve been researching trade schools, then you’ve noticed many highlight their accreditation, and that’s good! Being accredited means an outside public or private agency has reviewed the school and found that it meets their set of quality standards.
Important Notes on Accreditation
- Accreditation is not related to the Department of Education
- Accreditation is voluntary
- The Council for Higher Education heads up accreditation efforts
- Each state is in charge of accrediting their own schools
- “Approved for accreditation” is not the same as “accredited”
Reasons to Go to an Accredited School
- Grades are transferable
- Access to financial aid, scholarships and grants
- School meets quality standards
- Student eligibility to sit for certification exams
Going to a trade school that isn’t accredited can hurt your academic success since you probably wont be able to transfer your credits to an accredited school. So, be sure to check the websites of the schools you research and look up their accreditation. Then look up the accrediting body license status (link below). You can research the accreditation of trade schools listed on this website by navigating to any school page on our list of trade schools.
Use the search application to find an accredited trade school program near you.
Here is a short list of some respected trade school accreditors.
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission
- Council on Occupational Education
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Look up the status of the these and other accrediting agency licenses here: US DOE Agency List