Apply for International Institutional Accreditation
Begin the ACISC Institutional Accreditation Process
The Accrediting Council for International Schools and Colleges (ACISC) provides international institutional accreditation for eligible educational institutions seeking structured evaluation against ACISC accreditation standards. The application process establishes the institution’s identity, educational profile, requested accreditation scope and readiness to proceed through institutional self-evaluation, evidence review, external evaluation and formal accreditation decision-making.
Institutions considering ACISC accreditation should provide accurate institutional information and identify the educational provision, locations and delivery modalities proposed for inclusion within the requested accreditation scope.
An Institution-Wide Accreditation Pathway
ACISC accreditation evaluates the institution as an interconnected educational organization. The accreditation process considers institutional mission and governance, academic and educational effectiveness, institutional capacity, student experience, integrity and accountability, and continuous improvement.
The application is the beginning of this institutional process. Information submitted at application stage helps establish the institutional profile and proposed accreditation scope that will subsequently be examined through the applicable ACISC accreditation procedures.
Accreditation Pathway
Institutional Application
Eligibility & Readiness Review
Requested Accreditation Scope
Institutional Self-Evaluation
Documented Evidence
External Evaluation
Professional Review
Accreditation Decision
Status & Approved Scope
Continuing Accreditation
Educational Institutions Seeking International Institutional Accreditation
ACISC’s institutional accreditation framework is designed for educational organizations whose mission, governance, educational provision, institutional capacity and operating model can be evaluated through an institution-wide accreditation process. The applicable standards and evidence are considered according to the institution’s educational context and requested accreditation scope.
Schools & Academies
Schools, international schools, academies and other structured educational institutions delivering organized academic education.
Colleges & Higher Education
Colleges, universities, higher education institutions, institutes and institutions offering diploma, certificate or degree programs.
Professional & Specialized Education
Professional institutes and specialized educational organizations operating in business, technology, healthcare, nursing, engineering and other professional educational environments.
Technical & Vocational Education
Technical institutes, vocational institutions, workforce education providers, career education organizations and competency-oriented educational institutions.
Medical & Healthcare Education
Medical, healthcare, nursing and clinical education providers whose institutional educational systems fall within the applicable ACISC accreditation framework.
Continuing Professional Education
Organizations delivering continuing education, continuing professional development and applicable continuing medical education activities.
Training Institutions
Structured training institutions and specialized training organizations with defined educational objectives, curriculum, instructional resources and assessment systems.
Distance & Blended Education
Eligible institutions delivering educational programs through online, distance, blended or other supported instructional modalities.
Prepare the Institution for Evidence-Based Evaluation
An accreditation application should represent the institution as it actually operates. Institutions should therefore be prepared to document their governance, educational provision, personnel, resources, student systems, academic processes, assessment practices and institutional effectiveness.
Institutional Identity
Prepare the institution’s official identity, organizational information, locations, leadership, governance and relevant establishment or authorization records.
Educational Provision
Identify educational levels, programs, credentials, departments, delivery modalities and other educational provision proposed within the accreditation scope.
Institutional Evidence
Prepare policies, academic documentation, personnel information, student-support evidence, assessment information, resource documentation and institutional-effectiveness evidence.
Define the Institution and Educational Provision Proposed for Accreditation
The requested accreditation scope establishes the institutional and educational context proposed for ACISC evaluation. Depending on the institution, this may include the principal institution, applicable locations, educational programs or provision, and delivery modalities.
Programs formally declared by an ACISC-accredited institution and included within its approved accreditation scope are covered by the institution’s ACISC international institutional accreditation and applicable continuing monitoring requirements.
Institutions should therefore provide a complete and accurate educational profile during the accreditation process and maintain current program and scope information throughout continuing accreditation.
Requested Scope May Identify
Institutional entity
Educational level
Schools, faculties or departments
Programs and educational provision
Qualifications or credentials offered
Physical locations
Online or distance delivery
Blended delivery
Other applicable educational modalities
Information Used to Establish the Institutional Accreditation Record
The initial application captures the institutional information required to begin the accreditation pathway. Subsequent stages may require additional evidence and documentation according to the institution’s characteristics and the applicable ACISC accreditation process.
Institutional Profile
Official name, institution type, jurisdiction, address, website, institutional contacts and organizational information.
Governance & Leadership
Legal structure, governing arrangements, institutional leadership, academic leadership and organizational responsibilities.
Academic Profile
Educational levels, departments, programs, credentials, delivery modalities, students, faculty and instructional structure.
Institutional Capacity
Personnel, facilities, technology, information resources, administrative systems and other resources supporting educational delivery.
Student Systems
Admissions, academic advising, student support, learning resources, progression, completion and related student services.
Assessment & Effectiveness
Learning outcomes, assessment processes, educational results, institutional evaluation and continuous-improvement processes.
A Structured Institutional Evaluation Process
Submitting an application begins a structured accreditation pathway. Institutional information develops into an accreditation record through self-evaluation, supporting evidence, external evaluation, professional review and formal decision-making.
Apply
The institution submits its initial profile and proposed accreditation scope.
Prepare
The institution develops its self-evaluation and supporting accreditation evidence.
Evaluate
Institutional information, evidence and practice proceed through the applicable external evaluation process.
Review
Evaluation findings and the institutional accreditation record proceed through professional review.
Decide
The authorized accreditation process results in the applicable formal accreditation decision.
Establish Scope
Where accreditation is awarded, the applicable accreditation status and approved scope are recorded.
Monitor
The institution remains responsible for applicable standards, current information and continuing accreditation requirements.
Improve
Institutional assessment and evidence support continuing educational and organizational improvement.
Institutional Application Profile
Complete the institutional profile below to organize the information required for the initial accreditation application. Final submission, document handling and workflow processing can be connected to the ACISC accreditation-management system.
Institutional Accreditation Fee Structure
Accreditation fees may be structured according to the applicable accreditation pathway, institutional profile, evaluation requirements and continuing accreditation activities. The current fee schedule should be consulted when preparing an application.
Fee Schedule
Application Fee: [APPLICATION FEE]
Initial Accreditation Fee: [INITIAL ACCREDITATION FEE]
Evaluation Fee: [EVALUATION FEE]
Annual / Continuing Accreditation Fee: [ANNUAL ACCREDITATION FEE]
Re-Evaluation Fee: [RE-EVALUATION FEE]
Build the Institutional Accreditation Record
Following the initial application stage, the institution proceeds through the applicable ACISC accreditation pathway. Institutional self-evaluation and supporting evidence develop the record used for evaluation and subsequent accreditation review.
The accreditation process connects institutional representations with evidence and professional evaluation so that the applicable accreditation decision can be based on the institution’s documented educational and organizational profile.
Prepare for Evaluation
Review ACISC accreditation standards
Confirm requested accreditation scope
Prepare institutional self-study
Organize supporting evidence
Document programs and delivery modalities
Prepare governance and academic records
Document assessment and institutional effectiveness
Continue Through the ACISC Accreditation System
Institutions preparing for accreditation can use the ACISC accreditation framework, cycle, application resources and institutional records to understand the relationship among standards, evidence, evaluation, decision-making, accreditation status and continuing accreditation.
Framework & Protocol
Review the institutional dimensions, evidence architecture and evaluation protocol supporting ACISC accreditation.
Accreditation Cycle
Understand the progression from institutional readiness and self-evaluation through decision-making and continuing accreditation.
Application Forms
Access accreditation application and supporting institutional forms used throughout the accreditation process.
Accreditation Decisions
Explore how institutional evidence, evaluation findings and professional review connect with formal accreditation decisions.
Status & Scope
Understand how accreditation status and approved scope connect the formal decision with the accredited institution and its educational provision.
Accredited Institutions
Consult ACISC institutional records and accreditation information for institutions holding ACISC international accreditation.
Begin the ACISC International Institutional Accreditation Pathway
ACISC applies an institutional accreditation framework connecting standards, institutional self-evaluation, documented evidence, external evaluation, professional review, formal accreditation decisions, accreditation status and scope, continuing monitoring and institutional improvement.
Institutions prepared to begin the accreditation process can complete the initial institutional profile and proceed through the applicable ACISC accreditation pathway.