Understanding ACISC Recognition and Accreditation
The Accrediting Council for International Schools and Colleges (ACISC) is an independent, non-governmental, international accrediting organization.
ACISC provides an independent framework for evaluating educational institutions against established standards relating to educational quality, institutional capacity, governance, integrity, student support, and continuous improvement.
ACISC accreditation is an independent quality-assurance status. It is not governmental licensing, registration, authorization, or statutory recognition.
The recognition of an institution, qualification, degree, diploma, certificate, or other educational award by a governmental or regulatory authority is determined by the laws and policies applicable in the relevant jurisdiction.
Accreditation and Government Recognition Are Different
Accreditation and governmental recognition are related concepts but are not the same.
ACISC Accreditation
ACISC accreditation is an independent determination that an eligible educational institution has been evaluated against the applicable ACISC accreditation standards and has satisfied the requirements for the accreditation status granted.
The accreditation process may include:
- Eligibility determination.
- Institutional self-study.
- Review of institutional evidence.
- External evaluation.
- Institutional response.
- Independent accreditation review.
- Formal accreditation decision.
- Ongoing monitoring and renewal.
Governmental Recognition
Governmental recognition, authorization, licensing, registration, or approval is determined by the competent authority in the jurisdiction where an institution operates or where a qualification is intended to be used.
Such recognition may depend on national or regional legislation, regulatory requirements, professional rules, or other applicable governmental procedures.
ACISC does not grant governmental recognition and cannot guarantee that an institution, program, degree, diploma, certificate, or other qualification will be recognized by a particular government or regulatory authority.
Recognition of ACISC Accreditation
The acceptance or consideration of ACISC accreditation by another organization, institution, employer, professional body, government, regulator, university, or other authority is determined independently by that organization or authority.
Different jurisdictions and organizations may apply different requirements when evaluating educational institutions or qualifications.
Accordingly, institutions and students should verify directly with the relevant authority whether ACISC accreditation, or a qualification awarded by an ACISC-accredited institution, satisfies a particular legal, professional, academic, employment, immigration, transfer, or further-study requirement.
Recognition of Qualifications and Credentials
ACISC accreditation evaluates the institution within the scope of the accreditation granted.
It does not by itself determine the legal status, equivalency, transferability, professional licensing status, or governmental recognition of individual qualifications.
Recognition of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other credential may depend on factors including:
- The laws of the relevant jurisdiction.
- The institution’s legal authority to award the qualification.
- The level and nature of the program.
- Applicable professional regulations.
- Requirements of receiving institutions.
- Requirements of employers.
- Requirements of government or regulatory authorities.
Institutions must accurately communicate the status and scope of their qualifications and must not represent ACISC accreditation as an automatic guarantee of recognition or equivalency.
International Recognition
ACISC operates within an international educational environment in which recognition requirements may differ substantially between countries and jurisdictions.
An institution may hold ACISC accreditation while recognition of its qualifications varies from one jurisdiction to another.
ACISC therefore encourages institutions, students, employers, professional organizations, and other stakeholders to consult the relevant national or regulatory authority when a specific recognition requirement applies.
International accreditation should not be represented as a substitute for compliance with national education laws or regulatory requirements.
Recognition by Educational Institutions
Universities, colleges, schools, and other educational institutions may establish their own policies regarding the admission, transfer, progression, or acceptance of students and qualifications from other institutions.
ACISC accreditation may provide independent evidence that an institution has undergone an external quality-assurance process, but the receiving institution retains responsibility for determining whether a qualification or academic record meets its own admission or transfer requirements.
Students seeking admission, credit transfer, advanced standing, or progression should confirm requirements directly with the receiving institution.
Recognition by Employers
Employers may establish their own requirements for educational qualifications and professional credentials.
ACISC accreditation should not be represented as a guarantee that an employer will accept a particular qualification.
Institutions should provide prospective students with accurate information regarding the nature, level, scope, and status of their qualifications.
Professional and Regulated Qualifications
Certain professions are subject to specific licensing, registration, certification, or professional recognition requirements.
Examples may include:
- Medicine and healthcare.
- Law.
- Engineering.
- Architecture.
- Education and teaching.
- Accounting.
- Aviation.
- Other regulated professions.
Where a program leads to a qualification associated with a regulated profession, the institution and prospective students should independently verify the requirements of the relevant professional or regulatory authority.
ACISC accreditation does not replace professional licensing, registration, certification, or statutory approval.
Institutional Responsibility
Institutions seeking or holding ACISC accreditation are responsible for accurately representing:
- Their legal status.
- Their authorization to operate.
- Their membership status.
- Their accreditation status.
- The scope and duration of accreditation.
- The programs and qualifications they offer.
- Any governmental or professional recognition they hold.
- Any limitations or conditions applicable to their accreditation.
Institutions must not state or imply that:
“ACISC accreditation means government recognition.”
or that:
“ACISC accreditation guarantees recognition of all qualifications in every country.”
Such representations would be inaccurate and inconsistent with the principles of the ACISC Code of Ethics.
ACISC Public Accreditation Information
ACISC may maintain publicly accessible information regarding institutions holding ACISC accreditation.
Where applicable, the public record may identify:
- Institution name.
- Accreditation status.
- Accreditation scope.
- Effective date.
- Accreditation period.
- Conditions or limitations.
- Other information ACISC determines appropriate for public transparency.
The public accreditation record is intended to help stakeholders verify an institution’s current ACISC status.
Verification of Accreditation Status
Stakeholders seeking to verify whether an institution is currently accredited by ACISC should refer to the official ACISC accreditation directory or contact ACISC directly.
An institution should not be considered accredited solely because it:
- Is an ACISC member.
- Has submitted an accreditation application.
- Has been determined eligible.
- Is undergoing an evaluation.
- Has completed a self-study.
- Has participated in an accreditation visit.
- Has paid an accreditation fee.
Accreditation exists only after ACISC has formally granted the accreditation status.
ACISC’s International Role
ACISC seeks to contribute to international educational quality through an independent accreditation framework that encourages institutions to demonstrate:
- Educational effectiveness.
- Institutional integrity.
- Appropriate governance.
- Student protection and support.
- Academic quality.
- Institutional capacity.
- Continuous improvement.
- Responsible international and intercultural education.
ACISC’s role is to provide an independent accreditation framework—not to replace national education systems or governmental regulatory authorities.
Important Notice
ACISC is not a government ministry, statutory regulator, national education authority, or governmental recognition agency.
ACISC accreditation should therefore not be described as:
- Government accreditation.
- Government approval.
- Government recognition.
- National accreditation.
- Statutory authorization.
- A substitute for a government license.
Institutions and stakeholders should distinguish clearly between ACISC accreditation and governmental or regulatory recognition.
Our Commitment to Transparency
ACISC is committed to communicating its accreditation status, scope, requirements, and limitations clearly and accurately.
We believe that international accreditation is most valuable when stakeholders can understand exactly:
what has been evaluated, who conducted the evaluation, what standards were applied, what decision was made, and what that decision does—and does not—mean.
For this reason, ACISC encourages institutions and stakeholders to verify accreditation status and independently confirm any governmental, professional, academic, or regulatory recognition requirements applicable to a particular institution or qualification.
Recognition at a Glance
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| ACISC Member | The institution has been admitted to ACISC membership under the applicable membership requirements. |
| Eligible for Accreditation | The institution has met the minimum requirements to proceed to the accreditation process. |
| Accreditation Applicant | The institution is participating in the formal accreditation process. |
| ACISC Accredited | ACISC has formally granted accreditation following its applicable evaluation and decision-making process. |
| Governmentally Recognized / Authorized | Determined by the competent governmental or regulatory authority—not by ACISC. |
| Professionally Recognized | Determined by the relevant professional or regulatory body where applicable. |
ACISC Principle
Accreditation provides independent quality assurance; recognition and authorization remain matters for the competent authorities and organizations responsible for them.