Accreditation Beware!

Imagine this...

Annie just completed a 9 month long Medical Assisting program that cost her $15,000 in tuition. She goes to apply for an exam and certificate, only to be DENIED! She is told that the school she attended didn't have the right accreditation.

Tom completed a bachelor's degree through an online college. However, when he applies to a master's program at a state college, they won't accept his credits/degree because the online school has the wrong accreditation. How did this happen to Annie and Tom?  

What is Accreditation? 

Schools voluntarily become accredited to gain desired credentials. They are accredited by a third-party and must conform to certain standards and curriculum.

Why Should I Care?

There are many types of accreditation. Just because a school says it is "accredited" on their website, doesn't mean it really is, or that it has the right kind of accreditation. Before you choose a college or a program, make sure to do some research on their credentials to save yourself a lot of heartache!


How to Check Accreditation:

Let's take a look at Annie again. Medical Assistants are licensed nationally through the AAMA. On their website it says that: "Graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES are eligible to take the Certification Exam." It then provides a way to search for an approved program. Annie could have used this to find an accredited school. She could also verify this information by checking with other schools.

For Tom, he should have looked into the online school's accreditation to make sure his credits/degree would transfer later. Let's imagine he decides to get his master's degree in counseling in Idaho. By going to the state licensing board's website (click here), he would see approved schools and would be able to discuss his undergraduate plans in advance and know what accreditation they accept.

Finally, there's Holly. She wants to be a Radiology Technician. When she searched for schools online there were a variety of choices. Holly does the right thing and goes online to her state's licensing board (click here) for medical imaging and finds a list of accredited schools. Now she can pursue her education knowing that she made the right choice.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Good luck!