Council on Occupational Education

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) accredits post-secondary occupational institutions that offer certificate, diploma, or applied associate degree programs. These institutions include public technical colleges, private career colleges (both for-profit and not-for-profit), Army, Navy, and Department of Defense institutions, and Job Corps Centers. The Council’s accreditation process is conducted on behalf of more than 181,000 students across the nation who pursue careers in a variety of technical fields.

Criteria For Acceptance

The Council on Occupational Education accredits post-secondary occupational institutions that offer certificate, diploma, or applied associate degree programs. These institutions include public technical colleges, private career colleges (both for-profit and not-for-profit), federal institutions including Army, Navy, and Department of Defense institutions, and Job Corps Centers. The Council also accredits institutions that offer distance education programs, though limits are placed on these activities. To be eligible to be considered by the Commission for candidate for accreditation (pre-accreditation status), an institution must:

  1. Offer associate degree and/or non-degree postsecondary instruction exclusively in career and technical education at all campuses.
  2. Have produced a graduate from the longest program offered by the institution.
  3. Utilize a campus-based instructional delivery system with at least 25 percent of the institution’s total FTE (Full-Time Equivalency) being derived from enrollments in traditional programs.
  4. Have an institutional enrollment of no fewer than 10 FTE.
  5. Be legally authorized to operate within the jurisdiction in which it is located for a minimum of one year.
  6. Have been in possession of current and applicable licensure/authorization for a minimum of one year.
  7. Have been in continuous operation and providing instruction at a main campus and under the same ownership for a minimum of one year.
  8. Have the on-site administrator or other full-time employee at the main campus attend a Candidate Academy within 6 months prior to submitting an application for candidate status.
  9. Demonstrate that it has the administrative capabilities (including, but not limited to, financial) to support the educational programs offered.
  10. Demonstrate that it meets the financial stability requirements for the most recent completed fiscal year as state in Standard 7 – Financial Resources.
  11. Be in compliance with all Federal requirements applicable to accreditation.
  12. Agree to comply with all requirements of the Council.

Accreditation Process

COE’s accreditation process consists of five necessary steps required of Institutions. The  process is extensive, detailed, time-consuming, and goal-centric.

  1. The institution sends a letter to COE notifying the Council of its intent to seek candidacy status with the Commission. (The Council will then send Candidate Academy information to the institution.)
  2. A full-time representative of the institution attends a Candidate Academy.
  3. The candidate application is completed and submitted in hard-copy and PDF versions to COE.
  4. A two-person, two-day candidate visit is conducted at the institution.
  5. The Commission reviews the institution’s application, financial statements, candidate team report, and institutional response report, and takes action on candidate status for the institution. The Commission may vote to approve candidate status; it may defer a vote if additional information is required by the Commission; or it may vote to deny candidate status. (If candidate status is denied the institution must wait at least one year before reapplying for candidacy.

Accreditation Cost

CEA fees are based on the direct costs of specific activities as well as CEA operating costs related to implementing the accreditation process.

Fees applicable to single programs or language institutions seeking initial accreditation include the following:

Service: 2017 Fee:
Accrediting Agency Fees: $22,770
Documentation Compilation $17,000
Accreditation Review Preparation $12,500
Consulting Services $18,500