5 things you need to know about criminal justice school accreditation
In deciding the criminal justice program to attend, the issue of accreditation is very important. There are certain things you should know about accreditation - criminal justice schools in colorado.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation means that the school and its programs have been reviewed through visits by recognized and authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to do so. It is, therefore, ultimately, means that the degrees obtained from accredited schools are recognized throughout the country and are accepted as valid by employers.
Who are the recognized accreditation bodies?
The U.S. Department of Education funds eight accreditation bodies. There are six regional accreditation (RA) bodies and two spin-offs of two of the six organs RA. These agencies are authorized to grant accreditation to schools within their jurisdiction specified locale.
These organs are:
the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont);
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia);
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Panama);
the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming);
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pacific Rim and East Asia), and
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington).
The two spin-offs are:
Western Association Commission on Accreditation of colleges and universities (see Best Practices WICHE), and
The Centre for Northern Studies Commission (see Best Practices NCA).
If your school is accredited by one of these eight (8) groups that receive U.S. Department of Education funding and operate primarily in the field visit, peer review, then you need not worry - your school has the best certification out there.
Are there other accreditation bodies?
Other accreditation bodies and many online schools proudly advertise that they are accredited by one or other of these organs. However, these accreditation bodies are not themselves known for their accreditations accredited not worth the paper they are written.
Out of all these other accrediting bodies are some that are simply a black list and not recognized, while there are others that can be accepted as valid by 30 percent of organizations that matter. Employers, on the other hand, is likely to reject absolute degrees given by schools accredited by these bodies.
Is there a list of schools in the black list or a list of schools whose degrees are not recognized?
Yes, there are currently two lists. A list has been prepared by the state of Michigan and one prepared by the state of Oregon. Employers use these lists to check whether a certain level of a particular school does not have value or not.
Accreditation is a really important issue?
Yes! It is the most important issue when deciding what school of criminal justice should enroll in. If you enroll in the school is not accredited, then as you gain after spending much money and effort will not be worth the paper is written. It will be a pig of the worst kind!