With the greatly increasing number of distance education opportunities available, it is increasingly important to verify that the course you wish to take is from an accredited institution.

The whole area of accreditation via online learning is being debated and there are many issues. While there is some controversy over the actual value of an accrediting agency in distance education (particularly as it pertains to one governing agency overseeing the regional, national and international fields), there are some existing organizations that are good starting places; i.e., Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council and The Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Also, be sure to explore your question with other professionals in the field to get their direct input.

Two other excellent sites for FAQs on accreditation are:

Distance Learning, College Degrees, & Accreditation FAQ at www.geteducated.com.

The Distance Educator site provides summaries of information on Accreditation. Note: This site also offers FAQ information on a number of other hot topics such as Quality Assurance, copyright, distance learning definitions etc.

Also, remember accreditation is one indicator of quality but since it is voluntary (and doesn't even exist in many countries), learners should not count on it as the only indicator. Many non-accredited institutions and private training companies offer wonderful learning opportunities that should not be underestimated.

Major Accrediting Agencies:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Distance Education and Training Council