Professional development from anywhere.
PNPI is offering an online, completely asynchronous course focused on higher education accreditation. Accreditation 101 will give participants the tools they need to understand, participate in, and impact policy discussions around the topic.
Course Details
Offered on a virtual platform, PNPI’s Accreditation 101 course consists of six distinct modules:
- Accreditation Overview
- The History of Accreditation
- Why We Accredit
- The Accreditation Process
- Accreditor Recognition
- Perceived Limitations of the Current System
Participants who complete all modules and fill out a course evaluation will have the opportunity to earn a digital badge, a credential that can be shared with future or current employers and added to participants’ LinkedIn profiles.
Key Dates
May 1: Registration opens
June 1: Course opens
June 16: Last day to register
June 30: Course ends
Note: While this course is asynchronous, it is also time-bound. The course opens at 12:00 a.m. ET on June 1, and all course material must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 30, 2025.
The Accreditation 101 course is designed for people who work in, are pursuing a career in, or study postsecondary policy. Policy professionals, higher education leaders, and policy students/researchers are encouraged to register.
All modules will be made available to participants to work on asynchronously between June 1 and June 30 in the online course platform. Each module includes a short video, readings, and an assessment.
Accreditation Overview: Learn about the types of accreditors and accreditation, the oversight roles of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and how accreditors operate.
The History of Accreditation: Learn about the early years of accreditation, the impact of the GI Bill and the Higher Education Act on accreditation, and how accreditation oversight has changed over time.
Why We Accredit: Learn about the relationship between accreditation and federal student aid, standards for professional licensure, student transfer, quality assurances for employers and students, and institutional improvement.
The Accreditation Process: Learn how accreditation is paid for, how often it takes place, what the steps in the accreditation process are, and accreditor actions.
Accreditor Recognition: Learn how and why accrediting organizations are recognized, and the roles of ED, NACIQI, and CHEA in the recognition process.
Perceived Limitations: Learn about some of the perceived limitations of our current accreditation system.
Student/Government Registrant: $99
(Must be either a degree-seeking student at a federally accredited institution and email a copy of student ID to pnpi@pnpi.org to verify student status and enrollment OR must register with a .gov email address)
Nonprofit Registrant: $149
(Must register with a .org email address)
Registrant: $249
PNPI gives participants a digital credential for completing Accreditation 101. All badge earners will receive an email inviting them to claim their badge within 30 days of course completion.
Offered on the Credly platform, digital badges can be displayed in email signatures, on electronic copies of a résumé, and on social media sites like LinkedIn. There is no fee for the badge, and acceptance of the badge lies with the participant once it is issued by PNPI.
PNPI’s digital badge gives participants:
- A web-enabled version of their credential that can easily be shared online
- Labor market insights that relate your skills to jobs
- A trusted method for real-time credential verification
The digital badge is ONLY available to participants who complete all modules of the course and submit a completed course evaluation.
You can read more about the badge by clicking on the badge icon below.
