Council On Occupational Education

Originally the Council on Occupational Education or COE first started as a regional accreditation agency as part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). During this period from 1971 to the end of 1995, the agency was responsible for accreditation of the post secondary occupational training programs in the 11 states in the SACS. After 1995 the Council on Occupational Education was able to grant accreditation nationally and all memberships that were granted previously were rolled into the new national COE.

The COE has always been recognized by the United States Department of Education and continues to be the major national accrediting council for both non-degree granting and those programs that provide applied associate degrees in postsecondary programs for occupational programs and education. The COE exists to ensure that programs and schools that are accredited provide the highest standards for their students both in terms of job skill acquisition as well as general knowledge, best practice teaching and feedback from the advisory boards and industries. The COE provides a set of standards which all accredited programs must meet or exceed and continue to uphold to maintain their accreditation standing.

Students that select an accredited occupational school or program can be assured that their degree will be recognized within their industry within the United States, plus they can be assured that the education that they receive through the school is at the same professional level as any other student attending another program elsewhere in the country. This security with the knowledge that the educational and professional standards of the postsecondary institute are monitored and accurate provides real peace of mind when selecting a school. In addition to just accrediting specific schools or colleges, the COE also accredits programs offered by the Army, Navy, Department of Defense as well as the Job Corps programs and centers.

Like with other accreditation processes there are several steps to take in accreditation. First an application must be made, followed by a period of self-evaluation with regards to all aspects of the school or programs offered and being considered for accreditation. At least one person must attend an accreditation workshop and ensure that the report is completed correctly. An on-site evaluation team will then visit the school or program and verify information, making their own report. The COE will then review the reports and grant accreditation if the institute or program meets the criteria. The complete steps for accreditation for COE can be found on their website at http://www.council.org/.