The diversity of educational programs in the United States is one strength of the American educational system. Such a large selection of educational offerings makes quality a vital issue. Accreditation is the quality assurance that education is meeting minimum standards.

In the United States, accreditation is a non-governmental, peer review process that ensures educational quality. Educational institutions or programs volunteer to periodically undergo this review to determine if minimum criteria are being met. Accreditation verifies that an institution or program meets the criteria, ensuring a quality educational experience.

There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation evaluates overall institutional quality. Regional accreditation of institutions is one form of this. Specialized accreditation, however, examines specific programs of study to determine if graduates are prepared to enter the profession. This type of accreditation is granted to specific programs at specific levels. Programs of architecture, nursing, law, medicine and engineering are often evaluated through this type of accreditation. In the United States, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is responsible for the specialized accreditation of educational programs in engineering, engineering technology and engineering-related fields. Programs either receive accreditation or are denied, but they are not ranked.

ABET began in 1932 as the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ECPD) and was formed to promote the status of the engineering profession and enhance the quality of engineering education. In 1980, the ECPD became the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, focusing its efforts on the accreditation of educational programs.

ABET now accredits some 2,300 engineering, engineering technology and engineering-related educational programs at over 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. ABET is recognized by  the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for its responsibility in these areas. In 1997, ABET expanded its mission to include the accreditation of applied science programs.

ABET is a federation of 31 professional engineering and technical societies. Representatives from these societies, who are practicing professionals from industry and academe, form the body of ABET through its Board of Directors and three working Commissions:

The ABET Board of Directors sets policy and approves accreditation criteria while the Commissions implement accreditation procedures and decisions. The active participation of practicing professionals allows accreditation to reflect standards set by the profession itself. This approach provides a better-prepared graduate which ultimately translates into a valuable employee.

Accreditation is a voluntary process that institutions choose to undertake. Programs that have produced at least one graduate are eligible for accreditation. First, an institution requests an evaluation of its program(s). Each program then conducts an internal evaluation and completes a self-study questionnaire. The self-study documents that students, curriculum, faculty, administration, facilities and institutional support meet the established criteria. While this is being conducted, the appropriate ABET Commission forms an evaluation team to visit the campus. A team chair and one or more program evaluators make up the evaluation team. Team members are volunteers from academe, government and industry as well as private practice.

During the on-campus visit, the evaluation team reviews course materials, student projects, sample assignments and interviews students, faculty and administrators. They ensure that the criteria are met and answer any questions raised by the self-study. A written report of the evaluation is given to the institution. This allows the institution to correct any misrepresentations or errors of fact.

Finally, the evaluation report is presented to the appropriate ABET Commission with a recommended accreditation action. Based on the findings of the report, the Commission votes on the action and the institution is notified of the decision. The information the school receives identifies strengths, weaknesses, deficiencies, and recommendations for improvements. Accreditation is granted for a maximum of six years. To renew accreditation, the institution must request another evaluation.

Accreditation helps many people make important decisions about education including:

Choosing to enroll in an accredited program should be based on the requirements for a specific field of study. Many state registration and certification boards view ABET-accredited programs as the first step for state licensure or certification. ABET accreditation is also a consideration for admission to many graduate programs.

Over the years, ABET has been asked to evaluate engineering programs outside the U.S. Programs found to be comparable in content and educational experience to ABET-accredited programs, but not necessarily identical in format or method of delivery, are recognized as "substantially equivalent." Substantial equivalency implies that an engineering program has prepared its graduates to enter professional practice. ABET evaluation visits also provide a valuable exchange of information for the improvement of programs both abroad and in the U.S. Substantial equivalency is not accreditation.

ABET has also entered into a number of mutual recognition agreements (MRA) with accrediting organizations in other countries. These agreements recognize other accreditation systems as comparable to ABET accreditation. In turn, these accreditation systems recommend that graduates from accredited programs in member countries be granted the same privileges for entry into the profession.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) are agreements through which ABET exchanges information and consults with developing accreditation organizations in other countries. This helps other countries, and ABET, to develop accreditation systems that will meet the engineering and educational needs of the 21^st century.

Another important ABET service provided to the engineering community is credentials evaluation. The Engineering Credentials Evaluation International (ECEI) arm of ABET evaluates the academic credentials of individuals who have received an engineering degree outside the U.S. Information provided by this service is used by state licensure boards as well as employers.

For more information on the following, access the ABET web site at: www.abet.org