Accrediting Agencies and Quality Assurance in Canada

The Post-secondary education institutes and programs are evaluated by an external body for determining their level of working. It is to be noted that the quality assurance process is important as students enrolling in such higher level courses have some expectations and a future in mind. If after evaluation, the evaluating body finds that the organization or the institute is meeting the set standards, they gain the accredited status.

Accreditation process and advantages

Accreditation in simple words could be called both status as well as the process. If we look at it as a status, we find that accreditation process provides the public notification that an institute or a program is meeting the standards of quality, which are set forth by the accrediting agencies. If we look at it as a process, we find it to be reflecting the fact, that while an institute is working towards the process, they are actually reviewing themselves, they are becoming committed to self-study and are allowing external review by agencies. In total, the process assures quality and any institute, if has to be accepted by society needs to gain this status. It helps students choose them.

It is a sign of assurance that you will be taught and delivered courses as per the set standards. The method is a way of sorting unaccredited agencies from the authentic ones.  In most of the countries, this educational accreditation for higher education is the responsibility of government organization viz. the ministry of education.

About Accreditation in Canada

In Canada, provincial or territorial government has the responsibility of providing post-secondary education. The universities are operated by respective provincial governments. The Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada is the national organization which is, involved in the accreditation of programs thus, assuring educational quality. It is basically a group that has members involved in providing accreditation to programs. These are listed below:

• Adult Learning and Post-Secondary Services (GN)
• Agricultural Institute of Canada
• Canadian Architectural Certification Board
• Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
• Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN)
• Canadian Massage Therapist Alliance (CMTA)
• Canadian Motive Power Accreditation Board
• Canadian Athletic Therapists Association
• Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs
• Canadian Education and Training Accreditation Commission
• Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory & Educational Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB)
• Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board
• Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC)
• Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS)
• Canadian Medical Association
• Canadian Psychological Association
• Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB)
• Canadian Council of University Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators
• The College of Family Physicians of Canada
• Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
• College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
• Council for Accreditation of Canadian University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CACUP-ASLP)
• Council on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy Education (CoARTE)
• Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)
• College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)
• Dietitians of Canada
• Diver Certification Board of Canada
• Engineers Canada
• Environmental Careers Organization (ECO Canada)
• Federation of Law Societies of Canada
• National Association of Canadian Optician Regulators
• Ontario College of Teachers
• Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
• Teacher Regulation Branch
• Technology Accreditation Canada
• TESL Canada
• TESL Ontario