IEAC Candidacy Accreditation

What Candidacy Status Means

Institutions granted candidacy accreditation by IEAC have demonstrated:

• Pre-Accreditation Readiness: The institution meets IEAC’s basic eligibility and is formally affiliated while preparing for full accreditation.
• A Period of Development: The candidacy phase allows institutions to strengthen internal systems, complete self-study preparation, and make necessary improvements.
• Demonstrated Progress: Candidacy confirms that the institution is “on its way” to meeting IEAC’s full accreditation benchmarks.
• Temporary Recognition: This status is valid for up to one year and subject to review.
• No Automatic Guarantee: Achieving candidacy does not ensure future full accreditation.

Note: Candidacy accreditation does not carry all rights and privileges of full accreditation (for example, certain funding or articulation agreements may require full accreditation).

Why IEAC Introduced Candidacy Accreditation

IEAC developed this pathway to support institutions that are ready to begin the accreditation process but are not yet fully prepared for inspection.
Common reasons include being newly established, having limited operating history, or not yet having taught a full cohort of students.
Because IEAC requires that accredited institutions must have taught students for at least one semester (or 3 months), candidacy status provides an effective bridge for development and capacity building.

Candidacy Accreditation serves as:

• A Quality Assurance Pathway: Structured preparation toward full accreditation.
• A Risk-Mitigation Mechanism: Protects students and stakeholders while confirming institutional capacity and sustainability.
• A Capacity-Building Process: Enables institutions to strengthen governance, assessment, and quality systems under IEAC’s guidance.

Steps in the IEAC Candidacy Accreditation Process

• 1. Application & Eligibility Review
  The institution submits an eligibility application demonstrating legal authorization, governance structure, and program details.
  IEAC verifies that foundational criteria are met to begin the process.
• 2. Online Meetings & Evaluation
  IEAC conducts virtual consultations to review the institution’s mission, governance, finances, and initial evidence of quality.
  If needed, the institution may be asked to provide a corrective action plan before candidacy can be approved.
• 3. Granting of Candidacy Status
  Upon approval, IEAC awards the Candidacy Accreditation Certificate, outlines a roadmap for full accreditation, and provides guidance on self-study preparation and reporting.
  Institutions also complete an Inspector Performance Feedback Form to help IEAC improve its review process.

The Road to Full Accreditation

• Self-Study and Institutional Improvement : The institution conducts a comprehensive self-study aligned with IEAC standards, addressing areas such as curriculum quality, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, and financial sustainability.
• Peer Review and Site or Virtual Visit: A team of qualified peer reviewers evaluates the self-study and conducts an on-site or virtual inspection.
  Findings and recommendations are documented in the official inspection report.
• Accreditation Committee Decision: Based on the peer review, the IEAC committee may:
  - Grant full accreditation
  - Extend candidacy
  - Impose conditions,
  - Deny accreditation with guidance for remediation.

Reports highlight institutional strengths, areas for improvement, and may include Gold Star ratings (1–5) for excellence in key quality domains.

Benefits of Candidacy Accreditation

• External Recognition: Demonstrates commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• Structured Support: Provides mentorship and guidance from IEAC’s accreditation specialists.
• Credibility & Transparency: Signals to stakeholders that the institution is undergoing independent quality evaluation.
• Preparation Advantage: Establishes readiness for a successful transition to full accreditation.

Institutions interested in beginning their journey toward IEAC accreditation may apply for Candidacy Accreditation as the first formal step.

Apply Now or Contact IEAC to learn more about eligibility and requirements.