Nationally Accredited Online Colleges and Universities
Nationally accredited online colleges and universities differ from their regionally accredited counterparts in a number of ways. Accreditation of brick and mortar schools is the same process as accrediting online schools. The process of accreditation recognizes the efforts of competent schools in providing the best quality of education. By accrediting schools, it gives them the recognition that it offers a form of learning based on quality and standards.
Regionally and nationally accredited online colleges and universities differ in the agency that reviews them. To be regionally accredited, the school must be covered by the scope of location reviewed by a particular body. In the US, it has a total of 6 regional accreditation agencies. National accreditation is intended for reviewing schools with a specific nature like career schools, distance education or technology programs.
If a school has a course that differs from the traditional degree programs, they can ask for a national accreditation to be able to be compared to an institution that has the same model of instruction, which might not be present at a regional school covered by the agency. This way, they can still be accredited accurately and fairly. Examples of schools with nontraditional programs are trade schools and religious schools.
To look for nationally accredited online colleges and universities, students can browse through directories of different online schools. One of the limitations of national accreditation is that credits from courses taken up at nationally accredited schools are generally not accepted at regionally accredited schools, while credits from regionally accredited online schools are accepted at nationally accredited online schools. But there are a lot of reputable nationally accredited online colleges and universities to choose from, that offer many choices of courses and programs from every state.
Students can still have a rewarding career if he comes from nationally accredited school, since choice of career is not limited. Most schools that offer nontraditional courses apply for national accreditation. If students want a career that is nontraditional or is not similar from other courses, he can go for a nationally accredited school.
Accreditation is important not just for the image but because of its real essence of the process. This process is done so that schools follow certain standards that ensure quality education. Education must be given a high regard by people especially now that every industry has a very strong competition among its talents and workforce.
A good education equips a student to be competitive in his chosen career and more than that, to be exceptional and exceed expectations of the company and be able to contribute not just to the business but to the society in general. Regionally or nationally accredited online colleges and universities both deserve respect because they are certified by credible bodies.