Council on Occupational Education (COE)

The Council on Occupational Education is designed to serve as a quality assurance agency for a variety of post-secondary institutions that provide career and technical education programs. COE began in 1971 as a regional accrediting agency of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. At that point, it was known as the Commission on Occupational Education Institutes. With its new name and new focus, the agency went national in 1995. It celebrated its 35th birthday in 2006.

The focus for COE is solely on institutions and programs geared toward career, occupational and technical education. The agency accredits those institutions that offer certification, associate's degrees and diploma-based programs. Educational programs that fall under its umbrella include technical colleges, both public and private, military training programs, such as those offered by the Army and Navy and Department of Defense, and programs provided by Job Corps Centers.

Institutions that are seeking accreditation must be licensed within their jurisdictions and must have at least a one-year continuous operation record. Schools must be able to demonstrate administrative and financial ability to support the programs they offer and must be in compliance with federal regulations, as well.

Before schools are even considered for COE accreditation, they must become a candidate for such. This first step to recognition involves a four-step process that begins with an official letter to the COE. An application is then filled out and a two-day on-site visit is conducted by the COE. The COE's board then decides upon the request for candidate status.

Only recognized candidate programs are granted accreditation status. To actually attain accreditation, candidate programs must be further reviewed during an on-site visit, a self-evaluation and more. The process can take up to 24 months to complete, depending on scheduled visits and other requirements. The accreditation by COE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Campus-Based Colleges Accredited by COE

For more information and a complete list of schools accredited by COE, visit http://www.council.org/.