AboutCynthia Wolfe Expertise Let me help you with questions about adult education and continuing education programs. If you are looking for a program or have questions about adult education in general, I can guide you. If you are a teacher looking for new ideas or methods, I can help. I have resources and ideas to share. I am a member of the National Business Education Association (NBEA), a professional organization devoted to the recognition that business education competencies are essential for all individuals in today's fast-changing society.
Experience I am an instructor at the University of Phoenix, working in online and classroom modalities. I am also a student at Northcentral University, where I am working on a PhD in Business Administration, with a specialty in Management. My MBA is from Troy University, 2001, and I have a BS, Environmental Science, from Troy University, 1980. Read about my experiences as an online student at my blog thinkPhD.
Question if i get my accreditation from one region can i use my degree in another
Answer Hello Jonathan,
Thanks for asking a question. Accreditation is a process by which specific organizations review schools against standards designed by the organization itself. The accreditation is sort of a quality assurance "stamp of approval" that certain requirements have been met. In many countries, higher learning educational accreditation is performed by the government, but in the United States, it is performed by private groups.
Your degree is granted by a certain school, but an employer may choose not to RECOGNIZE the validity of the degree. Here's an example: Let's say you want to apply for a teaching position at IvyLeague University. If you have a degree from DiplomaMill U., accredited by Accreditations R Us, it is highly unlikely your potential employer will recognize your degree. If you have a degree from State U, accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), your potential employer will accept your degree as valid because the program was accredited by an acceptable accrediting body - standards were applied. Same thing with transfer credits - you may find that your credits do not transfer because your new school does not accept them.
There are about 50 nationally accepted accrediting bodies, and 5 which are listed by the U.S. Dept. of Education as general in scope. Every college has the right to design its own programs, but students must be savvy and check out claims of accreditation. Don't waste your money on a degree at a school without acceptable accreditation, either regional or national. You must consider your future occupation and choose a school with an eye to that.
Accreditation therefore is something that is not regionally specific. You can get a degree in Kansas and carry it to Florida, but your future employer may not accept it, or your future college may not accept transfer credits because it does not accept the accreditation of the school.
Good luck with your education,
Cindy Wolfe
www.thinkPhD.com
