Independent Accreditation

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	Below is a list of organizations that offer accreditation to institutions of higher learning, Most independent accreditors have been severely criticized for not being recognized by the US Department of Education or accredited by CHEA, a non-profit organization of colleges and universities serving as the member schools appointed national advocate for voluntary self-regulation through accreditation. As a matter of form, CHEA is a product of those members of private agencies approved by the US Department of Education to award US Government Guaranteed Student Loans. Criticism of CHEA, principally by many of those members of agencies listed below, has been on the basis that the organization provides no venue for fair or impartial review when the accrediting agency is not one of the approved agencies of the USA Department of Education or in a highly specialized unique field of endeavor that dominates the profession.   The accrediting agencies below are those independent organizations that have a presence on the world-wide-web and steadfastly claim their own legitimacy.  The Academy, as a matter of policy, suggests that new institutions or those not seeking voluntary accreditation in the USA among US Department of Education approved regional and national private accrediting agencies, should check carefully before applying for membership and approval from any of the listed privately organized accrediting agencies below. In addition, an independent survey of each organization's membership as to whether or not membership and accreditation with that organization is both worthwhile and respected by its members would be prudent. Contact the Academy for any assistance in evaluating the veracity of claims made by the accrediting organizations listed and the real and perceived value of institutional association.     The following are private, non government, higher education accrediting agencies.
	Accreditation Governing Comm of the United States of America American Naturopathic Certification Board American Naturopathic Medical Certification & Accreditation Board American Naturopathic Medicine Association Asia Pacific Theological Association American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries Association of International Education Assessors Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries Board of Online Universities Accreditation Council for Distance Education Accreditation Higher Education Accreditation Commission Interfaith Education Ministries International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities  International Accreditation Assoc. of Professional Certification International Commission for Higher Education International Council for Accrediting Alternate Theological Studies International Distance Learning Accrediting Association National College Accreditation Council Naturopathic National Council Open & Distance Learning Quality Council former UK GOV Agency Transworld Accrediting Commission International Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation International Commission for Higher Educational World Online Education Accrediting Commission Worldwide Accreditation Comm. of Christian Ed Institutions
	Each of these private agencies claims it can accredit the value of collegiate work accomplished by students from a member organization. Many current detractors may object or find fault with their claims of authenticity as well as their private and independent status. Some self-proclaimed keepers of the accreditation torch are vocal in their resistance to these particular private accreditors and consider any private accrediting agency other than those approved by the US Department of Education as unworthy, bogus, or outright diploma mill fronts. The claim of "bogus" may also target legitimate state and international licensed authorities as well.
	The Top Accreditor in the USA
	Of all the accreditors approved by the US Department of Education, the Academy rates the Southern Association the most stringent. This does not mean that the other associations are not equally as thorough in their peer reviews of member schools but rather that they may be more forgiving and less likely to deny, put on probabtion, or suspend accreditation.
	Membership: Private Associations
	If an accrediting agency is not listed here, it either does not have a website, is off the radar, or possesses little redeeming quality that would interest a new, developing, or existing online or on ground campus-based provider.  The Academy believes it would be prudent to assure that an affiliation with any one of the 'independents of government affiliation associations' listed here would be in the schools best interests. Such an affiliation should bring credit to the university and its affiliated organizations.  Otherwise, the membership could turn out to be nothing more than needless and costly window dressing.