Accreditation

Consistent with the College of Education’s mission to educate amazing teachers, leaders, and counselors, the College of Education’s academic programs maintain the highest standards of quality and integrity through specialized and institutional accreditation. Accredited programs and institutions are required to demonstrate a commitment to quality and integrity through data-informed continuous improvement.

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)

The College of Education’s p-12 educator preparation programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). AAQEP accreditation signifies that the College of Education’s programs prepare effective educators who continue to develop as professionals and that the College of Education has the sufficient capacity and commitment to continue doing this work. The current accreditation cycle extends to June 30, 2030. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) designates AAQEP as a Recognized Accrediting Organization.

Please visit the educator preparation program accreditation page for more information about the College of Education’s AAQEP accreditation.

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

The College of Education’s counselor education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The current accreditation cycle extends to October 31st, 2024. The Counselor Education department is currently preparing for its reaccreditation process. CACREP is  recognized by CHEA.

Please visit the Counselor Education department’s program accreditation page for more information about CACREP accreditation.

Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC)

The College of Education’s educator preparation programs are recognized by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). TSPC reviewed the College of Education’s educator preparation programs as a part of its initial AAQEP accreditation review in spring 2023.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

The Helen Gordon Child Development Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The current accreditation period runs from 2021 to 2026. NAEYC accreditation is a nationally recognized standard of quality that has been offered since 1985 to provide early childhood programs with benchmarks and means of assessment and as a way for parents to identify high-quality programs. To achieve accreditation, the program demonstrated meeting 400 criteria in 10 areas with standards assessed by NAEYC. The standards focus on: advancement of children’s learning and development; qualifications, knowledge and commitment of teachers and staff; partnerships with the community; the quality of the physical environment; and program management and leadership. The NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation system is recognized by CHEA.

Please visit the Helen Gordon Child Development Center website for more information.

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

The College of Education is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) through Portland State University. NWCCU is an independent nonprofit membership organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness of higher education institutions in the Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. 

Please see Portland State’s accreditation page for more information about its NWCCU accreditation.

Questions?

Please contact Kevin A. McLemore, the Director of Assessment & Accreditation, at kmclemo2@pdx.edu, with any questions about the College of Education’s accreditation.