Why Your Program Should Be Accredited

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is crucial to your success in your chosen career path. The process typically consists of a rigorous series of evaluations by a governing body or respectable organization in the community. The primary purpose is to ensure that the educational policies and practices of the school meet the standards set by the accrediting body. Your school's accreditation ensures that you're getting what you pay for.

Who accredits paralegal training programs?

There's a wide host of accrediting bodies that recognize paralegal training programs. Many programs are approved by an agency that's in their region of the country. The most common regional bodies include, but aren't limited to, the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Council on Occupational Education (COE), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA CASI), Middles States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). All of these are accredited by the United States Department of Education.

What's a diploma mill?

A diploma mill is an educational institution that is not accredited. This type of school or program typically makes unrealistic promises and offers low-quality education. Its main objective is to enroll as many applicants as possible in order to make a profit, not to help students excel at their studies and secure employment in their chosen field.

What are the risks involved with enrolling in a diploma mill?

It's best to avoid diploma mills at all costs. Most employers don't accept graduates from unaccredited schools. As a result, you'll have wasted time attending a school that didn't meet educational standards and will not likely land your dream job as a paralegal.

That’s not to mention the fact that you simply won’t get the education you’re paying for from a diploma mill. Higher education can help you become a better, wiser person, and a quality education will improve your quality of life. Unaccredited schools do not offer this benefit.