Understanding Accreditation
Educational accreditation is a process of external quality review created and used by higher education to scrutinize colleges, universities, and programs for quality assurance and quality improvement. Accreditation in the United States is more than 100 years old, emerging from concerns to protect public health and safety and to serve the public interest.
In the United States, accreditation is carried out by private, nonprofit organizations designed for this specific purpose. External quality review of higher education is a nongovernmental enterprise.
There are two types of educational accreditation: institutional and specialized.
Regional (Institutional) Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is provided by regional and national associations of schools and colleges. There are six regional associations, (Middle States Commission, New England Association, Higher Learning Commission, Southern Association, Western Association for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association for Senior Colleges and Universities). The regional associations are independent of one another, but they cooperate extensively and acknowledge one another’s accreditation. Several national associations focus on particular kinds of institutions (for example, trade and technical colleges, or religious colleges and universities). An institutional accrediting agency evaluates an entire educational organization in terms of its mission and the agency’s standards or criteria. As an institution, Illinois Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) through 2030.
Specialized (Programmatic) Accreditation and State Regulatory Agencies
ICC programs have sought and received specialized (program) accreditation/approval. These include the following.
icc program name | accrediting agency | accreditations status and contact |
|---|---|---|
Automotive Technology | Automotive Service Excellence Educational Foundation (ASEEF) 1503 Edwards Ferry Rd., N.E. Suite 401 Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone: (703) 669-6650; (703) 669-6677 | 01/01/2025
Program Coordinator: Todd Fortier |
Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology (CATTK) | Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) 650 E. Algonquin Rd. Suite 305 Schaumburg, IL 60173 Phone: (630) 574-0650 | 2024 - Date to be Determined
Program Director: Mark Matthews |
Culinary Arts Management | American Culinary Federation Educational Foundation (ACFEF) American Culinary Federation 6816 Southpoint Pkwy Suite 400 Jacksonville, FL 32216 Phone: (904) 824-4468 Fax: (904) 940-0741 https://www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Accreditation/ACF/Education/Accreditation/ | 12/03/2026
Program Director: Charles Robertson |
Diesel Powered Equipment Technology | Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation: Certified Technician Program 650 E. Algonquin Rd. Suite 305 Schaumburg, IL 60173 Phone: (630) 574-0650 | Fall 2024
Program Director: Colin Campbell |
Dental Hygienist | Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) 211 E. Chicago Ave. Suite 1900 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (312) 440-4653 | October 2028
Program Director: Nicole Breidel |
Drug and Alcohol Counseling Trainings (DACT) | Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA) 401 E. Sangamon Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 Phone: (217) 698-8110 | Fall 2025
Program Director: Dan Kelts |
Emergency Medical Technician & Paramedic | CoAEMSP Commission on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Service Professions) 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312 Rowlett, Texas 75088 Phone: (214) 703-8445 Fax: (214) 703-8992 | Spring 2025
Program Director: Michael Dant
|
General Motor Automotive Service Education Program (GM-ASEP) | Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Phone: (800) 390-6789 | 01/01/2025 Program Director: Trevor Imm |
Horticulture Programs (multiple) | National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) 12500 Fair Lakes Circle, Suite 200 Fairfax, VA 22033 Phone: (703) 736-9666; (800) 395-2522 Fax: (703)-322-2066 | 2024
Program Director: Kelly Cochran Cohlman |
Licensed Practical Nursing | ACEN Phone: (404) 975-5000 | Spring 2028
Associate Dean: Mischelle Monagle |
Medical Assistant | CAAHEP Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 | Fall 2028
Program Director: Cydney Bretsch |
Medical Laboratory Technician | NAACLS Rosemont, IL 60018 | Year Five Interim Report: October 1, 2024, Self-study: October 1, 2029 Site visit: October 31, 2030
Program Director: Vincent Strow |
Music (Associate in Arts) | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) National Association of Schools of Music 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21 Reston, VA 20190-5248 Phone: (703) 437-0700 Fax: (703) 437-6312 | 2028-2029
Program Director: Julie Clemens |
Occupational Therapy Assistant | ACOTE | June 2027/2028 (Received June 2018 for 10 years)
Program Director: Jennifer Haines
|
Radiography | JRCERT Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Fall 2025
Program Director: April Tatham
|
Registered Nurse | ACEN Phone: (404) 975-5000 | Spring 2028
Associate Dean: Mischelle Monagle
|
Respiratory Therapist | CoARC 1248 Harwood Road Phone: (817) 283-2835 | Spring 2026
Program Director: Mary Beth Cregger
|
Surgical Technologist | ARC/STSA Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Official (CAAHEP) 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 | 2029
Program Director: Sonja Conton |
Complaint Process
Illinois Central College seeks to resolve all student concerns in a timely and effective manner. To that end, this complaint process serves as an ongoing means for students to discuss concerns or register formal complaints that pertain to alleged violations of State consumer protection laws that include but are not limited to fraud and false advertising; alleged violations of State laws or rules relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions; and complaints relating to the quality of education or other State or accreditation requirements.
Students, or consumers, who have a complaint they are trying to resolve with a specific community college are encouraged to try to resolve their issue through their institution’s formal grievance procedures.
If the issue is not resolved through this process, students or consumers may file a formal complaint with the program’s third-party accrediting Each agency has unique policies for accreditation and contacting the appropriate third-party agency for its policy and procedures is recommended.