In the U.S., accreditation in postsecondary education falls generally into three categories: regional, national, and specialized/professional. Regional accreditation is available through agencies that accredit large public institutions of higher education (colleges and universities); national accreditation is available through agencies that accredit institutions with a particular focus; and specialized/professional accreditation is offered by agencies that concentrate on a particular area of learning. CEA is one of approximately 65 specialized accrediting agencies.

To be eligible to seek CEA accreditation, an English program or language school must fall within CEA’s scope.

1. Programmatic Accreditation
   Within the United States, CEA offers programmatic accreditation for English language programs (ELPs) and units with a direct reporting line within the administration of universities and colleges which are accredited by a regional or national institutional accrediting body. Such programs and units may be part of academic departments (such as ESL, English, linguistics, education), non-instructional units (such as student affairs or international student affairs departments), continuing education units, or other units. Sites seeking programmatic accreditation may apply to add accreditation of other regularly offered non-degree English or language teaching and learning programs within the unit that offers the ELP (such as TESL/TEFL teacher training certificate, foreign language, youth, or other courses or programs in addition to an ELP); additional accreditation of such programs is contingent upon the accreditation of the ELP or the English language unit. Additionally, CEA offers programmatic accreditation to ELPs within government agencies.
2. Institutional Accreditation
   Within the United States, CEA offers institutional accreditation for independent English language schools/institutions that offer an eligible English language program (ELP). Such institutions may offer TESL/TEFL teacher training certificate, foreign language, youth, or other courses or programs in addition to an ELP. However, all the educational programs offered must be within CEA’s scope of English or language teaching and learning, and all programs offered must be included in the accreditation review. The forms of ownership and governance of such institutions and the organizational structures in which they exist can vary greatly. Such institutions may be governed by individual proprietors, governing boards, or corporate managers and may exist as stand-alone single-owner schools, not-for-profit organizations governed by boards, or units that are part of larger, multisite systems. Such institutions may also conduct classes on a university or college campus by contractual agreements.
3. General Accreditation
   Outside the United States, CEA offers general accreditation for English language programs in a variety of settings, including programs within academic departments at colleges or universities, foundation or preparatory year programs within or affiliated with colleges or universities, independent private language schools, or binational centers. Such programs may be governed by academic institutions, individual proprietors, governing boards, or other corporate organizational structures.

Accreditation is a voluntary process, and CEA accreditation is not intended to impose a rigid uniformity of educational objectives, operations, or theoretical content upon a program. Each site seeking CEA accreditation is judged in light of its own mission in accordance with the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions, which drive the accreditation process.