The Council of Occupational Education

The Council of Occupational Education is a leading national accrediting council that accredits community colleges, technical institutes, and career centers based on the standards put forth by the U.S. Department of Education.

The COE is responsible for accreditation of career and technical schools that grant associates' degrees, diplomas, and certificates. These include public technical colleges, private career colleges, Job Corps Centers, and the Army, the Navy, and the Department of Defense institutes.

The COE was founded in 1971 with the mission to assure quality and integrity in career and technical education. Up until 1995, the Council on Occupational Education was a regional accrediting agency for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and accredited institutes in an 11 state region. However, since 1995, the Council on Occupational Education is a national accrediting agency that currently accredits nearly 500 institutions across the United States. There are several other institutions awaiting approval by the prestigious COE.

COE Values, Standards, and Goals

The Council of Occupational Education is committed to the occupational schooling system and ensuring that all students graduate with a certain level of education. Through this accreditation process, students, parents, employers, and the general public can be assured that their educational institution of choice provides quality instruction and facilitates learning by students. The COE performs a peer review and provides guidance to institutions for continual improvement through self-assessment and evaluation. Their goal is to ensure that the schools will provide students with valid job skills, education, and training for continued success in their future careers.

To see a list of the various COE-accredited schools visit the COE website or check the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accreditation. There are several other national and regional accreditation commissions that accredit career and technical schools, which are also listed by the U.S. Department of Education. Regardless of which career school you choose, accreditation acts as the stamp of approval to ensure success in and outside the classroom.

Article Resources:  

Council of Occupational Education
The U.S. Department of Education