An accreditation built for international cooperation.

In the 21st century, international cooperation and competition encourage parents to make sound choices for their children's education. Ai exists so that parents, students, and institutions can recognize quality wherever it is found.

What We Accredit

Five institutional areas of education.

01

Schools

Kindergarten through 12th grade institutions located inside and outside the United States, providing a national or international course of instruction.

02

Career & Technical

Programs through 12th grade offering specific instruction in career and technical fields, managed through the Council on Occupational Education.

03

Distance Education

Education in which students through 12th grade take academic courses by accessing information and communicating with the instructor asynchronously.

04

Early Childhood

From birth to kindergarten, the education, activities, and experiences in a qualified institution that support developmental changes before elementary school entry.

05

Supplementary Education

Institutions serving kindergarten through 12th grade and addressing particular subject matter, enriched learning opportunities, and student deficiencies.

Standards & Indicators

Goals that elevate every institution.

Our standards are designed to do more than verify what exists. They guide schools toward what they can become.

  • Meet or exceed the standards of notable accreditation organizations
  • Incorporate 21st century skills and international benchmarking indicators
  • Guide schools through structured, continuous improvement
  • Recognize exemplary schools as models for the field
  • Provide systems of schools with uniform standards across institutions

"Standards based on research and international perspectives."

Application Process

Three steps to begin.

I

Submit Application

Complete the online application form with details about your institution, leadership, and program areas.

II

Return Fees

Return the application with the application fee and first-year candidacy fees by check, wire transfer, or credit card.

III

Receive Next Steps

Ai offices send notification confirming candidacy and outline the timeline for self-study and peer review.

Accreditation in the United States is a voluntary, nongovernmental process for evaluating institutions against quality standards. Ai extends that process worldwide.
— The Ai Accreditation Philosophy
Continual Greatness

Three goals of every Ai accreditation.

I

Quality Assurance

Voluntary accountability and a credentialed demonstration that your institution meets defensible standards.

II

Continuous Improvement

Self-study, surveys, site visits, and annual monitoring that turn accreditation into an engine for institutional development.

III

Educational Development

Transparent, democratic practices that improve outcomes for every student your institution serves.

Get Started

Pursue accreditation with a body built for the world your school serves.