Higher Council for Distance Education
Independent accreditation for online & distance education.
HCDE evaluates institutions, training centers and online programs against published standards. Every decision is recorded, so learners, employers and partner institutions can check it for themselves.
- Private & independent
- Published standards
- Verifiable decisions
Where to begin
Choose your path
Three ways to work with HCDE, depending on what needs to be accredited or reviewed.
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01
Institutions
Universities, colleges, institutes and schools seeking institutional accreditation.
Institutional accreditation
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02
Training Centers & Online Programs
Training providers and distance-learning programs seeking accreditation or program recognition.
Training & online programs
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03
Professionals
Individuals who want their qualifications and experience reviewed and documented.
Credential review
Credential Review is a private evaluation service. It is not an official attestation or a government-issued verification.
A decision is only useful
if it can be checked.That is the idea behind everything HCDE publishes: the standards, the process, the reasons for each decision and the registry.
Accreditation standards
Eight standards. One clear framework.
Accreditation is awarded on evidence against standards that are written down and published. Choose one to see what is assessed and what reviewers look for.
Mission and Governance
A clear mission, accountable governance and transparent ownership.
What is assessed
- A written mission that says who the institution serves and what it offers, and that the institution actually acts on.
- Legal status and ownership that are documented and can be disclosed to HCDE and, where relevant, to the public.
- A governing body or accountable owner with defined responsibilities, separate from day-to-day management.
- Rules on conflicts of interest that cover owners, governors, managers and staff.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Registration or incorporation documents and a statement of ownership
- Governance charter, terms of reference and a summary of recent decisions
- Organisation chart showing who is accountable for academic matters
Academic Integrity
Honest admissions, fair assessment and real protection against misconduct.
What is assessed
- Published entry requirements that are applied consistently, with a fair route for applicants whose evidence is unusual.
- Assessment designed so that the work being marked is the learner's own, in a way that fits the level and the online setting.
- A written policy on plagiarism, cheating and other misconduct, with a fair procedure and a right to respond.
- Honest description of what each qualification is and is not: no misleading claims about recognition, equivalence or licensing.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Admissions policy and a selection of anonymised admission decisions
- Academic misconduct policy and an anonymised log of cases and outcomes
- Examples of assessment design and the measures that protect their integrity
Programs and Learning Outcomes
Programs with defined outcomes, level and credit that mean what they say.
What is assessed
- Learning outcomes written for each program and course, stated in terms of what learners can do.
- A stated level and a stated amount of learning (credit or hours) with a reasoned basis, so that the same words are not used for very different amounts of work.
- Content and assessment that match the outcomes, and a clear map showing how they do.
- A defined process for approving new programs and for reviewing existing ones, involving subject experts and, where relevant, employers.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Program specifications and course outlines
- Outcome-to-assessment maps
- Records of program approval and periodic review
Faculty and Instructors
Qualified teaching staff who are supported, supervised and evaluated.
What is assessed
- Instructors whose qualifications or experience suit the subject and level they teach, with credentials checked by the institution.
- Preparation and ongoing development for teaching and assessing online.
- A clear expectation of how quickly and how often instructors respond to learners, and a way to see that it happens.
- Evaluation of teaching, using learner feedback and academic review, with action when quality is low.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Staff profiles with qualifications and the checks made on them
- Induction and development records for online teaching
- Teaching evaluation results and follow-up actions
Learner Support
Guidance, access and fair treatment from first enquiry to completion.
What is assessed
- Clear information before enrolment: total cost, requirements, technology needed, expected workload and any limits on what the qualification can be used for.
- A proper start: onboarding that shows learners how the platform, assessment and support work.
- Academic guidance and a technical help route that learners can actually reach.
- Accessibility and reasonable adjustments for learners with disabilities or other needs.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Pre-enrolment information pack and enrolment agreement
- Onboarding materials and records
- Help-desk and advising arrangements and how contact is monitored
Technology and Delivery
Reliable platforms, protected data and accessible online delivery.
What is assessed
- A learning platform and tools that are reliable enough for the programs delivered on them, with scheduled support and maintenance.
- Protection of learner data and privacy that follows the law that applies, with clear rules on who can see what.
- Course materials and tools that follow recognised accessibility guidelines, and that work on the devices and connections learners realistically have.
- Backup, recovery and continuity arrangements, so that learners keep access to materials and results.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Description of the platform and its support arrangements
- Privacy and data protection policy, with the records that show it is followed
- Accessibility review of materials and tools
Assessment and Records
Secure assessment, and accurate records of achievement that can be verified.
What is assessed
- Assessment methods matched to the outcomes being tested, with published marking criteria.
- Marking that is checked: second marking, moderation or another way to confirm that standards are applied consistently.
- A fair route for learners to query a result and to appeal it.
- Accurate transcripts and certificates, issued under a controlled process with unique numbers.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Assessment briefs, marking criteria and moderation records
- Results appeals policy and a record of cases
- Example transcripts and certificates, with the numbering and issue process
Continuous Improvement
Evidence-led review, with a plan that changes what needs changing.
What is assessed
- Regular collection of feedback from learners, instructors and, where relevant, employers.
- Use of the institution's own data on completion, progression and results to judge whether programs work.
- Documented improvement plans with owners and dates, and a record of what was done.
- Periodic review of every program, not only when a problem appears.
Evidence reviewers look for
- Survey instruments and a summary of results over time
- Program review reports and the actions that followed
- Improvement plan with a record of progress
The route
How accreditation works
Six stages, from the first enquiry to a status that stays current. Select a stage to see what happens, what you provide and what HCDE provides.
1. Inquiry
You tell HCDE about your institution, training center or program and what you want accredited. We explain the standards, the route and the fee structure, and say whether you appear eligible.
You provide
A short description of your organisation and of what you want accredited.
HCDE provides
Information, and a recommendation on the route that fits.
2. Application
You submit the application with the supporting documents: legal status, ownership, authorisation to operate, and a description of the programs and how they are delivered. HCDE checks it for completeness and confirms the scope of the review.
You provide
The application and the documents on the checklist.
HCDE provides
Written confirmation that the application is accepted, with the scope and fees.
3. Self-Study
You assess yourself against each of the eight standards, with evidence. A good self-study names its weaknesses and says what will be done about them.
You provide
The self-study, and the evidence it refers to.
HCDE provides
A template, a guide and answers to your questions.
4. Review
A review team, free of conflicts of interest, examines the self-study and the evidence. It may ask for more, speak with staff and learners, and test samples of records. It reports its findings against each standard.
You provide
Access to evidence and to people.
HCDE provides
A draft report that you can comment on before it goes to the committee.
5. Decision
The Accreditation Committee considers the report and your response, and decides. The decision is sent in writing with its reasons. If accreditation is granted, a certificate and a registry entry follow.
You provide
Your response to the draft report.
HCDE provides
A written decision, a certificate if accredited, and the right to appeal.
6. Annual Monitoring
Each year an accredited body sends HCDE a short annual report. HCDE reviews it, follows up on recommendations and conditions, and records any change in status. Significant changes are reported when they happen.
You provide
The annual report, and prompt notice of significant changes.
HCDE provides
A review of the report, and an up-to-date registry record.
Certificates
A certificate that can be checked.
HCDE issues three kinds of certificate, each with its own design. Every one carries a registration number, a certificate number, its dates and a QR code that leads to its record in the registry. Select a design to see it larger.
The designs are shown with empty fields. A certificate is issued only with a decision, and each one can be verified through the registry.
Registry & verification
A public registry, built to be checked.
Every accreditation decision is recorded with a registration number, a certificate number and its period of validity. Anyone can verify a certificate directly, without asking the institution.
Enter the number exactly as printed on the certificate, or scan the QR code on it.
- Registration and certificate numbers on every record
- Validity dates and current status, stated plainly
- Public notices when a status is suspended or withdrawn
In the registry
The HCDE founding network
Each body below has a record and a certificate that can be verified in the registry. Where an accreditation takes effect on a later date, its record says so. Select one to read it.
AIPCAlpine Institute for Professional CertificationAustria
ACALAmerican Council for Applied LearningUnited States
ACLAAndean Council for Learning AssuranceColombia
ABLIAsian Board for Learning InnovationJapan
ABPEAtlantic Board for Professional ExcellencePortugal
AADLAurora Academy for Digital LearningFinland
BIIRBaltic Institute for Institutional ReviewEstonia
CBEQCaribbean Board for Educational QualityBarbados
CEATQCentral European Academy for Training QualityCzech Republic
CBASCommonwealth Board for Academic StandardsCanada
EAITSEast African Institute for Technical StandardsKenya
GAHESGlobal Academy for Health Education StandardsCanada
Services
What HCDE does
HCDE specialises in the accreditation of institutions, training centers and online programs. It also offers two related services, described plainly below.
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I
Details
Institutional Accreditation
Evaluation of universities, colleges, institutes and schools against the HCDE standards, with a written decision and a public registry entry.
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II
Details
Training Centers & Online Programs
Accreditation for training providers, and recognition for distance-learning programs that meet the standards for delivery, assessment and records.
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III
Details
Business Accreditation
A review of an organisation's own training and quality practices, for businesses that run learning programs for their people.
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IV
Details
Credential Review & Equivalency
A private evaluation of an individual's qualifications and experience. It is an assessment service, not an official attestation.
Governance & independence
Independent by design.
HCDE is a private, independent, non-governmental body. Its accreditation rests on its own published standards and does not constitute governmental recognition.
Published standards
What we assess is written down, in full, before you apply.
Documented decisions
Each decision carries its reasons, and the record can be verified.
Open appeals
If you disagree with a decision, there is a defined route to challenge it.
- The CouncilAdopts the standards and policies. Does not decide cases.
- Accreditation CommitteeTakes each accreditation decision on the evidence.
- Review teamsExamine the evidence and report. They recommend, they do not decide.
- Appeals PanelHears appeals. No member took part in the decision.
Questions
Straight answers.
The questions we are asked most often, answered in plain words.
Is HCDE accreditation the same as government recognition?
No. HCDE is a private, independent, non-governmental body. Its accreditation rests on its own published standards and does not constitute governmental recognition. If you need a qualification to be recognised for a job, a licence or further study, ask the relevant authority what it accepts.
Who can apply for accreditation?
Institutions, training centers and providers of online or distance programs that are lawfully established, can show who owns and controls them, and have been operating long enough to have records for HCDE to examine.
Can an institution pay to be accredited?
No. Fees pay for the review, whatever its outcome. The decision is taken by a committee on the evidence, and HCDE does not sell consultancy to bodies it is reviewing.
What happens if I disagree with a decision?
You can appeal in writing. The appeal is heard by a panel whose members took no part in the decision, and the outcome comes with reasons.
How do I check that a certificate is genuine?
Search the registry by registration number, certificate number or name, or scan the QR code printed on the certificate. Both lead to the same record, which shows the status as it is today.
What is Credential Review?
A private evaluation of an individual's qualifications and experience. It is an assessment service and is not an official attestation or a government-issued verification.
News & Insights
Useful reading
Plain-language guidance for learners, employers and institutions on judging quality in online and distance education.
For learners and employers
How to judge an accreditation claim
Many institutions say they are accredited. A few simple questions show quickly whether the claim means anything.
October 2026
For institutions
Writing a self-study that actually helps you
The self-study is the most useful part of accreditation for the institution that writes it, if it is written to find problems rather than to hide them.
October 2026
Quality in practice
What good online education looks like to a reviewer
Reviewers of distance education look beyond the platform. They ask whether a learner who studies alone can start well, keep going, be fairly assessed and hold a record that means something.
October 2026
Plain-language guide
Accreditation, recognition and licensing: three different things
The words are often used as if they meant the same. They do not, and the difference matters when you choose a program or describe your own.
October 2026
Resources
Everything you need to prepare.
Guides, checklists and the policies that govern how HCDE works, published in full so there are no surprises.
Begin with a conversation.
Tell us about your institution, training center or program, and we will explain the route that fits.