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.
Licensing
A licence or authorisation to operate is given by a government authority. It decides whether an institution may lawfully offer education or award degrees in a particular country or state. Only the authority concerned can say who holds it.
Recognition
Recognition is an official acknowledgement, by a government or a body that governments have empowered, that a qualification or an institution counts for a purpose such as a job, a licence to practise or entry to further study. It depends on the country and the purpose.
Accreditation by a private body
A private accrediting body reviews an institution or program against standards it has published, and decides whether those standards are met. Its judgement is only as strong as its independence and transparency. It does not, by itself, grant a licence or official recognition.
HCDE's position
HCDE is a private, independent, non-governmental body. Its accreditation rests on its own published standards and does not constitute governmental recognition. An institution accredited by HCDE should say exactly that and should never describe the accreditation as a licence or as governmental approval.
What this means for you
- If you need a qualification for a regulated profession or for a government job, ask the relevant authority what it accepts.
- If you are choosing a program, ask for the licence or authorisation of the institution, and, separately, for details of any private accreditation.
- If you run an institution, describe each status separately and accurately.
Questions before you begin?
Write to HCDE and we will explain the route that fits your institution, program or situation.