The education industry has become very competitive these days. Some fly-by-night schools have even come into existence offering courses and post graduate programs that can be completed in a very short duration. It is, thus, always important to make sure that the school and course you are taking are accredited by reputable agencies. In this way, when the time to apply for jobs comes, you won’t have much difficulty getting the nod of prospective companies.

In many countries throughout the world, the department of education and its allied agencies normally do the accreditation. The accreditation of a school is your guarantee on the quality of education they offer and that their curriculum meets certain standards of quality. The most highly regarded MBA accreditation agency that covers all business schools around the world is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The U.S. has six regional accreditation agencies that fall under the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). These are the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASCSC), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) usually accredits smaller and private schools in the U.S. Still another agency is the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

In the United Kingdom, the Association of MBAs (AMBA) is the main accreditation agency for MBA courses. Another agency is the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) which utilizes the EQUIS, a quality assurance system for business schools.

With so many diploma mills in existence these days, taking an accredited MBA program has its advantages. For one thing, you are guaranteed that the course you are taking as well as the school you are enrolled in are legitimate and of quality. This guarantee alone is your key to advancing your career and being hired by some of the best companies. At least, when you are sure of this aspect, you can pursue your MBA studies with peace of mind.

If you’re taking the online and distance learning programs, all the more that you should exercise caution. Thousands of online MBA degrees are awarded every year through the distance learning departments of traditional business schools and many virtual schools are popping up as well. This has led to concerns about substandard schools with no due accreditation offering degrees with lesser work. A 2003 survey covering over 500 business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) around the world, 39 offer online programs and more are being introduced each year.

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