ABET accreditation recognizes the quality of technology, engineering, and applied science programs at universities. Accreditation is voluntary but necessary for graduates to work in certain areas, particularly professional engineering. Schools initiate a self-assessment process and undergo ongoing evaluation to maintain standards. Non-accredited programs may hinder graduates’ employment and graduate program acceptance.
The ABET accreditation is a type of program-specific educational accreditation that recognizes the quality of university-level technology, engineering, and applied science programs. These educational accreditation services are provided by ABET, Inc., an organization formerly known as the Council on Engineering and Technology Accreditation. Although ABET, Inc. is based in the United States, its accreditation services are available to US and international schools. Graduation from an ABET-accredited program can be an important, if not essential, credential for people who wish to work in the areas of study it accredits, particularly in professional engineering. Indeed, some licensing boards, particularly those for professional engineers, will not license candidates who have not graduated from an ABET-accredited program.
Schools wishing to obtain ABET accreditation typically contact ABET, Inc. and initiate a self-assessment process. Once a school determines that it can meet ABET’s criteria, a long process of ongoing evaluation begins, including filling out forms, providing documentation, and field visits by ABET, Inc. employees. Once a program obtains ABET accreditation, it undergoes a renewal process at regular intervals to ensure the school maintains its standards.
Although accreditation is generally a voluntary process, particularly in the United States, schools and programs that are not accredited are often at a competitive disadvantage when compared to accredited institutions. Institutional accreditation is a process that assesses the overall quality of a school, including its educational offerings and institutional stability. This type of general accreditation may not be specific enough to guarantee the quality of certain educational programs in very specialized fields. For this reason, some academic, industry, and professional groups offer specialized accreditation services to ensure the quality and standardization of education in a given discipline. ABET accreditation serves the interests of engineering and applied sciences by ensuring that graduates of its accredited programs have completed a curriculum that meets industry standards.
It is possible for schools to offer programs in engineering or computing without obtaining ABET certification. Its graduates may have significant difficulties obtaining employment or being accepted into graduate programs. This is because many schools, employers and government agencies do not recognize non-ABET certified educational programs. Graduates of programs that lack ABET accreditation may have to take on lower status positions in organizations that do not require graduation from an ABET-accredited program, find ways to practice their profession that do not require licensure, or simply head back to school to graduate from an accredited program.
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