Accreditation is the process whereby a professional association or nongovernmental agency grants recognition to a school or program, acknowledging its ability to meet predetermined established criteria or standards. Accreditation includes approval of governance, curriculum, and quality of its faculty, adequacy of facilities, library, equipment, laboratories, and assessment. To assure its stature and academic excellence, a college obtains accreditation from both regional and national agencies and professional organizations and joins certain accrediting organizations.

College Accreditation Agency

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC)

Pierpont Community & Technical College was recognized as an independent institution and separately and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in April 2008. Pierpont received reaffirmation and continued accreditation in July 2014. Pierpont will host its next comprehensive evaluation in 2023-2024.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation, which was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits, and thereby grants membership in the Commission, to degree-granting educational institutions in the North Central region: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The complaint process is designed to identify substantive problems with an institution’s ability to meet the Criteria for Accreditation. HLC’s policy on complaints provides a full description of the type of complaints that HLC will review.

View the HLC website to file a complaint.

Contact Information:
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC)
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604

800-621-7440
info@hlcommission.org
hlcommission.org

Programs with Specialized Accreditation Agencies

Dietetic Technician Program (AAS)
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 899-0040; Ext. 5400
(3012) 899-4817 Fax
eatrightpro.org/ACEND

Emergency Medical Services (AAS)
Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professional (CoAEMSP)
3301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8445
(214) 703-8992 Fax
coaemsp.org

Drafting & Design (AAS), Graphics Technology (AAS)
Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
1390 Eisenhower Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 677-0720
ATMAE.org

Food Service Management (AAS)
American Culinary Federation Education Foundation’s Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC)
180 Center Place Way
St. Augustine, FL 32095
(800) 624-9458
acfchefs.org

Health Information Technology (AAS)
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
200 East Randolph Street, Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60601-5800
cahiim.org

Medical Laboratory Technology (AAS)
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
(847) 939-3597
naacls.org

Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
800-999-2782
capteonline.org/home.aspx

Respiratory Care (AAS) (Probationary Status)
Commission on the Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) 

P.O. Box 54876
Hurst, TX 76054-4876
(817) 283-2835
(817) 354-8519 Fax
coarc.com

Veterinary Technology (AAS) (Probationary Status)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4361
(800) 248-2862
avma.org

Licensed Practical Nursing (CAS)
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses (WVBELPA)
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
(877) 558-LPNS
lpnboard.state.wv.us