Our Work
- Power to the Profession
  Learn about the collaborative initiative to advance a unified early childhood education profession.
- Advancing Equity Initiative
  Read about this initiative focused on equity in early childhood and find other equity-related content.
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice
  Read about NAEYC's DAP framework for high quality education.
- For Families
  Find research-based resources, tips and ideas for families—from child development to reading, writing, music, math, and more!
- Higher Education
  Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice.
- Public Policy and Advocacy
  Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives.
- Global Engagement
  Learn about our work with governments and NGOs around the world to support young children and their teachers.
Resources
- Books
  Learn about and purchase the best books and resources to support young children's learning and development.
- Young Children
  Stay up to date with research-based, teacher-focused articles on birth to age 8 in our award-winning, peer-reviewed journal.
- Teaching Young Children
  Discover practical tips and innovative ideas for preschool teachers in our award-winning magazine.
- Professional Development
  Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our in-person and online training.
- Topics
  Explore key early childhood topics such Developmentally Appropriate Practice, play, and math.
- Blog
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- Position Statements
  Learn about NAEYC’s informed positions on significant issues affecting young children’s education and development.
Events
- Annual Conference
  Discover the latest research and best practices, and engage with our diverse community of professionals!
- Professional Learning Institute
  Ignite and fulfill your professional development goals!
- Public Policy Forum
  Join us at the members-only event and build your advocacy skills, expand your networks, and advance federal and state early childhood policy.
- Week of the Young Child
  Celebrate young children and their families with hands-on activities encouraging movement and healthy lifestyles through music, food, and art.
- Sponsor
  Find a sponsorship opportunity that’s right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals.
- Trainings & Webinars
  Deepen your professional knowledge wherever you are with NAEYC’s exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities.
Accreditation
- Early Learning Program Accreditation
  Discover the benefits of early childhood accreditation, learn about the four step process, find support and resources for your program or login to the accreditation portal.
- Early Learning Accreditation Portal
  Login to the Early Learning Accreditation Portal to take charge of your accreditation process.
- Higher Education Accreditation
  Explore accreditation of early childhood higher education programs, discover the accreditation system standards, and view a list of accredited programs.
- Accreditation Research Databases
  Access accreditation data on early learning and higher education program characteristics and quality for research purposes.
Get Involved
- Learn about Membership
  Join your professional membership association, explore local Affiliates, and access unbeatable member benefits.
- Advance your Career
  Explore jobs in the Career Center and find higher education and professional development opportunities.
- Become an Advocate
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- Join our Communities
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About Us
- People
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- Partner
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- News and Updates
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- Careers at NAEYC
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- Donate
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- Contact Us
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Accreditation of Higher Education Programs

Accreditation of Higher Education Programs

The NAEYC Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs awards accreditation to early childhood degree programs that demonstrate evidence of excellence by meeting the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Standards. The NAEYC accreditation process provides a framework for self-study, external evaluation, and improvement in the quality of teacher preparation programs. The system is committed to continuous improvement and is guided by the Code of Good Practice set forth by the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), of which NAEYC is a member. There are currently 178 institutions in 39 states with NAEYC-accredited programs.

The NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation system is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for a seven-year term beginning May 2021.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized organization logo

Scope of the Accreditation System:

The scope of NAEYC’s higher education accreditation includes programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree levels that prepare candidates to work in the early childhood profession. The degree program must be offered at an institution of higher education that is located in a U.S. state, district, or territory and that is currently accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education.