Who are We?

 

The National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) is an autonomous, independent accrediting commission constituted as a nonprofit Delaware corporation, with its main office located in Alexandria, Virginia. The Commission’s origins date back to 1969, when two accrediting agencies in the field merged to form the Cosmetology Accrediting Commission (CAC). CAC changed its name to “NACCAS” in 1981.

NACCAS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(link is external) as a national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences, including specialized schools. It presently accredits approximately 1,300 institutions that serve over 120,000 students. These schools offer over thirty(30) courses and programs of study that fall under NACCAS’ scope of accreditation.

 

What is Accreditation?

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Accreditation means that a school has met national standards of educational performance that have been established by an impartial nongovernmental agency. The accrediting of schools by professional, national, and regional associations of like schools (schools with similar objectives and subject content) has long characterized the American educational scene. Through the years, accreditation of schools has been the most authoritative and reliable index of a school's concern for integrity toward its students and quality education.

While an accrediting agency is not part of the government, the U.S. Department of Education has officially recognized several agencies. NACCAS is such a nationally recognized accrediting agency under the provisions of Chapter 33, Title 38, U.S. Code and subsequent legislation.

A school becomes accredited by formal action of the Commission. It bases its action on information submitted by the school and the reports of a specially appointed inspection team that has visited the school and evaluated it according to established standards.

Accreditation does not mean that all schools are the same. It does mean that they conform to a set of common minimum standards established by the Commission. These standards demonstrate a wide range of acceptability. No attempt is made by the Commission to determine relative excellence among accredited schools. Therefore, schools are listed alphabetically by states.

Schools are re-evaluated at least once every six (6) years. Continuation of accreditation depends on maintenance of the established standards. If a school fails to maintain the prescribed requirements, an interval of time is allowed for it to correct its deficiencies. If these deficiencies are not remedied during this interval, accreditation is withdrawn.

The Commission meets four (4) times a year in person, and at least four (4) times a year via teleconferencing to service our schools. NACCAS is incorporated in the state of Delaware as a 501(c) nonprofit corporation.

 

Contact Us:

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Telephone: 703-600-7600
Fax: 703-379-2200

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NATIONAL ACCREDITING COMMISSION OF CAREER ARTS & SCIENCES
3015 Colvin St.| Alexandria, VA 22314 Contact NACCAS