To be recognized by CHEA, the accrediting agency must:
- Demonstrate compliance with CHEA’s Institutional Eligibility and Recognition Policy, which places primary emphasis on assuring academic quality
- Be non-governmental
- Accredit institutions or programs in institutions that have legal authority to grant higher education degrees in the U.S. or abroad
- Have written documentation detailing its decision-making process, its policies, and procedures, as well as its scope of accreditation and criteria
- Have self-evaluation procedures in place
- Be operational with more than one institution that it has accredited or has reviewed for accreditation
