Accreditations and licensures

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP®) is one of three major internationally active organizations that accredit business schools and programs. The other two are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

ACBSP standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of teaching institutions with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship.

Business programs accredited by ACBSP 

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Bachelor of Science in Business
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Management
• Master of Science in Accountancy
• Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Management

Why accreditation makes a difference

Only about one in three business schools offers programs accredited by a programmatic accrediting body, making University of Phoenix part of an elite group in the higher education community for business students.

ACBSP Global Business Accreditation is a registered trademark of ACBSP Inc.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs at University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE is recognized as a specialized accrediting body focusing on baccalaureate and graduate education nursing programs. For additional information, visit aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
One Dupont Circle, NW
Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120

University of Phoenix initial degree programs lead to teaching certification (Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Level, Secondary and Special Education) in certain states. The College of Education offers state-specific initial programs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Virginia. University of Phoenix advanced degree programs (Administration & Supervision, Curriculum & Instruction/Reading, and Teacher Leadership) may lead to certification in some states. The College of Education offers state-specific advanced programs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Individual programs vary by state, and not all programs are available at all locations or in both online and on-campus modalities.

Candidates may request an institutional recommendation upon successful completion of their program (academic and program requirements). Candidates should check with their state agency for any state-specific requirements, including the acceptability of the University's initial programs in any state in which they intend to seek licensure or certification. Program requirements are subject to change based on state certification requirements. Please speak to a campus representative for a listing of programs available at each campus location.

Only the Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Arizona campuses) and the Master of Science in Counseling/Mental Health Counseling (Utah) programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP®), a specialized accrediting body. For additional information, visit cacrep.org.

CACREP Global Business Accreditation is a registered trademark of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

University of Phoenix is approved to operate in most U.S. states and other countries, either through licensure, registration, general or specific approvals, consent or exemption. Specific approval-related statements that are required by some states or provinces are as follows: 

Florida: Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2308. 

Georgia: Authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990.

Illinois: University of Phoenix is authorized to operate as a post-secondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, 431 E. Adams, 2nd Floor, Springfield, IL 62701-1404, www.ibhe.org.

Indiana: Fully accredited by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education. AC-0188. Indianapolis Campus: 7999 Knue Rd., Stes. 100 & 500, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

Maryland: Registered with the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Ohio: Registration Number 1154320. Cleveland Main Campus: 3401 Enterprise Pkwy., Ste. 250, Beachwood, OH 44122.

Oklahoma: University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. University of Phoenix was placed on Notice by The Higher Learning Commission, effective June 27, 2013. Notice is a Commission sanction indicating that an institution is pursuing a course of action that, if continued, could lead it to be out of compliance with one or more Criteria for Accreditation. An institution on Notice remains accredited. At the end of the Notice period, The Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees may remove the sanction, place the institution on Probation if the identified concerns have not been addressed, or take other action. For additional information, contact The Higher Learning Commission, ncahlc.org. College credit granted by University of Phoenix. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

Puerto Rico: University of Phoenix operates under a renewal license granted by the Puerto Rico Council on Education.

South Carolina: Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. South Carolina Campus: 1001 Pinnacle Point Dr., Columbia, SC 29223.

Tennessee: Knoxville Campus: 10133 Sherrill Blvd., Ste. 120, Knoxville, TN 37932. Memphis Campus: 65 Germantown Ct., Ste. 100, Cordova, TN 38018; Nashville Campus: 616 Marriott Dr., Ste. 150, Nashville, TN 37214; Chattanooga Learning Center: 1208 Pointe Centre Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37421. Clarksville Learning Center: 141 Chesapeake Dr., Clarksville, TN 37040; Murfreesboro Learning Center: 2615 Medical Center Pkwy., Murfreesboro, TN 37129.

Virginia: The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has certified University of Phoenix, Richmond Campus, to operate in Virginia. University of Phoenix, Richmond Campus, 9750 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, VA 23060.

University of Phoenix also maintains voluntary memberships with numerous organizations, including: 

Institutional:

• American Council on Education®
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation®
• Consortium for the Advancement of Adult Higher Education
• Educause
• League for Innovation
• Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Cooperative for Educational Technologies

College extension:

• ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)
• International Society for Technology in Education

Advanced studies:

• Council of Graduate Schools
• International Leadership Association

Business:

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• American Accounting Association
• American Institution of Certified Public Accountants
• Arizona Quality Alliance
• Manufacturing Institute
• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
• Project Management Institute
• Society for Human Resource Management

Criminal justice:

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• American Correctional Association
• American Jail Association
• ASIS International
• FBI National Academy Associates
• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
• National Sheriffs’ Association
• Police Executive Research Forum

Education:

• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• Council of Chief State School Officers
• National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
• State Consortium on Educator Effectiveness
• Teacher Education Accreditation Council

Information systems and technology:

• Association for Computing Machinery
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Natural sciences:

• American College of Healthcare Executives Higher Education Network
• Association of University Programs in Health Administration

Nursing:

• Arizona Nurses Association
• California Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties

Social sciences:

• Center for Credentialing and Education
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
• Council for Standards in Human Services Education
• National Board for Certified Counselors International
• National Organization for Human Services
  

American Council on Education is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education.
Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.