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留美选择学校，最重要的就是要先考虑这个学校是否被认证。当你念完书想找事做，你的老板会仔细地看你的文凭。毕业於经过认证的学校，这个时候用处就大了，因为许多公司只会考虑聘用经过认证学校的毕业生。
辛苦来美留学，结果念的却是不被承认的学校，那岂不是太冤枉了。
现在让我们一起来看看美国学校的评审制度。
美国学校如何评审
在美国由一些非营利机构负责评审学院与大学及其学术专业课程，这些机构则由联邦教育部定期审核、监督。虽然有些学校不在乎是否通过评审，不过大部分都希望经由相关机构取得认证。
评估一所学校或一项计划，认证机构通常有下列步骤∶
1) 各校事先准备好的自我评估；
2) 认证机构指定小组审查自我评估，拜访校园，实地探询，作成报告；
3) 认证机构决定是否通过给予认证。
在认证通过前，某些单位获得的是「暂时认证」；不过这不能保证这些单位一定能获得认证。
六个区域认证机构
美国有六个区域认证机构，它们主要功能在评估教育单位，包括公立和私立大学和学院及其他相关学校。这六个机构是∶
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
每一认证机构负责该区各州审核工作
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
负责地区包括：德拉瓦州、哥伦比亚特区、马里兰州、新泽西州、纽约州、宾州、美属波多黎各及维京群岛。
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
该区机构负责审核高等教育及职业训练单位，地区包括康乃狄克州、缅因州、麻萨诸塞州、新罕布夏州、罗德岛和佛蒙特州。
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
负责地区包括：亚利桑那州、阿肯色州、科罗拉多州、伊利诺州、印地安那州、爱阿华州、堪萨斯州、密西根州、明尼苏达州、密苏里州、内布拉斯加州、新墨西哥州、北达科达州、俄亥俄州、奥克拉荷马州、南达科达州、西维吉尼亚州、威斯康辛州和怀俄明州。
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
负责地区包括：阿拉斯加州、爱达荷州、蒙大拿州、内华达州、俄勒冈州、犹他州和华盛顿州。
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
负责地区包括：阿拉巴马州、佛罗里达州、乔治亚州、肯塔基州、路易斯安那州、密西西比州、北卡罗莱纳州、南卡罗莱纳州、田纳西州、德州和维吉尼亚州。
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
负责地区包括加州、夏威夷州和美属萨摩群岛、马里亚纳群岛、关岛。
教育单位认证机构∶
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET);
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
(ACICS); Distance Education and Training Council
教育单位认证与计画认证
除上述六个区域认证机构和教育单位认证机构外，还有一些专业认证机构负责审核学术课程；某些教育单位获得认证，但不保证该单位所有课程都会获得认证。
当你找学校时，最重要的就是学校和课程都要经过认证才行。下面这些机构可以帮你查明认证情况∶
| Programs and Professional Accrediting Agencies
|
| Program |
Accrediting Agency |
| Acupuncture |
National Accreditation Committee for Schools and
Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
| Allied Health |
Commission
on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs |
| Architecture |
National Architectural Accrediting Board |
| Art and Design |
National
Association of Schools of Art and Design |
| Business |
Association
of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs |
| Chiropractic |
The Council
on Chiropractic Education |
| Dance |
National Association of Schools
of Dance |
| Dentistry |
Commission on Dental Accreditation, American
Dental Association |
| Education |
National Council for Accreditation
of Teacher Education |
| Engineering |
Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology, Inc. |
| Environment |
National Environmental Health
Science and Protection Accreditation |
| Health Services Administration |
Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration |
|
Interior Design |
Foundation for Interior Design Education Research |
|
Journalism and Mass Communications |
Accrediting Council on Education
in Journalism and Mass Communications |
| Law |
American Bar Association |
|
Marriage and Family Therapy |
American Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy |
| Medicine |
Liaison Committee on Medical Education,
Association of American Medical Colleges, American Medical Association |
|
Music |
National Association of Schools of Music |
| Naturopathic Medicine |
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education |
| Nurse Anesthesia |
Council
on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthetists Educational Programs |
| Nurse
Midwifery |
Division of Accreditation, American College of Nurse-Midwives |
|
Nursing |
Accreditation Services, National League for Nursing, Inc. |
|
Occupational Therapy |
Accreditation Department, American Occupational
Therapy Association |
| Optometry |
Council on Optometric Education,
American Optometric Association |
| Osteopathic Medicine |
Department
of Education, American Osteopathic Association |
| Pharmacy |
American
Council on Pharmaceutical Education |
| Physical Therapy |
American
Physical Therapy Association |
| Podiatric Medicine |
Council on Podiatric
Medical Education, American Podiatric Medical Association |
| Psychology |
Program Consultation and Accreditation Office, American Psychological
Association |
| Public Health |
Council on Education for Public Health |
|
Rabbinical and Talmudic Education |
Association of Advanced Rabbinical
and Talmudic Schools |
| Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology |
Academic
Affairs and Credentialing Division, American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association |
| Theater |
National Association of Schools of Theatre |
|
Theology |
Association of Theological Schools in the United States
and Canada |
| Veterinary Medicine |
American Veterinary Medicine Association |
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