International Accreditation Association

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IAA Accreditation Standards for courses and programs

1. Course/program development
   1. The course is created by a subject matter expert
   2. There is value to the knowledge in the course
   3. All facts presented are cited with primary sources
2. Course quality
   1. The instructors are experts in their fields with sufficient experience and knowledge regarding the specific course
   2. The course objectives are clear to the learner 
   3. Any requirements for completing the course, or passing the course, are clearly stated at the beginning of the course
   4. The learner knows if there is prerequisite knowledge required to understand the content in the course
   5. Basic Information is presented to the learner about the creator and/or presenter of the course to support learner confidence
   6. The content is differentiated for learning styles, so there are at least two methods of delivery from the following: reading material, audios, videos, graphics, pictures
   7. There is a process for assessing the knowledge and/or skills the learner has gained in the course
   8. There is a way for learners to get support and have questions answered
   9. The application of knowledge is explained to the learner
      1. Broadly at the beginning of the course
      2. Specifically when skills are introduced
   10. There is opportunity for interaction with the instructor
   11. The learner understands the “why” behind the lessons, e.g., why the skill or knowledge is necessary
   12. For courses longer than 4 weeks, a learner can easily tell how he, she, or they is doing in the course through
       1. Course assessments, or
       2. Check your knowledge questions, or
       3. End-of-lesson summaries
   13. The course includes other recommended resources such as books, communities, social media accounts, etc. to expand learner horizons
3. Course navigation
   1. It is immediately clear to the learner how to get started
   2. Required technology within the course is current and easy to us
   3. There is an introduction to the course to explain such things as the structure, journey, and purpose
   4. Online instruction can be completed at the learner’s own pace
   5. Online courses have written materials that are downloadable
4. Commitment to learners
   1. Learners are provided with Terms and Conditions that include
      1. Cost of services
      2. Length of services
      3. Specifics of services rendered 
      4. Any expectations of the learner
         1. Learners are warned about intellectual property and copyright
      5. Technology the learner needs to have and understand in order to be successful in the course
   2. Learners understand all policies and have a copy for themselves (or can download one)
   3. Learners understand how to have questions answered
   4. Learners understand how to seek a refund
   5. A plan exists for supporting learners if the course can no longer be provided
5. There is a commitment to provide accessibility to a diverse population 
   1. There is evidence of an appreciation for diversity and diverse perspectives
   2. There is evidence of a commitment to support diverse learning needs
6. Continuous Improvement
   1. The course is evaluated internally on a regular basis (at least every three years)
   2. Learner concerns and complaints are taken into consideration for course revision
   3. There is a plan for making improvements to the course
   4. Outside feedback is gathered from at least one of the following:
      1. Learner surveys
      2. Advisory group
      3. Evaluator
      4. Learner questions and comments