Higher Education Quality Assurance Systems
NAEYC values the role of higher education in advancing the early childhood education profession. Through its higher education accreditation system, NAEYC provides a mechanism for early childhood associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree programs to demonstrate their commitment to high-quality professional preparation.
Prior to 2020, NAEYC also partnered with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) to grant NAEYC National Recognition to baccalaureate and graduate degree programs that demonstrated their candidate assessments aligned with the NAEYC 2010 Initial and Advanced Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.
Learn more about these two systems—and how to join the group of peer reviewers that help make the accreditation system possible—below.
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Accreditation
Accreditation
NAEYC accredits early childhood associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree programs in the U.S. & its territories.

Recognition
Recognition
Prior to 2020, NAEYC recognized early childhood baccalaureate & graduate degree programs in partnership with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

What's the difference?
What's the difference?
Learn more about the difference between NAEYC's two higher education quality assurance systems.
Higher Education Accreditation Standards
The NAEYC 2010 Initial Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation serve as the basis for NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation decisions.
Higher Education Accreditation Peer Reviewers
The NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation system relies on the service and expertise of volunteer faculty peer reviewers.