Penn Foster Group Accreditation, Licensing, and Recommendations

Our portfolio of brands offers legitimate, recognized education and career training from high school diplomas to college degrees. Learn more about the accreditation, licensing, and recommendations for each brand below.

Penn Foster, Ashworth College, James Madison High School, and ICS Canada are accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).


Ashworth College offers accredited programs leading to online degrees, certificates, and career training diplomas.


PCDI Canada is a division of Ashworth College and an affiliate of James Madison High School. Download the following public forms provided by the DEAC to accredited institutions:

 

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - Penn Foster High School

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - Penn Foster Career School

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - Penn Foster College

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - ICS Canada Career

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - ICS Canada High School 

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - Ashworth College - Career

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - Ashworth College - Degree

DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public Form - James Madison High School

Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) logo.

Penn Foster Career School is regionally accredited for non-degree granting postsecondary programs, and Penn Foster High School is regionally accredited for grades 9 through adult, by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-662-5603 www.msa-cess.org.

MSA CESS logo.

Penn Foster High School and James Madison High School are accredited by Cognia. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. As a global nonprofit working in over 80 countries, Cognia serves 36,000 institutions, nearly 25 million students, and five million educators every day. Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation at Cognia.org

Accredited Cognia badge.

Penn Foster Career School has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). In obtaining this accreditation, Penn Foster Career School has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Authorized Provider status, Penn Foster Career School is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard. Penn Foster College is also authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its career diploma program that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.

 

IACET CEUs are issued by Penn Foster Career School. Penn Foster Career School is the parent company of ICS Canada. Penn Foster Career School has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. In obtaining this approval, Penn Foster Career School has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is widely recognized as the standard of good practice internationally. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, Penn Foster Career School is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.

Accredited IACET Provider badge.

You can be confident in the credibility of our school. Penn Foster College’s Veterinary Technician Associate Degree Program has FULL Accreditation with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) through their Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). This accreditation “represents the highest standard of achievement for veterinary medical education in the United States. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review."

 

The Ashworth College Veterinary Technician associate degree program is AVMA CVTEA-accredited. Accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities represents “...the highest standard of achievement for veterinary medical education in the United States. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review.”

 Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) Accredited logo.

Penn Foster College has been approved by Arizona SARA Council (AZ SARA) to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

Ashworth College has been approved by Georgia to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Approved Institution badge.

Ashworth College is Authorized by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission to offer instruction in career programs, associate, and bachelor's degree programs.

State of Georgia badge.

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

 

CHEA logo.

PCDI Canada (4276116 Canada Inc.) is approved by the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada as an educational institution which enables us to issue tuition tax credit receipts for our career diploma programs.

 

Employment and Social Development Canada Logo.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is one of the most respected education agencies in the United States. The New York Institute of Art and Design and the New York Institute of Photography is licensed under the demanding standards of NYSED, and all our programs are regularly reviewed and approved by NYSED, ensuring that we maintain the highest standards of education materials, student service and business practices. All NYIAD & NYIP teachers and key staff are licensed by NYSED. A full explanation of NYSED's requirements that pertain to the school is available in our catalog.

 

New York State Education Department Logo.

Licensing

Penn Foster Career School is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools. Penn Foster High School is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools which oversees licensure of programs administered to students over the age of 18. The program name on file with the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools is High School 9-12.

 

Penn Foster College is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and is authorized to award Associate of Science Degrees, Bachelor of Science Degrees, Undergraduate Certificates, and Career Diplomas.

Some Penn Foster Degree and Undergraduate Certificate courses have been reviewed by the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service. The American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT website at www.acenet.edu. Credits earned in Penn Foster programs may transfer to some, but not all, learning institutions. Students who plan to continue their education with another school after earning a degree from Penn Foster should check with that school regarding credit transfer policies. No form of accreditation guarantees that any learning institution will accept credits from any school as transfer credits.

American Council on Education (ACE) logo.

Penn Foster is a Better Business Bureau accredited business with a BBB Rating of A+.

Penn Foster BBB Business Review