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Candidacy Accreditation

Who is candidacy accreditation for?

Newly founded schools, colleges, and institutions — including those yet to reach the three months of taught delivery that a full inspection requires — and established organisations launching a new educational arm. Candidacy answers the chicken-and-egg problem every new institution faces: students want accreditation before enrolling, but accreditors need enrolled students to inspect. Candidacy is the honest, public middle state: under review, on a pathway, held to milestones.

What do inspectors assess?

Candidacy review assesses readiness and trajectory rather than a full track record:

• Governance, ownership transparency, and financial viability to deliver what is promised
• Curriculum plans and staffing arrangements for launch provision
• Premises or platform readiness, and health-and-safety fundamentals
• Safeguarding arrangements where minors will be taught
• Honest marketing: candidacy must be represented as candidacy, never as accreditation
• A milestone plan agreed with Accredo toward full inspection

All criteria derive from the ten Accredo Standards, aligned with the ESG framework.

How does the process work?

1. Register & scoping callCreate an account, complete registration, and join an online knowledge-exploration session so we understand your context.
2. Self-evaluation & evidenceSubmit the application with documentation mapped to the standards above.
3. Desk reviewInspectors assess your evidence and request clarification where needed.
4. InspectionOn-site or virtual: observed teaching, facility review, and interviews with leadership, staff, and students.
5. Report, decision & awardA graded written report goes to the Accreditation Board; successful institutions are accredited for four years.
6. Annual monitoringYearly returns and an agreed improvement plan through to reaccreditation in year four.

Typical duration: three to six months. Institutions must have taught a student cohort for at least three months before inspection. Full detail: the inspection process.

What are the benefits?

• A legitimate, register-listed status to show students and partners from day one
• Mentoring and written guidance toward full accreditation, not just a waiting room
• The full-accreditation inspection is scheduled as soon as the three-month teaching threshold is met
• Candidate access to webinars and the Accredo network
• Lower entry cost, with candidacy fees offset against full accreditation

Frequently asked questions