Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation

CITA Alliance

The CITA Alliance is the largest accrediting organization in the world and is comprised of several of the United States regional accrediting organizations and related organizations. The CITA Alliance grew out of CITA, the Council on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation.

Members of the CITA Alliance include:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA CES)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA CASI
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC ACS)
National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
Council on Occupational Education (COE)

NCA's Relationship to CITA

The North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) manages CITA for the CITA Alliance. NCA provides the executive director, technology support, accounting services, and related infrastructure for CITA.

CITA schools that are managed by NCA CASI earn NCA accreditation as well as CITA accreditation. They are considered to be dual accredited and enjoy full recognition and benefits of both accrediting agencies.

Council on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation

The Council on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA) was created in 1994 by the regional accrediting organizations in the United States following a long history of collaboration under other auspices. As a global leader in accreditation, CITA provides systems of accreditation around the world. CITA Standards promote quality schools and continuous improvement to enhance student success. CITA provides standards for new education systems and develops customized accreditation protocols. CITA accreditation engages CITA schools in the world's largest network of accredited schools.

Accreditation is based on meeting the CITA Standards. Accreditation is a voluntary commitment on the part of a school or group of schools to acheive high standards, engage in a common protocol (a systematic process of school improvement), and to participate in peer review of schools. The hallmark of accreditation is that a school is as it represents itself, that it is trustworthy and that it protects the public trust by reaching high standards and acting in a trustworthy manner.