University and College Accountability Network ReportUniversity and College Accountability Network Report

Accreditation

The University of Puget Sound is accredited every 10 years by the Commission on Colleges of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

In addition to institutional accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the following programs have specialized accreditation or status. A complete statement of each program's accreditation or special status follows:

  • The Bachelor of Science Degree in the Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society. 
  • The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Programs leading to professional certification of teachers, principals, and counselors are approved by the Washington Board of Education. Persons obtaining certification for the first time in the state of Washington must meet requirements for moral character and personal fitness, established by the state Board of Education. Complete details on certification can be obtained through the certification office in the School of Education.
  • The School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the accrediting agency designated by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of music curricula in higher education. In the field of teacher education, the NASM cooperates with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The NASM is also a constituent member of the American Council of Education. Baccalaureate programs accredited are the professional degrees in performance, music education, music business, and the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music.
  • The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
  • The Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in accordance with the Standards for Accreditation of Physical Therapy Educational Programs. Accreditation qualifies the physical therapy graduate to take the licensing examination offered by any of the 50 states.

Enrolled or prospective students wishing to review documents describing the university's accreditation may do so in the Associate Deans' Office, Jones Hall, Room 212.