Data / Federal rules / 2026-03953
Regulatory Guidance Relating to the Criteria and Process for Initial Recognition of an Accrediting Agency
The Education Department published this final rule in the Federal Register on February 27, 2026.
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What the agency says
This interpretive rule sets forth the Department's interpretation of certain regulations at the Criteria for Recognition, and the Recognition Process, governing an accrediting agency's submission of a written application seeking initial recognition. In general, the provisions in this interpretive rule are designed to reduce unnecessary barriers to the recognition of accrediting agencies to promote competition in the market for assessing the quality of education or training offered by postsecondary institutions and programs.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-03953
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Interpretive rule
- Agency
- Education Department
- Published
- February 27, 2026
- Dates
- February 27, 2026.
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 34 CFR 602
- Pages
- 4
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Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.