A public directory listing matters because accreditation has value only when other people can check it. A claim that cannot be verified asks the reader to trust the claimant. A claim that appears in an independent public record can be confirmed in a minute by a student, an employer or a partner, and false claims are exposed just as quickly. For accredited institutions, being verifiable is therefore part of what accreditation is for.
The European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) maintains several public lists: accredited institutions, certified individuals, recognized institutions, ECS certified providers and suspended and revoked members. This article explains why verifiability matters to each audience, what the lists contain, how an institution can use its listing well and what a listing does not prove.
Why Verifiability Matters
- For learners and parents: they can confirm that the institution or course is reviewed before they pay.
- For employers and universities: they can check a qualification’s source without contacting the institution.
- For partners: due diligence is faster, and status changes become visible.
- For the institution: its claim is credible because it is checkable, and misuse of its name by others is easier to expose.
- For the accrediting body: public records make it accountable for its decisions and its list.
The EAHEA Lists
| List | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Accredited Institutions | Institutions, programs and courses holding EAHEA accreditation, searchable by name or certificate number |
| Recognized Institutions | Organizations in a recognition partnership with EAHEA |
| ECS Certified Providers | Providers approved to use the EAHEA Credit Systems with an ECS Provider Certificate: institution, country, credit systems, validity dates |
| Suspended and Revoked Members | Institutions that are not in good standing, with a short reason, published for five years |
| Certified Individuals | Individuals holding EAHEA certifications, so that employers can verify their status |
The directories are search-based in places: the member directory is never published as a whole list, and searches need a minimum of characters, to protect against scraping.
What a Record Shows
A record typically shows the name, the country, the type of accreditation or service, the scope, the dates and the status. For institutions, services such as certificates and programs may be listed. Records answer the questions that matter first: is it listed, for what, until when and in what standing.
Verification Works Both Ways
A public record helps honest institutions and exposes dishonest ones. A genuine accreditation is easy to confirm. A false claim, such as a seal with no listing, a listing in a different name or an expired date, is easy to find. An institution that is suspended or revoked appears in the list of members not in good standing, with a short reason, for five years from the decision date, after which it is removed from the directory while its records remain in the EAHEA archive.
Using the Listing Well
- Link to your record from your website, brochures and certificates, with the certificate number.
- Keep your public information consistent with the record: name, address, website.
- Tell staff and agents how to find the record and to explain it correctly.
- Check the record after each renewal and each change of status.
- Answer verification requests quickly.
See how universities should display accreditation status on their websites.
Accountability Built in
A listing carries duties. Accredited institutions must keep contact details current, report changes, follow the Code of Ethics and the logo rules and answer EAHEA requests, and EAHEA may check compliance with or without notice and examine third-party complaints. The public can use the complaint form for accredited, member or recognized institutions. See what happens if accreditation lapses.
What a Listing Does Not Prove
- It does not prove legal authorization in the institution’s country, which depends on national law.
- It does not prove that a particular program or course is accredited unless that item is itself listed.
- It does not rank the institution or compare it with others.
- It does not guarantee admission, credit transfer, visas or jobs.
- Recognition partners and ECS certified providers are not accredited institutions, and each list says what its entries are.
Privacy and Fairness
Directories show only what is needed to verify status, and they limit bulk access. Records of individuals, where kept, are designed to confirm status and not to expose personal details. An institution that thinks a record is wrong can contact the Secretariat. See how to verify an accredited institution in a public directory. Fees follow the World Bank country income classification and are listed on the Service Fees page. Apply online or contact the Secretariat.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Because accreditation is valuable only when others can check it. A public record lets anyone confirm a claim, and exposes false ones.
Accredited institutions, certified individuals, recognized institutions, ECS certified providers and suspended and revoked members.
No. The member directory is search-based and is not published as a whole list.
Five years from the decision date, with a short reason, after which the institution is removed from the directory.
No. Legal authorization depends on national law. EAHEA accreditation is voluntary and non-governmental.
By linking to its record with the certificate number from its website and materials, keeping details consistent and answering verification requests quickly.