Accreditation FAQs
Accreditation is a voluntary system of self-regulation developed to evaluate overall educational quality and institutional effectiveness (The Commission’s complete Purpose Statement is available in Article I, section 2 of its Bylaws).
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), accredits community colleges and other associate degree-granting institutions in the Western region of the U.S. The ACCJC is one of seven regional accrediting commissions.
Accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) assures our students, community, and partners that Cerritos College meets rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness. It affirms that the education students receive here is valuable, transferable, and recognized by employers, licensing agencies, and other institutions. Accreditation also reflects our ongoing commitment to student success, continuous improvement, and institutional integrity.
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to operate by the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.
Institutions begin the eight-year accreditation cycle with a self-evaluation, documented in the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER), to assess alignment with ACCJC Standards. The Accreditation Handbook guides institutions and peer review teams through this process. During the comprehensive review, teams use the ISER to validate findings and identify strengths or areas for improvement. The Commission then reviews both the ISER and team report to determine accreditation status. Cerritos College's next ISER is due to our Accreditation Team on August 1, 2026.
Complaints against Member Institutions
Students and members of the public who desire to file a formal complaint to the Commission about the college should become familiar with the requirements for doing so prior to contacting the Commission. For more details, visit https://accjc.org/complaint-process/.
Complaints against the Commission
Individuals who wish to file a formal complaint to the Commission about the ACCJC should become familiar with the requirements for doing so prior to contacting the Commission. For more details, visit https://accjc.org/complaint-process/.
Third-Party Comments to ACCJC
A third-party comment assists the ACCJC Commission as it considers applications for candidacy, accreditation, or reaffirmation of accreditation. When an institution is undergoing a review, the Commission requires the institution’s chief executive officer to notify the campus community and public of the opportunity for submission of third-party comments and the process for doing so. Any member of the college community or public may submit a third-party comment by completing the Commission’s online third-party comment form, available via the institution’s website or ACCJC’s website. In order to ensure evaluation of applicable third-party comments by the peer review team, third-party comments should be received by the Commission staff no later than five weeks before the peer review team visit. Institutions will be provided an opportunity to review applicable third-party comments.
For more information, visit the ACCJC Third Party Comment webpage.