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Accreditation Facts State licensing and degree recognition, from the record

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How Degree Level Affects Recognition: Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Accredited Online Programs

How to read a degree-level requirement

A degree-level requirement should be read in the order the receiving body uses it.

First, identify the level named in the requirement. If the requirement says “bachelor’s degree,” a lower credential usually does not meet it. If it says “master’s degree in counseling,” the graduate level and the field both matter. If it says “doctoral degree from an accredited program,” the specific programmatic accreditation may be central.

Second, verify the accreditation requirement. Institutional accreditation is checked through the accreditor or the U.S. Department of Education database. Programmatic accreditation is checked through the field accreditor, such as the APA Commission on Accreditation for applicable psychology programs.

Third, confirm the documentation route. Employers may ask for transcripts or degree verification. Graduate schools may require official transcripts and prerequisite review. Licensing boards may require official transcripts, program forms, supervised-hour documentation, exam results, or direct verification from the institution.

Bottom line

Degree level affects recognition because it determines whether the credential matches the education level required by the receiving body. Accreditation supports recognition of the institution or program, but the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level determines whether the degree fits the specific employment, graduate admission, or licensing requirement being reviewed.

Sources

  1. Higher Learning Commission, University of Phoenix institutional record, hlcommission.org/institution/1949/

  2. U.S. Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home

  3. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualification Policies, opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/

  4. National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

  5. College Scorecard, collegescorecard.ed.gov

  6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Pays, bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm

  7. APA Commission on Accreditation, accredited programs, accreditation.apa.org