“Registration” certifies that a local institution/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in The Bahamas has met the criteria for the provision of such services stated in the Education Act and subsequently the National Accreditation & Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) Act. The criteria for registration are designed to provide registered institutions with a foundation for logical development towards accreditation.

The terms ‘Registration’, ‘Accreditation’, and ‘Recognition’ are often [and incorrectly] used interchangeable at times, however, they differ in the following ways:

Registration – “Registration” certifies that a local institution/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in The Bahamas has met the criteria for the provision of such services stated in the Education Act. The criteria for registration are designed to provide registered institutions with a foundation for logical development towards accreditation. Please review more information here: https://www.naecob.org/registration

Accreditation – “Accreditation” is a multitier quality assurance process that evaluates and certifies the credibility, quality, and relevance of a particular service(s), educational programme(s), product(s) and/or activity (ies) provided by locally registered institutions to the general public. Please review more information here: https://www.naecob.org/accreditation

Recognition – “Recognition” is a quality assurance review process for Non-Bahamian Post-Secondary Institutions that already hold [full] accreditation status from international or regional accreditation bodies [recognized by The Bahamas] and seek to offer their academic programmes in The Bahamas. Please review more information here: https://www.naecob.org/recognition

• Have a clearly defined structure of governance which is the final authority with respect to the formulation and implementation of basic policies that govern the institution/provider.

• Have a clearly defined statement of the mission and purpose of the institution/provider in terms of its specific aims and goals within the context of the national goals.

• Have Educational Programmes with clearly defined objectives and be consistent with the institution’s/provider’s mission and purpose.

• Have an evaluation process on which the award of a certificate, diploma, or degree is to be based.

• Have Admissions Policies compatible with its stated mission and instructional objectives.

• Own or have access to sufficient learning resources and services to adequately support the proposed courses and programmes.

• Have sufficient academic, administrative and support staff with the requisite qualifications and experience appropriate for their tasks and to institutions/provider’s mission and purpose.

• Have a plan for the educational, physical, and financial growth of the institution/provider as well as a method of evaluation of its efficiency and effectiveness.

• Disclose all information required by NAECOB for the purpose of evaluating and registering the institution/provider.

Yes.

All institution/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the National Accreditation & Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) Act and as outlined in the Education Act.

If you are aware of an institution that is offering academic programmes but is not registered, kindly bring it to the attention of NAECOB via the ‘complaint form’. This can be accessed at: https://www.naecob.org/forms-resources.

• The Proprietor/Principal/President/Director of the institution/provider seeking registration should obtain copies of the relevant Regulation and Application Form from NAECOB.

• The institution/provider should file an application with NAECOB along with documentation of its conformity with the criteria for registration. This will be the primary source of information to be used in the evaluation of the institution/provider.

• NAECOB will review the application and documentation to make an initial determination of the institution’s /provider’s eligibility for registration. Where the information submitted by an institution/provider is incomplete/unclear, NAECOB shall seek additional clarification from the institution/provider.

• In reviewing the application and documentation, NAECOB will seek the input of professionals/practitioners with appropriate expertise and objectivity, where necessary. It will also seek to verify affiliations/articulations/associations, whether locally or internationally.

• NAECOB will schedule a suitable time for the Registration Evaluation Team to conduct a site visit of the institution/provider. The team will comprise members of NAECOB and when necessary, Professionals/Practitioners with appropriate expertise and objectivity. The purpose of the site visit is to determine the extent to which institution/provider is in conformity with the registration criteria.

• The Registration Evaluation Team will prepare a written report and will communicate to the institution/provider regarding any additional materials or matters in need of attention.

• If approved, NAECOB will forward a letter of registration and a registration certificate to the applicant. The letter of registration informs the institution/provider of the registration decision and specifies the programmes/courses for which the institution is registered and the island on which these services are to be offered. If not approved, the letter will make recommendation for actions if resubmission is desired.

The Registration application is available for download at: https://www.naecob.org/forms-resources. Please note that there is a separate registration application form for Primary & Secondary Schools vs Post-Secondary Institutions.

• The review time for registration application submissions for Post-Secondary Institutions takes a minimum of six (6) months. Please click HERE to view the ‘registration application submission review’ diagram.

• The review time for registration application submissions for Primary & Secondary Institutions takes a minimum of nine (9) months. Please click HERE to view the ‘registration application submission review’ diagram.

All the costs associated with the registration process is located in The Registration Manual that can be downloaded at: https://www.naecob.org/publications.

• If approved, NAECOB will forward a letter of registration and certificate of registration to the applicant. The letter of registration informs the institution/provider of the registration decision and specifies the programmes/courses for which the institution is registered and the island on which these services are to be offered. If not approved, the letter will indicate this, and make recommendations for actions if resubmission is desired.

• Registered institution must submit a comprehensive annual report outlining evidence-based data and information concerning programme and institutional data, organizational activities, and financial performance from the preceding year. This report is due JUNE of each year. The annual report template can be downloaded at: https://www.naecob.org/forms-resources.

• An Institution can begin the application for accreditation candidacy process as soon as they have completed and were successful in the registration process.

An institution whose ‘application for registration’ was successful will be registered by NAECOB for a period of one (1) year.

• [Institution’s Name] has been granted Registered status by The National Accreditation & Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB). The Registered status does not suggest that [Institution’s Name] now has accreditation with NAECOB nor does it guarantee that [Institution’s Name] is ensured eventual accreditation.
• Registered status solely indicates that the institution has currently satisfied one of the several steps in progressing towards being accredited by NAECOB.
• Please direct all inquiries regarding the status of [Institution’s Name] Registration to a representative of NAECOB. Their contact information is outlined below:
  • The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB)
  • Tonique Williams-Darling Hwy & Knowles Dr.
  • P.O. BOX N-3913
  • NASSAU, NP, THE BAHAMAS
  • TELEPHONE: 328-8872/3
  • Email: info@naecob.org