International Accreditation

About NWAC / Cognia

The Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools was formed as a voluntary organization on April 5, 1917, with a membership of 25 secondary schools and eight higher institutions in four Northwestern states. Over the decades, its membership expanded to more than 1,900 institutions, accrediting schools across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

In December 1974, the title of the organization was changed to the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. In 2001, it became the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, and in 2004, the name was updated to the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. In 2010, following a restructuring plan, the organization took its current form as the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).

Geography & Evolution

Expanding Beyond the Northwest

The geography of the Northwest accreditation body has changed significantly over the years. In 1988, it was strictly bound to the seven-state northwest region of the United States. In 1991, it joined other regional accrediting associations as part of a voluntary Council of Regional School Accrediting Commissions, opening the door to accrediting schools beyond the traditional region.

The first national school accreditation effort began in 1992 with Togliatti, Russia. Accrediting national and international schools became an important focus in an increasingly global education landscape, especially as English emerged as a key international language.

The Commission

Historically, the school commission maintained a close association with the colleges commission dating back to 1917. Both commissions met together for annual meetings until the mid-1990s. As educational systems evolved, each commission refined its governance structures to focus more directly on its specific mission.

Over time, the school-level commission moved toward clearer and more independent oversight of K-12 accreditation, ensuring that standards, processes, and evaluation methods served the needs of schools and learners more effectively.

Quality, Innovation & Cognia

Third-Party Accreditation

In 1998, the Northwest Association developed a third-party accreditation model. It defined clear quality criteria that partner agencies had to meet or exceed to be recognized. This approach allowed collaboration with organizations serving specific school types while maintaining rigorous standards.

Today, several partner agencies work under this model, extending the reach of accreditation while avoiding duplication of effort for schools.

Evidence-Based School Evaluation

Evidence-Based School Evaluation (EBSE) brought a more integrated approach to accreditation. Standards, reports, and documentation are aligned in a common framework so that school improvement is directly tied to measurable evidence and data.

This shift strengthened the connection between school self-evaluation, external review, and ongoing improvement plans.

NWAC Within Cognia

In 2011, the Northwest Accreditation Commission formally became a division of Cognia. From July 2012 onward, NWAC operations have been fully integrated into Cognia through its Northwest regional office.

Cognia is now recognized globally as a leader in accreditation and school improvement. Through NWAC, it continues to support schools with robust standards, external review processes, and a focus on continuous improvement.