What do accredited programs mean at an international school? Learn the three layers of recognition from Early Years to Grade 12 and how to verify each one.

Accredited Programs at International Schools: What Parents Should Check

Choosing an international school involves more than comparing curricula, facilities or tuition fees. Parents also need to understand how a school and its programmes are licensed, reviewed and formally recognised. For this reason, accredited programs are an important reference point when evaluating educational quality, helping families understand both the value and scope of each form of recognition. This guide explains the main levels of school recognition from Early Years to Grade 12, clarifies what each status means, and shows parents how to verify the information before comparing schools and making a more informed choice.

What do accredited programs mean at school level?

At university level, an accredited program is usually a degree reviewed by a professional body. Schools follow a similar idea, but the vocabulary is different, and the differences matter.

For schools, recognition comes from three directions: national authorities, international accreditation agencies and curriculum organisations. Each uses its own term:

• Licensed: the school has legal permission to operate from the education authorities in its country.

• Accredited: the whole school has passed an external review of its teaching, leadership, student wellbeing and governance.

• Authorised: the school has been approved to teach a specific curriculum, such as an IB programme.

• Member: the school belongs to an association or school group. Membership alone is not a quality review.

Mixing up these terms is one of the most common mistakes families make. "IB-accredited school", for example, is not quite accurate. The IB authorises schools to offer its programmes; it does not accredit schools.

Key differences between school licensing, accreditation and curriculum authorisation.

The Three Layers of School Recognition

It helps to think of school recognition as three separate layers. Each one answers a different question.

Every school in Vietnam must be licensed by the relevant education authorities, while some may also undergo broader quality assessment under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). In addition, international agencies such as CIS, NEASC, ACS WASC, Cognia and COBIS evaluate schools as a whole, covering areas such as teaching, leadership, student wellbeing and governance.

Three layers of school recognition: licensing, accreditation and programme authorisation.

Programme-level authorisation. Curriculum organisations approve schools to offer specific programmes. For example, the IB authorises schools programme by programme. A school normally moves from candidacy through consultation and verification before receiving authorisation, and authorised IB World Schools continue to undergo regular evaluation.

These three layers can exist alongside one another, but they are not interchangeable. A school may be authorised to offer an IB programme without holding CIS or WASC accreditation, while an accredited school may not offer the IB at all. For parents, the key is to check what has been recognised, by whom, and at which level.

What to Check at Each Stage: Early Years to Grade 12

The questions worth asking change as children move through school.

• Early Years (ages 3–5): Focus on the essentials, including the school’s operating licence, safeguarding policies, staff qualifications and adult-to-child ratios. If Early Years is presented as part of the IB, confirm whether it is included within the school’s authorised Primary Years Programme (PYP).

• Primary (ages 6–10): Check which curriculum framework the school follows and whether it is fully authorised or still in candidacy. For IB schools, this means confirming the status of the Primary Years Programme (PYP).

• Middle Years (ages 11–15): Review the status of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) or equivalent pathway, and how it prepares students for the final years of secondary school. For bilingual pathways, ask how both the Vietnamese and international components are approved.

• High School (ages 16–18): Recognition becomes especially important because it can affect university applications. Check whether the school is authorised to offer final qualifications such as the IB Diploma or Cambridge International A Levels. If the programme is still in candidacy, ask about the expected timeline and contingency plan.

What parents should check at each school stage from Early Years to Grade 12.

How to Read and Verify a School's Status

Logos and labels can look alike. This table shows what the most common terms actually mean.

To verify a school's claims yourself:

1. For IB status, search for the school on the IB's official Find an IB World School directory. Each programme is listed separately.

2. For school-level accreditation, check the agency's own directory, such as the CIS member directory, rather than relying on a logo.

3. For Vietnamese licensing and quality assessment, ask the school for its licence details or contact the relevant Department of Education and Training.

4. Check the dates. Accreditation and authorisation are reviewed periodically, so a logo can outlast the status behind it.

Westlink International School: A Connected IB Learning Pathway

At Westlink International School Hanoi, students can follow an IB learning pathway through the authorised Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). Together, these programmes create continuity from primary through middle school, with an emphasis on inquiry, critical thinking, independence and interdisciplinary learning.

Families also have the option of the Bilingual Middle Years Programme, which combines the Vietnamese MOET Replacement Curriculum with the US core curriculum. This provides an additional pathway for students during the middle school years.

Westlink offers a connected IB learning pathway from primary to middle school.

As students progress towards upper secondary, Westlink is continuing to develop its IB pathway. The school is currently a Candidate School for the IB Diploma Programme and is progressing through the IB authorisation process.

Beyond the curriculum, Westlink supports students with personalised guidance on subject choices, university planning and future pathways. Families can explore how each stage connects through Westlink’s learning journey from Early Years onwards.

Questions to Ask on a School Tour

A school tour is a useful opportunity to clarify how a school and its programmes are recognised. The questions below can help families compare schools more consistently. For a broader checklist covering curriculum, safety, teaching and student support, see these school tour questions every parent should ask.

• Which programmes are currently authorised, accredited or still in candidacy?

• Which organisation reviews or recognises the school, and when is the next review?

• How is the school licensed to operate in Vietnam?

• How does the school support students moving between different academic pathways?

• How are families guided on university recognition of final qualifications?

• Where can parents review the school’s safeguarding and inclusion policies?

At Westlink, families can discuss these questions directly with the admissions and academic teams during a school tour, helping them better understand the curriculum, programme recognition and learning pathway before making a decision.

Families can explore Westlink’s learning environment during a school tour.

Frequently Asked Questions about accredited programs

Is IB authorisation the same as accreditation?

No. IB authorisation approves a school to teach a specific IB programme. Accreditation from bodies such as CIS or Cognia reviews the whole school. A school may hold one, both or neither.

Does my child need to attend an accredited school to get into university?

Universities mainly assess the final qualification and the student's results. Whole-school accreditation is a useful quality signal, but it does not decide admission on its own. What matters most is that the school is authorised to teach the qualification your child will finish with.

Are international schools in Vietnam regulated by MOET?

All schools in Vietnam need a licence from the Vietnamese education authorities to operate. Which quality assessment framework applies depends on how each school is licensed, so ask the school for details.

Understanding accredited programs helps parents look beyond facilities, tuition, and curriculum names when evaluating an international school. At Westlink International School Hanoi, families can explore how the IB learning journey is structured, how each stage supports academic growth, and how students are guided toward future study. Parents can book a school tour to experience the learning environment firsthand, meet the academic team, and discuss curriculum, student support, and future pathways—providing a clearer basis for deciding whether Westlink aligns with their child’s long-term goals.