Accredited Schools and How to Verify an International School Almost every international school displays a series of accreditation badges: CIS, WASC, IB, COBIS. Each logo answers a distinct question about quality and standards. Accredited schools undergo comprehensive evaluations by independent organisations to verify that they meet rigorous educational standards. For expatriate and local families relocating to Hanoi, understanding these credentials prevents costly mistakes and ensures seamless school transitions. This guide clarifies each badge, highlights the difference between whole-school accreditation and IB authorisation, and provides step-by-step instructions to verify any international school independently. What Is an Accredited School Accreditation is a form of external quality assurance. A recognised organisation sets the standards, and the school evaluates itself against them. A visiting team then checks the evidence. If the school meets the standards, it is granted accredited status for a defined period. Accreditation is different from a licence to operate. A licence allows a school to run legally. Accreditation is usually voluntary. It asks whether the school delivers on its own mission, consistently and safely. International education experts participate in a collaborative school quality evaluation and review process. What accreditation reviews Most accreditation frameworks examine five broad areas: Leadership and governance Curriculum, teaching and learning Student wellbeing and safeguarding Resources, staffing and facilities Commitment to continuous improvement Reviewers speak with leaders, teachers, parents and students. They observe lessons and read school documents. The aim is to confirm that what a school promises on paper happens in its classrooms. Accreditation is not a one-time award Accredited status runs in cycles that usually last several years. Between full reviews, schools typically submit progress reports. A school can be accredited with conditions, placed on notice, or lose its status if standards slip. That is why the date of the most recent review matters as much as the logo itself. Who Accredits International Schools Several organisations accredit international schools. Each has its own focus, and the right one depends largely on the curriculum and the pathway your child is likely to follow. Organisation Main focus Often relevant for Where to check CIS International mindedness, wellbeing, safeguarding, whole-school improvement Families likely to move between countries CIS directory WASC (ACS WASC) Whole-school effectiveness and student learning US-style diplomas and transcripts ACS WASC school search NEASC Whole-school standards, with an international division US-linked and international schools NEASC directory COBIS Standards for British schools overseas British curriculum schools COBIS member search Cognia Whole-school improvement US-linked schools worldwide Cognia directory Council of International Schools (CIS) The Council of International Schools is a non-profit membership organisation founded in 1949. Its accreditation is designed specifically for international schools. It gives weight to intercultural learning, global citizenship, student wellbeing and safeguarding. CIS reports more than 1,610 member schools and universities in 121 countries. Membership alone is not accreditation, so check the status shown for each school. WASC and NEASC WASC and NEASC are long-established US regional accreditors. Each has a branch that reviews schools outside the United States, including in Asia. A WASC or NEASC accredited school issues transcripts that US colleges can trace back to a recognised accreditor. This can help when a student applies to universities in North America or transfers into a US-system school. Many international schools pair one of these with CIS, sometimes through a joint review visit. COBIS and other accreditation bodies The Council of British International Schools (COBIS) works with British schools overseas. Its accreditation process checks schools against British expectations, including safeguarding. Cognia, a US-based organisation, accredits schools in many countries. Education bodies from countries such as Canada and Australia may also accredit schools that teach their curricula abroad. Accreditation vs IB Authorisation This is the distinction that confuses families most. Accreditation reviews the whole school. IB authorisation confirms that a school may teach a specific International Baccalaureate programme. A school can hold either, both or neither. One does not replace the other, because they answer different questions. school accreditation and IB authorisation provide distinct forms of external quality assurance. What IB authorisation confirms The IB offers four programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Diploma Programme (DP) Career-related Programme (CP) Each programme needs its own authorisation. Before authorising a school, the IB checks that it has the leadership, trained teachers, resources and planning to deliver the programme as intended. Authorised schools are known as IB World Schools. They take part in regular programme evaluations after authorisation. Because authorisation is granted programme by programme, a school may be authorised for one programme while still working towards another. Always check which programmes are listed, not just the IB logo. Candidate school vs authorised school A candidate school has been accepted by the IB into the authorisation process. It is preparing to teach the programme with IB support, but it has not yet been authorised. The IB requires candidate schools to state clearly that candidate status does not guarantee authorisation. For families, candidate status is not a red flag in itself. Every IB World School was once a candidate. What matters is transparency: a clear timeline, an honest account of progress, and a plan for students if that timeline changes. Why many schools hold both IB authorisation tells you that a programme is delivered to IB standards. Whole-school accreditation tells you that the rest of the school, from governance to pastoral care, has been independently reviewed. Schools that hold both give families two separate layers of assurance. Reading a School Status Badge Schools often use similar words for very different things. The table below shows what each common label usually means, and what it does not. Label What it usually means What it does not mean Accredited The whole school has been reviewed by an independent body and meets its standards That every programme is externally authorised Authorised (IB) The IB has approved the school to teach a named programme That the whole school is accredited Candidate The school has been accepted into an authorisation or accreditation process That the status will be granted Member The school has joined an organisation such as CIS or COBIS That the school has been accredited Partner The school works with a provider, publisher or network Any form of external quality review If a label is unclear, ask the school three things: which organisation granted it, when, and where you can see it listed. WASC accreditation certificate confirms the school meets established educational quality standards. Why Accreditation Matters for Your Child Accreditation does not make a school the right fit on its own. It does give families useful assurance in three areas. Moving between schools and countries Internationally mobile families often change schools part-way through a child's education. When a student arrives from an accredited school, the new school can interpret their records more easily. Placement still depends on the receiving school's own assessment. Transcripts and university applications Universities consider the full picture, including curriculum, grades and the school's profile. Recognised accreditation can help admissions teams trust a transcript they have not seen before. This is especially relevant for US-style diplomas. For IB students, the IB Diploma is widely recognised by universities in its own right. Check each university's requirements early, as they vary by country and course. Safeguarding and wellbeing standards Child protection features in most accreditation frameworks. Reviewers check policies, staff recruitment, training and reporting procedures. Whatever a school's status, ask to see its safeguarding policy and how it works in practice. How to Verify a School Yourself A school's website is a good starting point, but it is not proof. Status changes over time, and web pages are not always updated straight away. Official directories are the most reliable source. Check the official directories List every badge the school displays and note the exact wording. For IB programmes, search the school on the IB's Find an IB World School page. Note which programmes are listed and their status. For CIS, search the CIS directory. Check whether the school appears as accredited or as a member. For WASC, NEASC or COBIS, use each organisation's own school search. Compare your findings with the school's website. Ask admissions to explain any differences. Save screenshots with the date. They make it easier to compare schools on your shortlist. Red flags to watch for Missing official listings: Badges displayed on marketing materials without corresponding entries in official directories. Misleading terminology: Presenting general "Membership" or "Partnership" status as equivalent to full institutional accreditation. Vague quality claims: Using unverified descriptors like "internationally recognised curriculum" without citing specific accrediting bodies. Inconsistent program information: Conflicting authorization details across school websites, printed brochures, and external databases. Lack of review dates: Hesitancy or refusal from school administration to disclose the year of their last evaluation or upcoming review cycle. One mismatch is not always a problem, as directories and websites update at different speeds. A clear and prompt answer from the school is a good sign. Questions to Ask on a School Tour Bring these questions to your visit. The answers will tell you as much about a school's openness as about its status. Which organisations accredit or authorise the school, and for which programmes? When was the last review, and when is the next one due? For any programme in the candidate phase, what is the expected timeline? What happens to my child's pathway if that timeline changes? How does the school keep families informed about status updates? Westlink and the IB Programme Pathway in Hanoi Westlink International School Hanoi is an IB World School and a member of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global group of schools. We are building our IB pathway one programme at a time, and we share each stage openly with families. Primary Years Programme (PYP): authorised by the IB in May 2024 Middle Years Programme (MYP): authorised by the IB in December 2025 Diploma Programme (DP): candidate phase As the IB requires, we state our DP status in full: "Westlink International School Hanoi is a Candidate School for the IB Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted." Westlink plans to launch the DP in August 2027, pending authorisation. You can follow each stage on our IB Diploma Programme pathway page. Our community brings together students of more than 30 nationalities. You can see how each programme connects, from early years to Grade 12, in Westlink's IB learning journey. Westlink students learn together through an evolving IB programme pathway in Hanoi. Frequently Asked Questions Is an IB World School the same as an accredited school? No. An IB World School is authorised to teach one or more IB programmes. Accreditation is a separate review of the whole school by organisations such as CIS or WASC. Some schools hold both. Is it safe to enroll in an IB candidate school? It can be, provided the school is transparent. Ask for the expected timeline and the plan for students if authorisation takes longer. Weigh candidate status against your child's year group and next steps. Do universities require CIS or WASC accreditation? Requirements vary by university and country. Accreditation can help admissions teams trust an unfamiliar transcript, especially for US-style diplomas. Qualifications such as the IB Diploma are assessed on their own merits. How long does school accreditation last? It depends on the organisation. Most accreditation runs in multi-year cycles, with interim reports between full review visits. Check the date of the school's most recent review in the accreditor's directory. How can I check if an international school in Hanoi is authorised? Search for the school by name on the IB's official Find an IB World School page. It shows which programmes the school is authorised to teach and which are in the candidate phase. Choosing a school is easier when you can see the evidence for yourself. Visit our campus, meet our team and bring every question on your list. Book a campus tour to explore our authorised IB programmes in person.
