WGU’s Teachers College Earns CAEP Accreditation

WASHINGTON – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that online, nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) is one of only 196 institutions in the nation to earn accreditation for its teacher preparation programs. CAEP is the main nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation and its set of rigorous Teacher Preparation Standards were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs. 

WGU’s programs, which have been accredited by NCATE since 2006, are now accredited by CAEP through 2025. The university maintains regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

“Western Governors University meets high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

“Our students and faculty should be very proud of the work they are doing. We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep programs and CAEP accreditation validates the hard work we are doing,” said Dr. Deborah Eldridge, Academic Vice President for WGU’s Teachers College. “Our students and their families are investing in an education program that is designated as nationally accredited for teacher preparation. As an online, competency-based portfolio of teacher preparation programs, it is particularly gratifying to demonstrate that our innovative approach meets rigorous, external standards set by national entities, such as CAEP.”

Established in 2003 with the support of the U.S. Department of Education, WGU's Teachers College prepares teachers for licensure in all 50 states. WGU's Teachers College, which has graduated more than 33,000 students to date, is a leader in STEM education and a top producer of math and science teachers throughout the nation. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) ranked WGU's secondary math education program in the nation's top one percent.

WGU’s Teachers College initial licensure programs are nationally recognized by TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), ACEI (American Association of Childhood Education International), NSTA (National Science Teachers Association), and NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English).

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 110,000 students nationwide and has more than 125,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 21 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.

About CAEP

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Currently, more than 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards.