You may wonder whether Penn Foster High School Diploma and College is legit or not. In fact, there are numerous people, especially who have a plan to enroll in Penn Foster, they’re also curious about it too. We think that it is not something that should be further questioned considering that many graduates have provided very satisfying reviews to Penn Foster.
Sure, if you have a plan to enroll in a high school or college, the first thing that you will look for is the legitimate one. However, earning a diploma from legitimate high school is such a major milestone. Aside from that, legitimate high school can also be a requirement for many employers when they are looking to hire.
Then, is Penn Foster high school diploma legit? We’ll say that Penn Foster is a legitimate high school diploma, considering this school has been accredited. We think the school which has been accredited is one of the characteristics of a legitimate school. Well, Penn Foster already has it all. To know more details about Penn Foster legitimation, let’s see our post below!
The Reasons Why Penn Foster High School Diploma Is Legit
Before you enroll in a high school diploma, you may want to find out whether the school you are interested in is accredited and licensed or not yet. You may already know that accreditation and licensing are two of major things a school must have to create them legitimate.
Accreditation means the recognition from specific organizations and agencies that a school meets or exceeds the educational standards which are decided by the group. In this case, licensing will ensure that the school you are attending has been approved by the licensing body or board to provide degrees to graduates or classes and diplomas.
There are at least two types of accreditations that a school can get, they are regional and national. Regional accreditation will be awarded through one of the seven regional accrediting bodies in the United States. While, national accreditations will be awarded by independent accrediting bodies which often focus on career-specific educational or vocational school and also online schools and colleges.
In this case, Penn Foster has been accredited both regionally and nationally which can ensure that the diploma you get online is legitimate. Founded in 1890, Penn Foster has been earning a respected reputation. Well, three schools of Penn Foster including high school, college and career school have accreditation which are evaluated regularly to make sure courses meet the standards of each board.
Penn Foster Programs Accreditation
Moreover, several programs really have industry-specific accreditation. Sure, we’ll explain them in each point, here are they:
- High School Diploma Accreditation
The online high school diploma program has been regionally accredited through the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Need to know, the United States is divided into 6 regions with regional accrediting bodies for each.
Middle States covers schools in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. Even though the country is divided into 6 regions, it does not mean that the diploma is only recognized in the states which have the same accrediting body as yours.
For example, if you went to a traditional public school in PA, however, your family moved to Alaska, your classes and transcripts would be transferred to your new Alaskah high school as they have equal accreditation.
Penn Foster High School is also accredited nationally through the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) as a national board which evaluates and accredits distance and online education providers.
Just like regional accreditation, schools should meet the commission’s standards to be given recognition. Certainly, with both types of accreditation, there will be a renewal period every few years to make sure the quality of the school stays where it should be.
- Career School Accreditation
Penn Foster career school which offers the career certificates and diplomas has also been accredited both regionally and nationally just like Penn Foster high school diploma.
- College Accreditation
Online college degrees of Penn Foster both bachelor and associate are nationally accredited through the DEAC. Of course, several programs also have additional accreditations like Vet Assistant Career Diploma which is offered through the college which has been approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA).
Then, the online Vet Tech Associate Degree and the Bachelor’s of Applied Science both have been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Penn Foster Licensing
Aside from being an accredited school, Penn Foster Career school is also licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools. In this case, Penn Foster Career School is not organized in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code.
In other words, Career School of Penn Foster is not regulated or approved as a school by the Maryland Higher Education Commission for the Pharmacy Technician, Veterinary Assistant, or Optician programs.
Career School at Penn Foster is exempt from authorization under AS 14.48 as this program is online or distance delivered which does not have a physical presence in the state of Alaska.
What Makes Penn Foster High School Legit?
Surely, any online schools will need licensing and accreditation to make them legitimate. Online high school is almost like a regular school where the flexibility allows you to learn at the pace which works for you wherever you are comfortable.
Moreover, online classes will work for a variety of personalities and grade levels. You can also expect to study independently, even though you’ll have student support, faculty and more on hand for help if you need it.
In this case, licensing is commonly through a state or national body that has certain requirements which should be met for businesses and schools to get those licenses.
In this case, the same applies to accreditation that is a public notification that an institution and program meets the quality standards of the accreditors. Of course, a school or program may be not legit without the right recognition, licenses and accreditation or may not help you take the next step toward your goals like you need it to.
