Accreditation
Erikson Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411, (800) 621-7440, www.hlcommission.org. Accreditation is limited to master’s degrees and certificates in fields related to child development and early childhood education and the Master of Social Work.
Erikson Institute is authorized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to grant the M.S. in Child Development, the M.S. in Early Childhood Education (Online), the M.S. in Early Childhood Education Early Intervention, the Master of Social Work, and the M.S. in Early Childhood Education leading to initial teacher licensure.
Program Accreditation & Endorsements
The Master of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States.
Erikson Institute is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Master of Early Childhood Education – Triple Endorsement has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.
Erikson Institute’s Master in Child Development – Child Life Concentration is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
Affiliations
Erikson Institute promotes and maintains relationships with various other institutions of higher education in order to establish new programs, increase resources available to students, and strengthen teaching and learning in the field of early childhood development.
Erikson Institute is affiliated academically with Loyola University Chicago to grant the doctor of philosophy degree in Child Development, and also for the Children’s Law and Policy specialization and the M.S. in Child Development/M.J. in Children’s Law and Policy dual degree.
State Authorization
Erikson Institute is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs and coursework to residents of states other than Illinois. The NC-SARA membership does not grant reciprocity or exemption from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in Illinois may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.
Professional Licensure Requirements
Effective July 1, 2020, the United States Department of Education required institutions of higher learning to inform students about whether out of state professional licensures and certifications meet the requirements of their home state. The reason for this rule is to ensure that out of state programs qualify students for licensure, certification and ultimately, employment.
Erikson Institute provides the following disclosure related to whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in a State/Territory. This disclosure does not guarantee approval or denial of licensure or certification. Furthermore, this disclosure does not account for changes in State requirements that may have occured after July 1, 2022 which is the date the disclosure was last updated.
Current and prospective students are encouraged to contact their State’s licensure authority to review all licensure and credential requirements for the states they intend to seek employment. If you are planning to pursue a career in another state, current and prospective students should review their new States’ requirements by contacting their new State’s licensure authority.
Erikson offers degree programs with preparation in professional licensure in the Master’s of Early Childhood Education and the Master’s of Social Work Programs, and offers preparation for a professional certification in the Child Life Program.
Federal Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosure Requirements Table
| Program | States and Territories in which program meets licensure/certification requirements | States and Territories in which program does not meet licensure/certification requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s of Early Childhood Education On Campus | IL | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
| Master’s of Social Work On Campus and Online | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV | CA, CO, FL, ID, MI, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, OR, TX, VT, WA, WI, WY |
| Master of Science in Child Development Program – Child Life Concentration On Campus | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | N/A |
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