Accreditation and Affiliations

Cuesta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges:

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
331 J Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95814
(415) 506-0234

The ACCJC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and by the U.S. Department of Education. Member institutions participate in a cycle of self-evaluation and peer review to provide assurance of a quality education, to promote effectiveness and continuous quality improvement, and to maintain the quality of higher education in the United States. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at: www.accjc.org.
 
The ACCJC reaffirmed Cuesta College's accreditation at its Open Session on January 13, 2021. The Peer Review Team Report was submitted along with the letter of reaffirmation. Cuesta will have a Mid-Term Report due October 15, 2024.

Third Party Comments to the ACCJC

A third-party comment may be submitted to the Commission at any time as it relates to the compliance of a member institution with Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, or Commission policies. Such comments must be submitted in writing, signed, and accompanied by the affiliation, return address and telephone number of the correspondent. Commission staff will review all third-party comments to assess their applicability to Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, or Commission policies. Institutions will be provided with an opportunity to review applicable third-party comments.


Programmatic Accreditations

In addition to the current ACCJC college-wide accreditation, specified programs at Cuesta College are authorized by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and accredited by the following external organizations:

Licensed Vocational Nursing Program

Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT)

Associate Degree Registered Nursing

California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)

Psychiatric Technician Program

Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT)

Paramedic Program 

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professionals (CoAEMSP)

Automotive Technology

Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASEEF)

Aviation Maintenance Technician Program

14 CFR part 147