Who are the competent authorities in the U.S. education system, and outside it, for purposes such as recognition, certification, acceptance and admission, and conferral of awards and titles? According to the United States interpretation of agreements such as the Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region:

1. Recognized institutions and programs within the U.S. education system are those that hold accreditation from a regional, national, or specialized accreditation body that is in turn recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education (higher education) or that undertakes only to approve services provided by institutions that are so recognized. For further information, go to Accreditation and Quality Assurance.

2. The competent authority for the recognition of foreign diplomas and credits, for students seeking to study in the United States or in overseas U.S. institutions or via distance learning services, is the admitting school, institution, or other provider. For further information, go to U.S. Institutions and Programs.

3. The competent authority for the recognition of qualifications presented by persons seeking to work in the United States, in unregulated occupations, is the hiring employer.

4. The competent authority for persons seeking to work in the United States in regulated occupations is the licensing authority at the appropriate state or territorial level that monitors that occupation. For further information, go to Regulation of Professions.

5. The federal government does not itself evaluate diplomas or credits or recognize qualifications, although U.S. visa and immigration laws may require that applicants obtain such recognition or evaluation from another source (see above and below) as a condition of entry.

6. Educational providers, employers, licensing authorities, and consular and immigration officials are free to utilize independent evaluation services, or refer applicants to them, if they so choose. For further information, go to Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition.

7. Appeals of decisions by U.S. competent authorities are handled through the internal appeals procedures set up by them; there is no power of intervention in these matters by the government.