---
title: 'Online Accreditation Guide'
url: 'https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation'
markdown: 'https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation.md'
date: '2026-10-28'
description: 'A practical, staged guide for academics taking online degrees through professional, statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) accreditation.'
---

[ Projects](https://jessica.digital/projects)

Practical guide · Online higher education

# Online Accreditation Guide

A structured approach for academics and faculty teams, whether you are extending an on-campus accreditation or making a new submission.

Overview

![](https://jessica.digital/user/pages/04.projects/online-accreditation/featured.jpg)

 Go to section   

## Why this guide

Online accreditation succeeds when the programme team makes a handful of deliberate choices early, wins faculty backing before the conversation with the professional, statutory or regulatory body (PSRB) gets serious, and evidences *equivalence of outcomes* rather than sameness of delivery with campus-based programmes.

Most delayed submissions I have seen stalled on one of those three, not on the curriculum; often the logistical challenges become more of a sticking point than the learning outcomes of the programme itself.

This guide is for programme leaders, heads of department and faculty quality leads taking an online degree to a PSRB for accreditation. It works for any subject area, both for brand-new programmes and for extending an existing on-campus programme to an online model.

Route A
### Extending an accreditation

You already hold accreditation for an on-campus programme and want the online version recognised.

Route B
### New submission

A new award, different structure or outcomes, or no accredited parent programme.

### How to use it

1. Use the **route finder** to work out which route you are likely on.
2. Record your answers in the **decision planner**; your notes become the backbone of your submission narrative.
3. Plan using the **seven stages** and their two gates, then build a **backwards schedule** from your launch date.
4. Use the buy-in, team and resourcing pages throughout, including the **staffing plan builder** if roles are not yet filled.
5. Test yourself with the **readiness checklist** before committing to a submission date.
6. Look for the **What the evidence says** notes: each links to recent research you can cite in your own submission.

**Your PSRB's handbook will have useful advice on the details of the accreditation scheme.** Read it alongside this guide. Your answers on this page are saved in your own browser only and are never sent anywhere.

[Print or save the whole guide](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation?view=all)

This guide is based on my professional experience taking online programmes through the accreditation process at a range of higher education providers. Make sure to consult your institution's regulations and the PSRB accreditation handbook for subject specifics.

---

## Navigation

- Parent: [Projects](https://jessica.digital/projects.md)
- Previous: [Informative Web Content Guidelines (IWCG)](https://jessica.digital/projects/iwcg.md)
- Next: [Online Age Assurance](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-age-assurance.md)
- Children:
  - [Choose your route](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/route.md)
  - [Key decisions](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/decisions.md)
  - [Seven stages](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/stages.md)
  - [Timing and schedule](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/timing.md)
  - [Faculty buy-in](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/buy-in.md)
  - [Programme team](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/team.md)
  - [Partners and resourcing](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/resourcing.md)
  - [What panels look for](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/panels.md)
  - [Readiness checklist](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/checklist.md)
  - [Evidence and references](https://jessica.digital/projects/online-accreditation/references.md)