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APPLICATION ROUTES

CEQA Accreditation, Agency Recognition & Tier 1 Higher Education Pathways

CEQA provides four formal application routes depending on your organisation’s goals, accreditation scope, and sector role. These pathways ensure a fair, transparent, evidence-based evaluation aligned with CEQA’s international private-education quality assurance standards.

CEQA accepts applications from institutions and bodies worldwide, including private training providers, colleges, online universities, skills centres, accreditation councils, and professional development agencies. Please review the three application routes below and submit the option appropriate to your organisation.

1. CEQA Tier 2-5 Application Review – 99 USD

This route is for institutions seeking CEQA accreditation, including:

  • Full Institutional Accreditation
  • Programme Accreditation (courses, diplomas, degrees)
  • Short Courses (≤ 1 year), modular training, and micro-learning
  • CPD, workshops, seminars, and professional skills development

This stage confirms whether your organisation meets CEQA’s foundational requirements for formal accreditation.

What the 99 USD Application Review Covers

CEQA conducts a detailed evaluation of:

  • Institutional identity, governance, and operational profile
  • Programme structures, curriculum frameworks, and learning outcomes
  • Assessment systems, teaching quality, and staff competence
  • Policies, QA mechanisms, and learner support
  • Existing approvals, licences, or recognitions
  • All evidence submitted during the initial review

Institutions that meet CEQA’s baseline standards will be invited to continue to the documentation upload, compliance verification, and full audit stage.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the CEQA Application Review Form below.
  2. After submission, a secure PayFast link will appear. The 99 USD fee will automatically convert to ZAR.

A confirmation email with your CEQA Case Reference Number will be issued once payment is received.

2. CEQA Agency Recognition Application – 199 USD

This route is specifically for accreditation agencies, councils, and quality assurance bodies seeking CEQA Agency Recognition, confirming their legitimacy, transparency, governance integrity, and sector-aligned quality assurance practices.

This application route is not for institutions seeking accreditation. It is exclusively for organisations acting as accrediting agencies in their country or field.

What the 199 USD Agency Recognition Review Covers

CEQA performs an independent evaluation of:

  • Legal registration and organisational legitimacy
  • Governance structures and leadership integrity
  • Accreditation policies, standards, and evaluation frameworks
  • Transparency, ethical practices, and public accountability
  • Fields or disciplines the agency accredits
  • Operational procedures and functioning accreditation processes
  • Public communication practices, website presence, and stakeholder guidance
  • Quality assurance mechanisms, appeals processes, and monitoring structures

Agencies that meet CEQA’s recognition criteria may be listed under the CEQA Recognised & Peer-Reviewed Accreditation Bodies Directory, demonstrating alignment with global private-sector QA expectations.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the CEQA Agency Recognition Application Form below, including details about the fields you accredit.
  2. After submission, a secure PayFast link will appear. The 199 USD fee will auto-convert to ZAR.

Once payment is completed, CEQA will begin the review and issue a reference number with next-step instructions.

3. Tier 1 Higher Education Suitability Review – 500 USD

This advanced route is for institutions pursuing Tier 1 National Higher Education Institutional Accreditation, the highest level achievable through CEQA’s international brokerage pathways.

Tier 1 accreditation supports:

  • National-level higher education recognition within approved jurisdictions
  • Eligibility for recognised databases
  • Stronger global legitimacy and cross-border acceptance
  • Compliance alignment with governmental higher education frameworks

This suitability review determines whether your institution qualifies to begin the formal Tier 1 brokerage process.

What the 500 USD Suitability Review Covers

CEQA analyses:

  • Country of registration and legal authority to operate
  • Current licensing, approvals, or accreditations
  • Qualification levels and educational frameworks
  • Governance structures, leadership, and oversight
  • Policy maturity and internal QA systems
  • Academic depth, delivery models, and institutional readiness
  • Alignment with CEQA’s available Tier 1 pathways and national framework requirements

This evaluation is non-refundable and conducted outside CEQA’s general private-sector accreditation stream.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the Tier 1 Suitability Review Form below in full.
  2. After submission, a secure PayFast link will appear, and the 500 USD fee will auto-convert to ZAR.

Upon payment, CEQA will open a Tier 1 review file, assign a case officer, and provide an outline of the next steps.

4. Set Up Aid Application – 199USD

The Set Up Aid Application is designed for institutions and programmes that require dedicated support to build, formalise, or strengthen their quality systems before – or alongside – pursuing formal CEQA accreditation.

This route is ideal for organisations that are serious about quality but still developing the internal policies, procedures, and platforms required to meet CEQA standards.

What Set Up Aid Covers

Depending on your needs, Set Up Aid may include:

  • Guidance on creating or refining policies and procedures
  • Support with building quality assurance and governance frameworks
  • Assistance in structuring programmes, learning outcomes, and assessment approaches
  • Advice on learner protection, transparency, and responsible marketing
  • Support in selecting or structuring LMS and administrative platforms

Set Up Aid does not replace accreditation, but it helps institutions reach a point where a CEQA accreditation application (Tiers 2–5 or Tier 1) is realistic, evidence-based, and likely to succeed.

How to Apply

Complete the Set Up Aid Application Form below. CEQA will review your needs and provide a tailored proposal outlining support scope, timelines, and associated fees.