Initial accreditation for accounting functions similarly to business. The initial accounting accreditation process is a rigorous review that involves peers from business schools, experienced committees, and AACSB staff. To achieve AACSB accounting accreditation, an institution must first—or simultaneously—pursue AACSB Business Accreditation. In addition to meeting the 15 business accreditation standards, the school must also fulfill the criteria for the 6 accounting accreditation standards, which are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.
The initial accounting accreditation process follows the successful completion and approval of the eligibility application. Initial accounting accreditation includes a thorough review of the information submitted with the eligibility application, a mentor visit, the development and approval of an initial self-evaluation report (iSER), subsequent updates to the iSER, submission of the final self-evaluation report, and peer review team visit. Once a school achieves initial accounting accreditation, it will be placed in a five-year continuous improvement review cycle.
The transition period for adoption of the 2018 accounting standards will take place between January 2019 and June 2020. The 2018 standards will be launched in January 2019 with a small number of volunteer schools with visits scheduled between January and June 2019 reviewed under the 2018 accounting standards. All other schools outside the volunteer group will be reviewed under the 2013 standards.
Between July 2019 and June 2020, schools can choose to be reviewed under either the 2013 or 2018 accounting standards.
Beginning July 1, 2020, all schools seeking accounting accreditation will be reviewed under the 2018 standards.
Schools applying for initial accounting accreditation will only use the 2018 standards.
Initial Accounting Accreditation Resources
Initial Accounting Accreditation Handbook Policies and Procedures Roles and Responsibilities
Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER)
2013 Required Documentation iSER Accounting Template Accounting Standards Worksheet Gap Analysis Applicant Profile Sheet
2018 Required Documentation iSER Accounting Template Accounting Standards Worksheet Gap Analysis Applicant Profile Sheet
2013 Required Tables Table A2-1 Table A9-1 Table A9-2
2018 Required Tables Table A2-1 Table A6
Progress Report (iSER Update Report)
2013 Required Documentation Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions Applicant Profile Sheet
2018 Required Documentation Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions Applicant Profile Sheet
Initial Accreditation Application
2013 Required Documentation Letter of Application for Initial Accounting Template
2018 Required Documentation Letter of Application for Initial Accounting Template
Final Self Evaluation Report (SER)
2013 Required Documentation Self-Evaluation Report Submission Instructions
2018 Required Documentation Self Evaluation Report Submission Instructions
Documents should be completed, saved and emailed to aac@aacsb.edu by the submission due dates for committee review. If you have any questions, contact your AACSB accreditation staff liaison, which may be found via the "Organizational Information" The Exchange.