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OMB Control No: 1840-0788	ICR Reference No: 202512-1840-003
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202211-1840-001
Agency/Subagency: ED/OPE	Agency Tracking No: ED-2025-SCC-1174
Title: The Recognition Process for Accrediting Agencies, State Approval Agencies; Evaluation of Foreign Medical, and Foreign Veterinary Accrediting Agencies(e-Recognition)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/06/2026
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/27/2026
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2029	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2026
Responses	16	0	17
Time Burden (Hours)	347,648	0	18,351
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,027,296	0	0

Abstract: The United States (U.S.) Secretary of Education (the Secretary) is required by law to publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that have been determined to be reliable authorities regarding the quality of education or training offered by the institutions or programs they accredit. The system is the e-Recognition system. In determining whether a specific agency should be recognized, the Secretary evaluates the submission for compliance with the criteria for Recognition contained in regulations. The collection of information is necessary for the Secretary to evaluate compliance with each of the criteria and to monitor the continued compliance with the criteria during any period of recognition granted. The authority for collecting this information is contained in the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended § 496 (HEA), and implementing regulations at 34 CFR § 602. The data is required in order for recognized accrediting agencies to demonstrate compliance with 34 CFR § 602. The Secretary will use these criteria in determining whether an accrediting agency is a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training provided by institutions of higher education they accredit. The data is required by State Agencies for the approval of Vocational Education to demonstrate compliance with 34 CFR § 603. The Secretary will use these criterial to determine whether a State Agency for the Approval of Vocational Education is a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training provided by the vocational institutions of higher education they accredit. The data is also required in order for State approval Agencies for Nurse Education to demonstrate compliance with the criteria and procedures for recognition of State Agencies for Approval of Nurse Education. The Secretary will use these criteria in determining whether a State agency is a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered by schools of nursing.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1099b Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 59513	12/19/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 9605	02/26/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Accrediting Agencies

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	16	17	-1
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	347,648	18,351	329,297
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,027,296	0	1,027,296

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The burden has increased due to the estimated burden hours increasing by 3,377 hours, and the hourly wage rate used has increased by $3.74.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $450,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Amy Wilson 2025027688

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