Overview
ABET, in brief
ABET (the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) is the recognized accreditor for college programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. It accredits programs, not institutions — roughly 4,700 programs at over 900 colleges across 40-plus countries. Recognized by CHEA (since 1997) and by the U.S. Department of Education as a programmatic accreditor.
The Structure
ABET’s four commissions
- EAC — Engineering Accreditation CommissionEngineering programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and more).
- CAC — Computing Accreditation CommissionComputing programs — computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, data science, and similarly named programs — at the bachelor’s level.
- ETAC — Engineering Technology Accreditation CommissionEngineering technology at the associate and bachelor’s level.
- ANSAC — Applied and Natural Science Accreditation CommissionApplied and natural science programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level.
A program is reviewed by the commission that matches its title, against General Criteria plus discipline-specific Program Criteria developed with the professional societies.
Why It Matters
Why ABET is closely tied to licensure
- PE licensureThis is the big one. To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), most state boards require — or strongly prefer — a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, which is the smoothest path to sitting for the FE and PE exams.
- EmployersMany employers, and most government and defense roles, expect an ABET-accredited engineering degree.
- Graduate school & the militaryGraduate programs and military commissioning routes often assume an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree.
- Global mobilityABET accreditation is recognized internationally through mutual-recognition agreements (the Washington Accord and others).
If you intend to become a licensed PE, confirm your program is ABET-accredited (EAC) before you enroll. A non-accredited engineering degree can add years and extra requirements to the licensure path in many states.
The Review
How ABET accreditation works
- Request for EvaluationThe program applies (a program must typically have graduates before it can be reviewed).
- Self-Study ReportThe program documents how it meets ABET’s outcomes-based criteria — student outcomes, curriculum, faculty, facilities, and continuous improvement.
- Site visitA team of trained program evaluators visits and validates the self-study.
- DecisionABET’s commission acts; the full cycle runs about 18 months and accreditation is typically reviewed every six years.
Also Worth Knowing
Engineering technology & management
For engineering technology and applied-engineering management programs, ATMAE (the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering) is an additional recognized accreditor alongside ABET’s ETAC. Confirm which one your intended career path or licensure board expects.
Do It Yourself
Verify a program
Go Deeper
Official sources
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Who accredits engineering and computing programs? ABET — the recognized accreditor for engineering, computing, engineering technology, and applied and natural science programs. It accredits programs, not whole institutions.
- Do I need an ABET-accredited degree to become a licensed engineer? In most states, yes or effectively yes. Most PE licensing boards require or strongly prefer an ABET-accredited engineering degree to sit for the FE and PE exams.
- What are ABET's four commissions? EAC (engineering), CAC (computing), ETAC (engineering technology), and ANSAC (applied and natural science).
- Is ABET recognized by CHEA? Yes. ABET has been recognized by CHEA since 1997 and is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a programmatic accreditor.
- Does ABET accredit computer science and cybersecurity? Yes, through its Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC), which covers computer science, IT, cybersecurity, data science, and similarly named programs.
- How long does ABET accreditation take and last? The review cycle runs about 18 months, and accreditation is typically reviewed every six years.
- What if my engineering program isn't ABET-accredited? It can complicate PE licensure and some employment. Confirm your state board's requirements before enrolling in a non-accredited program.
- How do I verify a program is ABET-accredited? Search the program in ABET's accredited-programs database, and check your state PE board's requirements via NCEES.