St. Petersburg College Accreditation

St. Petersburg College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award Bachelor of Science degrees, Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, Associate in Arts degrees, Associate in Science degrees, as well as certificates, applied technical diplomas, and advanced technical certificates. Questions about the accreditation of St. Petersburg College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

SPC’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Academic Services (IR) provides information and analytical support to college-wide internal decision-making, external accountability, strategic planning, and ongoing continuous institutional improvement. Through collaborative leadership, the office supports a broad range of planning, research and assessment activities, including those that support student learning outcomes assessment, department/program review, as well as institutional and programmatic accreditation.

Why accreditation matters

SACS-COC accreditation means an institution is dedicated to providing quality higher education and ongoing improvement through planning, assessment, and quality enhancement.

• Credits from accredited institutions are transferable to and from other accredited institutions,  ensuring students receive a credible, top-quality education.
• Only accredited institutions are permitted to award federal financial aid to students.
• By law, an A.A. degree from SPC grants you admission as a junior to one of the state's public universities.

In addition, the following programs are accredited or approved by state or national organizations. The last accreditation year indicates the most recent accreditation or approval decision following the completion of a self-study.

Bachelor's degree programs

+  The Florida Dept. of Education grants approval to individual programs within the College of Education, which currently consists of seven active B.S. programs.

*The American Bar Association evaluates the A.S. degree, B.A.S. degree, and the post-baccalaureate certificate during a single visit. This agency "approves" programs but does not "accredit."

**Effective Spring 2017, the Orthotics and Prosthetics program is inactive and will no longer seek accreditation.

Associate in Science programs

+  The Funeral Services program at St. Petersburg college is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodburry Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web:  www.abfse.org

*Ongoing accreditation with yearly completion of Annual Program Assessment Report

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at St. Petersburg College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  

Lower-Division Certificate programs

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate programs

¹Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education  (USDE)
²Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
³Recognized by the Association for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)