What is Accreditation
Accreditation is a system for recognizing educational institutions and professional programs for performance, integrity, and quality. This recognition is extended primarily through nongovernmental, voluntary associations. Accreditors establish standards and criteria for accreditation, arrange site visits, evaluate institutions and professional programs, and confer accreditation.
Who is PAB
The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in planning. Through rigorous, collaboratively developed standards, PAB helps programs strengthen curriculum, support student success, and demonstrate value to employers and university leadership.
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Accredited Programs
PAB currently accredits 80 master’s and 16 bachelor’s programs at 84 North American universities
Mission & Core Values
PAB’s mission is to promote excellence among planning programs and ensure high-quality education for future urban planners. To further this mission, PAB embraces five core values:
- Stewardship: preserving the knowledge base of the urban planning profession with which the Board has been entrusted and supporting the innovations that enhance it over time.
- Collaboration: advancing the dialogue and partnerships between the academic and practitioner communities.
- Communication: articulating the value of an accredited urban planning education to students and the communities they will study and serve.
- Integrity: maintaining a commitment to fairness, transparency, consistency, and state-of-the-art accreditation practices.
- Leadership: providing leadership in sharing and encouraging instructional innovation.