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All post-secondary and tertiary level institutions, local or foreign, operating in Guyana must be registered by the National Accreditation Council.

Post-secondary or tertiary institutions must first submit an application for registration in Guyana. If necessary, this type of institution must obtain NAC’s approval to use the institutional title that it wishes to be registered under.

The institution is required to submit to an evaluation by NAC to ensure compliance with the minimum quality requirements for post-secondary and tertiary institutions. If the institution meets these requirements for registration, it is issued a Certificate of Registration by NAC. Registered institutions are placed on the register of post-secondary and tertiary institutions and NAC’s website.

Post-secondary education refers to all education and training programmes which are not at tertiary level but which are offered to secondary school leavers to meet their vocational or continuing education needs.

Provider is a person or body or group of persons or an institution offering one or more programmes for award or credit.

Tertiary education means the teaching and learning process that occurs following completion of secondary schooling or its equivalent and leads to the award of sub-baccalaureate qualification, baccalaureate degree and post graduate degree.

Institutions with Full Registration

Registration as a pre-requisite for accreditation signals that an institution has satisfied the minimum standards to legally operate in Guyana

The steps in the process are:

1. The submission of a letter addressed to the Executive Director requesting registration as an institution/provider of tertiary education and training by National Accreditation Council.
   This letter of request must be signed by the provider or Executive Head of the institution.
   This letter should state:
   • that registration in accordance with Act #12 of 2004 is being sought.
   • the name your institution/provision of tertiary education and training is to be registered under.
   • the types and level of qualifications offered and
   • the sites which will be covered under registration
2. The Institution/provider is sent an Institutional Data Form (IDF). Once the IDF is completed and has been submitted to National Accreditation Council, it will be reviewed.
3. The institution/provider will be sent an acknowledgement letter indicating receipt of the completed IDF Along with the:
   • Application Form for Registration of Post-Secondary and Tertiary Level Institutions/Providers.
   • Checklist of Required Evidence for Registration.
   • Criteria for Registration.
   • Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on registration.
   • Guidelines for submitting an application for registration to Accreditation Council of Guyana and
   • Programme Specifications Guidelines.
     *The institution/provider may be directed to the relevant state agency or authority if their
     institution does not fall under the purview of National Accreditation Council.
4. The post secondary or tertiary institution/provider submits an application for registration in Guyana to National Accreditation Council along with a short background and relevant application processing fee. The application must be submitted in triplicate along with a soft
   copy (MS Word version) of the narratives. The evidence submitted in the application for registration should be
   • in accordance with the seven (7) areas of assessment
   • clearly referenced in the narrative which explains how it satisfies the particular standard
5. The post-secondary or tertiary institution/ provider may be required to obtain National Accreditation Council approval to use the title that it wishes to be registered under if it was established after the proclamation of Act # 12 of 2004 on the 12th July, 2004.
6. The institution/provider is required to submit to an evaluation by National Accreditation Council to ensure compliance with the minimum quality requirements for post-secondary and tertiary institutions/providers. The institution/provider is required to bear the cost of the evaluation.
7. If the institution/provider meets these requirements for registration, it is required to pay a Certification Fee. A Certification of Registration will then be issued by The National Accreditation Council. The Certification fee also covers the cost of publishing the institutions/provider’s registered status in the Gazette and in at least two daily newspapers circulating in Guyana. Registered institutions/ providers are placed on the register of Post secondary and Tertiary Institutions/Providers by the National Accreditation Council.
8. The institution/provider is required to fill out an Institutional profile that will be displayed on The National Accreditation Council website. The Institutional Profile contains details relating to that institution.
9. If the institution/provider does not meet The National Accreditation Council criteria, it is advised by The National Accreditation Council of the requirements that must be met and it will be guided in this regard and given support from the Quality Enhancement Unit.
10. A registered institution/provider is required to submit an annual report on a prescribed form and pay a registration fee payable on registration and annually while status is maintained.
11. Registration shall be for a maximum period of 3 years after which the institution/provider must apply for re-registration.
12. Registered institutions/providers may seek accreditation from The National Accreditation Council.

All post-secondary and tertiary level institutions, local or foreign; operating in Guyana must be registered by the National Accreditation Council.

Post-secondary or tertiary institutions must first submit an application for registration in Guyana. If necessary, this type of institution must obtain NAC’s approval to use the institutional title that it wishes to be registered under.

Post-secondary education refers to all education and training programmes which are not at tertiary level but which are offered to secondary school leavers to meet their vocational or continuing education needs.

Provider is a person or body or group of persons or an institution offering one or more programmes for award or credit.

Tertiary education means the teaching and learning process that occurs following completion of secondary schooling or its equivalent and leads to the award of sub-baccalaureate qualification, baccalaureate degree and post graduate degree.

An institution established after the proclamation of the Act on 30th July, 2004 must also secure NAC’s approval to use the institutional title it wishes to be registered with, for example, a new institution desirous of bearing one of the following titles: “university”, “college”, “tertiary college”, ”polytechnic”, ”community college ”,”technical institute” and ”technical university”. An institution that has met the registration criteria is then issued a Certificate of Registration and placed on the Register of Post-secondary and Tertiary Institutions.

In order for the National Accreditation Council of Guyana (NAC-G) to determine whether an institution meets the criteria and standards for registration as a post-secondary or tertiary institution or provider, the institution is required to submit to an evaluation by NAC-G. This is to ensure compliance with NAC-G’s criteria and standards to satisfy the registration requirements in seven (7) categories:

1. Legal, Policy and Regulatory Requirements
2. Governance and Administration
3. Quality Management System
4. Resource Management
5. Teaching-Learning Process
6. Review
7. Continuous Improvement

Registered institution status may be granted for a maximum period of three (3) years, for initial registration, after which the institution shall re-apply and be re-evaluated in order to be granted Continuing Registered Status.

On completion of the Site Visit, the Evaluation Committee writes an Evaluation Report with its recommendations on the status to be awarded. This Report is used by the Review Committee of the Board of Directors to make further recommendations to the Board which will then make a decision on the status to be awarded.

An institution that has met all the requirements to be registered shall be issued a Certificate of Registration by NAC-G, be placed on the Register of Approved Institutions, providers and courses.

Institutions that meet the criteria for registration will be placed on Register of Post secondary and Tertiary institutions as stated in clause 4 (2) (e)a, of the Act. The criteria represent seven categories in which institutions are evaluated. Evidence must be provided that all criteria are met in order for an institution to be registered.

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Download PDF Application Form

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The following conditions of Registration (hereinafter referred to as the “conditions”) apply for post-secondary and tertiary institutions registered with the National Accreditation Council of Guyana. These conditions outline a registered institution’s obligations after registration

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

• A.1 A registered institution enjoys legal authority to operate a post-secondary or tertiary level institution in accordance with the provisions of the Act and these conditions. The registration of a post-secondary or tertiary institution does not confer accredited status and shall not be deemed to convey other approval or consent which may be required by any law, rule, regulation, ordinance or order.
• A.2 Registered institutions shall abide by all conditions of registration.
• A.3 These conditions are effective on the date of registration and thereafter.
• A.4 The National Accreditation Council (NAC) reserves the right to amend these conditions from time to time and will give prior notice to all registered and eligible institutions.
• A.5 The conditions applicable to any post-secondary or tertiary institutions may be varied, added or revoked at any time and as consider appropriate by NAC either in general or in respect of particular matters.
• A.6 Registration is non-transferable.

B. POWERS OF THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL:
The NAC may, at its discretion, suspend, revoke or cancel a post-secondary or tertiary institution’s registration for:

• B.1 Failure to comply with these conditions;
• B.2 Failure to comply with all applicable laws or orders of any public authority with jurisdiction over the institution’s business or affairs;
• Providing false, fictitious, misleading or incorrect information to NAC or any other public authority;
• B.4 Failure to fulfill any of the recommendation made by the NAC as a result of an application made for registration of an institution.

C. SUSTANTIVE CHANGES: INTEGRATION

• Unless the context otherwise requires and except as varied or otherwise specified below, words and expressions which are defined in the Act in Application for Registration shall have the same meanings when used herein.
• “Substantive Changes” are changes made after registration and include, within limitations:
  1. Any significant change in the mission, vision or goals of the institution;
  2. Any change in the legal status, form of control or ownership of the institution;
  3. Any addition of programs that represent a significant departure, in either content or method of delivery, from those that were offered at the time of registration.
  4. The initiation of delivery of 60% or more of a programme’s contract hours through distance education or electronic media.
  5. The addition of programmes at a qualification or credential level above that which is included in the institution’s current registration;
  6. The establishment of additional sites or campuses from which programmes are to be offered.
•  “time of registration” means, in relation to a particular applicant, the date of issuance to the date of expiration of a Certificate of Registration issued by the NAC to the applicant, except under conditions where registration was suspended, revoked or cancelled.

D. A REGISTERED POST-SECONDARY OR TERTIARY INSTITUTION SHALL NOT:

• Make any substantive change without the approval of the NAC;
• Present to prospective students or any other section of the public, misleading, false or fraudulent information relating to any programme, employment opportunity, opportunity for further study or opportunities for enrollment at the institution, or in respect of that institution’s registration status, with the NAC.

E. A REGISTERED POST-SECONDARY OR TERTIARY INSTITUTION SHALL;

• At all times comply with all laws, the Act any regulations or rules made under the Act, as well as these Conditions as the same may be amended from time to time;
• Apply consistently those quality assurance procedures approved at registration and at all times maintain the standards and integrity.
• All times maintain the standards and integrity.
• Submit an Institution Annual report (IAR) to the NAC in a prescribed format one month or less before the anniversary date on which registration was granted.
• Display its Certificate of Registration conspicuously at all its campuses;
• Inform NAC immediately of any issue which impacts on the validity or integrity of its Registration;
• Incorporate any amendments or developments in the NAC’s quality assurance framework for registered post-secondary and tertiary institutions, as communicated to the institution from time to time;
• Facilitate visits, if requested, by the NAC as part of its role in monitoring the institution’s activities and the effectiveness of its programmes as registered with the NAC;
• Facilitate visits by the NAC to investigate any complaints by stakeholders made against the registered institution;
• Respond promptly to any request for information, statement of concern, complaint or other communication received from the NAC;
• Use only the name under which the institution has registered with the NAC in all marketing or advertising;
• Maintain adequately physical, financial and human resources for the satisfactory conduct of the programmes of instruction presented in its application for registration;
• Must receive prior approval to offer any post-secondary or tertiary programme not approved at the time of registration.

F. ACCREDITATION OF REGISTERED INSTITUTIONS:
A Registered Institution must apply for accreditation of its programme(s) within the year of its first registration. If after two years of registration an institution’s programme (s) is/are not accredited for any reason, then the NAC may revoke its registration.

What is registration?
Registration is a mandatory process whereby post-secondary and tertiary education and training institutions demonstrate they have the capacity to offer quality education in Guyana.

Which institutions are required to register?
All institutions offering education and training in Guyana that lead to the award of postsecondary and tertiary level qualifications. These institutions must be registered before they begin to offer these qualifications.

Why should an institution register?
Registration provides a legal framework for protecting the interests of students, parents and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sector. Institutions that fail to register with NAC are guilty of an offence.

What are NAC’s criteria for registration?
The criteria for registration focus on the evaluation of the institution in seven (7) key areas:

1. Legal, Policy and Regulatory Requirements
2. Governance and Administration
3. Quality Management System
4. Resource Management
5. Teaching-Learning Process
6. Review
7. Continuous Improvement

How does an institution begin the registration process?
The registration process starts with the institution submitting a Letter of Intent, which states the name of the institution to be registered, the types and levels of qualifications offered and the number of sites or campuses that the institution wishes to have registered. This letter must be signed and dated by the Head of the Institution and addressed to NAC’s Executive Director. NAC will then communicate with the institution on the next steps in the process.

How is an institution evaluated for registration?
A gap analysis of the completed Application for Registration is conducted to determine if the minimum requirements for registration have been met. If the institution has met these minimum requirements, a site visit is conducted by an evaluation team comprising trained professionals appointed by NAC to assess the institution’s operations. The evaluation team prepares a report and makes a recommendation on the status to be granted. The Board of NAC makes the final decision on the status to be awarded. If the Board makes a decision to register the institution, NAC issues a Certificate of Registration to the institution. If the institution has not met the requirements for registration, the institution may obtain additional support from NAC.