Skip to main content
https://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/journey/business/initial

AACSB International

  • Log In
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
=
  • About
    • About AACSB
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Newsroom
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Membership
    • Join the Business Education Alliance
      • Member Portal Login
      • Global Membership Listings
      • Get Involved - Volunteer Opportunities
      • Business School Resource Directory
      • Careers in Business Education
    • AACSB Membership Categories
      • Educational Membership
      • Business Membership
  • Accreditation
    • AACSB Accreditation
      • Accredited Schools List
      • Standards Overview
      • Accreditation Journey
      • Business Accreditation Task Force
    • Resources
      • Resources for Schools
      • Accreditation Volunteer Resources
      • Student and Business Practitioner Resources
      • Staff Contacts
  • Events
    • Find an Event
      • Conferences
      • Seminars
      • Digital Learning
      • On-Campus Seminars
      • Bridge Programs
      • Affinity Group Meetings
      • Accreditation Volunteer Training
    • Resources
      • Sponsor & Exhibit Opportunities
      • The Exchange
      • Events App
      • Submit a Proposal
      • Staff Contacts
  • Data
    • DataDirect
      • Log In
      • About
      • Surveys
      • Access and Permissions
      • Benchmarking
      • Data Glossary
    • Data Reports
      • Survey Reports
      • Data Guide
    • School Profile Search
    • Media Inquiries
  • Publications
    • BizEd Magazine
      • Subscribe Today
      • Current Issue
      • Archives

    • Guides, Papers, and Reports
      • Data Reports
      • Research Reports
      • Collective Vision for Business Education
    • Blogs
      • AACSB Blog
      • Data and Research Blog
      • Best Business Schools Blog (for students)
    • Videos
      • AACSB Explores
    • AACSB LINK
      • Subscribe for Free
Accreditation>Journey>Business Accreditation>Initial Accreditation

Initial Accreditation

Business Accreditation

The initial accreditation process is a rigorous review that involves peers from business schools, committees, and AACSB staff. The initial accreditation process follows the successful completion and approval of the Eligibility Application for Business Accreditation. Initial accreditation includes a thorough review of the information submitted with the eligibility application, a mentor visit, the development and approval of an Initial Self-Evaluation Report (iSER), subsequent updates to the iSER, submission of the Final Self-Evaluation Report, and peer review team visit. Once a school achieves initial accreditation, it enters the continuous improvement review phase, undergoing a peer review every five years.

Below are resources and templates to be used throughout the initial accreditation process.

Initial Business Accreditation Resources

Handbooks and Processes
Initial Business Accreditation Handbook
Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Process
Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Visit
Roles and Responsibilities--Deferral Visit
Policies and Procedures

Sample Tables - eFile or myAccreditation
Sample Table 2-1
Sample Table 2-2
Sample Table 15-1
Sample Table 15-2



Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER)

Required Documentation
iSER Template Business - eFile only
iSER Outline Business - myAccreditation
Accreditation Standards Worksheet - eFile only
GAP Analysis - eFile only
Profile Sheet - eFile or myAccreditation

Required Tables - eFile or myAccreditation
Table 2-1
Table 2-2
Table 15-1
Table 15-2



Progress Report
(iSER Update Report)

Required Documentation
Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions
Applicant Profile Sheet

Tables
Table 2-1
Table 2-2
Table 15-1
Table 15-2



Initial Accreditation Application

Required Documentation
Letter of Application for Initial Accreditation Template



Final Self-Evaluation Report

Required Documentation
Self-Evaluation Report—Submission Instructions

Required Tables 
Table 2-1 
Table 2-2 
Table 15-1 
Table 15-2

Documents should be completed, saved, and emailed to iac@aacsb.edu by the submission due dates for committee review. Schools may contact their AACSB accreditation staff liaison, whom you can locate via the "organizational information" in The Exchange.

  • Accredited Schools List
  • Standards Overview Expand - collapse menu
    • Business Standards
    • Accounting Standards
  • Accreditation Journey
    • Process Overview
    • Business Accreditation
    • Accounting Accreditation
  • Business Accreditation Task Force (BATF) Expand - collapse menu
    • About the BATF
    • Progress and Updates
    • Exposure Draft
  • myAccreditation
  • Resources for Schools Expand - collapse menu
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Accreditation Terminology
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Related Accreditation Events
    • Promoting Your Accreditation
    • White Papers
  • Accreditation Volunteer Resources Expand - collapse menu
    • Opportunities to Volunteer
    • Committees
    • Mentors
    • Peer Review Teams
    • Accreditation Volunteer Training
  • Prospective Students and Business Practitioners
  • Staff Contacts

Our Locations

  • Americas

    777 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
    Suite 750,

    Tampa,
    Florida 33602 USA

    +1 813 769 6500

  • Europe, Middle East, and Africa

    UP Building, Piet Heinkade 55,
    1019 GM Amsterdam,
    The Netherlands

    +31 20 509 1070

  • Asia Pacific

    331 North Bridge Road,
    #10-04/05 Odeon Towers
    Singapore 188720

    +65 6592 5210

Follow Us

  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact
  • All Rights Reserved.