About Our School
Accreditation
UTVA is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
Utah Virtual Academy has been accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools in recognition of the high-quality education that UTVA provides to students. As with all schools that receive accreditation from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, applicant schools are required to host an initial team visit. Then the school completes a self-study process and hosts a second visiting team that reviews and validates the self-study. The last step is for an annual report to be reviewed by the appropriate state committee.
What is a credit?
The Northwest Association of Accredited Schools Policies and Procedures Manual defines a credit as a common unit of measure that represents successful student achievement relevant to a predefined area of study. The standard for the predefined area of study shall be determined by the particular state, informed by national guidelines. A credit is often defined as a unit of credit awarded for successful completion of a course that includes no less than 120 hours of instruction or its equivalent per year.
If I move will my credits transfer to a school in another state?
Generally, the answer is "yes." The Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, along with the other five regional accreditation agencies, participates in reciprocity of credits between regions and states. If a student is unable to receive credit in another state, we encourage the parents to meet with the school's principal. If after meeting, a resolution cannot be met, the school may contact the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and the organization will seek to involve the particular region's association. .
Note: The Commission of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools approves accreditation for schools presented by the seven state accreditation committees and the International and Transregional committee twice per year.
All of the K–12 school commissions, including the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, are only acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOEd) as one of the six regional accreditation agencies for K–12 education. The K–12 commissions are not "formally" recognized, as recognition by the USDOEd is strictly for postsecondary institutions seeking access to federal funds for financial assistance programs for U.S. citizens.
