The importance of attending an accredited acting school cannot be emphasized enough. Accreditation means that a student can have confidence that the institution and/or program has been evaluated and approved by theatre professionals and that the acting program is recognized by the profession as being pertinent to their employment.
The agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the primary accrediting body for all acting, drama, and theatre schools is the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). NAST's responsibilities are accrediting programs of study in theatre and establishing the standards and guidelines for those programs that lead to degrees and the credentials that come with them.
In addition to the NAST, there are several other accrediting bodies that evaluate schools and their programs. There are six primary regional accrediting organizations in the United States:
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Some additional accreditors specific to acting schools are:
- National Association of Schools of Dance
- National Association for Drama Therapy
- Association of Theatre in Higher Education
There are other areas of study directly and indirectly involved with acting. To learn more information about these disciplines, please visit our partner sites:
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