Accreditation guide
What MSA-CESS accreditation means
The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools accredits schools and certain non-degree career institutions. It is separate from the Texas license required to operate a cosmetology school.
01 / Definition
MSA-CESS reviews schools and non-degree institutions
MSA-CESS says its commissions accredit early-childhood through secondary schools, special-purpose schools, and postsecondary institutions that do not grant degrees. Its process evaluates an institution against standards appropriate to that type of school.
02 / Distinction
It is not the Middle States college accreditor
MSA-CESS and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education share historical Middle States naming but serve different institution types. MSCHE accredits degree-granting higher-education institutions; MSA-CESS covers elementary, secondary, and certain non-degree schools. Profiles should identify the exact commission rather than displaying the ambiguous phrase “Middle States” alone.
03 / Limits
Accreditation does not replace Texas licensing
MSA-CESS accreditation does not establish an active TDLR license, a current cosmetology price, an available class schedule, transferable credit, or federal-aid eligibility for an individual student. We research those facts separately.
04 / Verification
Match the exact school in the member directory
Status and scope can change. Check the official directory using the school’s name and address, and distinguish accredited status from candidacy.