What is NBA Accreditation? And its Step-by-Step Process

Here’s what happens at each step:

Step 1: Check if Ready & Sign Up

Before applying, Institution must make sure they can qualify. Programs should:

1. Be approved by AICTE or another official group.
2. Have at least two groups of students who already graduated.
3. Have paperwork ready on faculty, infrastructure, curriculum, and outcomes.

Once ready, the institution registers on the e-NBA website, the official online place for applications and documents.

Step 2: Preparation of Self-Assessment Report (SAR)

The Self-Assessment Report (SAR) is the most important part. It’s a detailed document the school prepares that covers:

1. Vision, Mission, and Program Objectives (PEOs)
2. Curriculum and teaching-learning processes
3. Faculty strength, qualifications, and contributions
4. Student performance, placements, and achievements
5. Infrastructure and learning resources
6. Continuous improvement mechanisms

This report shows how well the program follows Outcome-Based Education (OBE). It’s not just about things like classrooms or labs, but about real student results like knowledge, skills, and getting jobs.

Step 3: Submission of SAR and Fees

After preparing the SAR, the institution submits it through the e-NBA portal along with the required fee. NBA then plans the review process.

Step 4: Expert Visit

This is the biggest step. A team of subject experts and experienced teachers visits the institution, usually for 2–3 days. Their job is to check the SAR and see the program up close. During the visit, they:

1. Talk with teachers, students, graduates, and employers.
2. Look at classrooms, labs, libraries, and computer facilities.
3. Check student projects, research work, and testing methods.
4. Make sure the school follows AICTE and NBA rules.
5. Look for proof of constant improvement and new ideas.

The expert team writes a detailed report with good points, weak spots, and areas to fix.

Step 5: Review & Decision

The expert team’s report goes to NBA’s Academic Advisory Committee. This group looks at the findings, double-checks proof, and makes sure the review was fair.

Based on the review, the program gets one of these results:

1. Full Accreditation (for the longest time period)
2. Provisional Accreditation (if improvements are needed)
3. Denial of Accreditation (if standards aren’t met)

Institutions also get feedback, which becomes a plan for future growth.

Why This Process Matters?

The process isn’t just a checklist. It makes sure that:

• Students graduate with skills bosses want in the real world.
• Institutions use modern teaching methods and digital systems.
• Employers, parents, and government trust program quality.
• Colleges stay matched with worldwide standards like the Washington Accord.

NBA Accreditation Policies and Criteria

NBA accreditation works at the program level, not the whole school level. This means each engineering, business, pharmacy, or architecture program gets checked separately.

Who Can Apply?

1. Programs must be approved by AICTE or the right council.
2. At least two groups of students should have already graduated.
3. Institutions must be in good shape with money and academics.

SAR Submission Rules:

Colleges must write a Self-Assessment Report (SAR). It includes information on teachers, lessons, buildings, research, job placement, student results, and how the school runs. Being honest and clear is important since checkers will look for proof.

How Experts Check Programs?

1. A team of expert checkers visits the school for 2–3 days.
2. They make sure SAR details are true, talk with teachers, students, and graduates, and look at buildings.
3. Checking follows a criterion-wise scoring system (covering vision, faculty, student performance, governance, research, and industry engagement).
4. Final scores decide if the program gets accreditation for 3 years (provisional) or 6 years (full accreditation).

NBA Accreditation Criteria: