The formal recognition that a vocational course conforms to the national principles and guidelines for accreditation and to a national qualifications framework. This means that:

• its contents and standards are appropriate to the qualification;
• it fulfils the purpose for which it was developed; and
• it is based on national competency standards, where they exist.

SOURCE: Vocational and Training Institutions. Ed. Vladimir Gaskov, International Labour Organization, 2006.