Accreditation of Higher Education Courses
The ACT Accreditation and Registration Council (ARC) accredits higher education courses under the Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003 
, the National Protocols and the National Guidelines All applications must demonstrate capacity to meet the requirements of the National Protocols and the National Guidelines.
Persons seeking accreditation in two or more states/territories should seek mutual recognition of their course at the outset. Each Australian state and territory has an authority that is responsible for implementing the National Protocols and can provide advice on mutual recognition.
The AQF website lists government authorities that register higher education providers: AQF Registers. On the left hand margin are links to relevant state and territory authorities.
ACT Register of Higher Education Providers 
(18kb)
The Approval Process
Applicants seeking course accreditation in the ACT must complete an Application for Accreditation form, or Mutual Recognition of a provider to deliver courses in another state or territory.
All prospective applicants are advised to contact the ARC Secretariat, prior to submitting forms:
The Program Manager for Higher Education
Training and Tertiary Education
ACT Education and Training Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Or by phone: 02 620 57066
Period of Accreditation for Higher Education Courses
Course accreditation may be granted for a period of up to five years. Prior to the end of an accreditation period the Higher Education Provider must apply for re-accreditation of the course. The process for re-accreditation is the same as the initial process above.
Annual Report Requirements for Higher Education Providers
Registered Higher Education Providers must report annually ARC, and in the case of mutually recognised providers, to their primary jurisdiction.
Annual Report Form for ARC registered providers 
(276kb) .
The Report covers activity for the previous calendar year and Providers registered in the ACT must forward them to ARC at the address below by 31 May each year:
ACT Accreditation and Registration Council Secretariat
Training and Tertiary Education
ACT Education and Training Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
or email the completed report to: TQA_ARC@act.gov.au
Higher Education Providers operating in other States and Territories are required to send an additional hard copy for each secondary State or Territory in which there is approval to operate.
The ACT Accreditation and Registration Council Secretariat will send a copy of the submitted report to the relevant secondary jurisdiction(s).
Fees
The fees payable for a range of ARC approvals in VET, higher education and International Education in the ACT are available here:
Schedule of ARC Fees (26kb) (Fees are updated annually, normally in line with CPI increases).
