Accreditation and Licensing
GIA’s main campus and worldwide headquarters in Carlsbad is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). GIA’s campus in New York is accredited by the ACCSC as a branch of GIA’s campus in Carlsbad. ACCSC’s accreditation is institutional in nature and includes GIA’s U.S. On Campus programs only. GIA’s online courses and Lab classes do not fall within the purview of GIA’s institutional accreditation by the ACCSC.
ACCSC Accreditation Approval – Carlsbad Campus
ACCSC Accreditation Approval – New York Campus
GIA’s online courses and lab classes are accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
DEAC Accreditation Approval
ACCSC and DEAC are listed by the U.S. Department of Education as nationally recognized accrediting agencies.
This institution is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any questions a student may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at 1747 N. Market Blvd. Ste 225 Sacramento, CA 95834. P.O. Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818. www.bppe.ca.gov Telephone and Fax #'s: (888) 370-7589 or by fax (916) 263-1897. As required by California Education Code 94909(a) (12), GIA discloses it has no pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not filed a petition within the preceding five years, and has not had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it within the preceding five years that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq.).
GIA’s campus in New York is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
GIA has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer Title IV federal financial aid to qualified students in GIA’s On Campus full time Graduate Gemologist (GG), Graduate Jeweler (GJ), and Jewelry Design & Technology (JDT) programs. Additionally, GIA is approved for qualifying students to receive funding, including veteran’s benefits and vocational rehabilitation funding, for the approved On Campus programs from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the New York State Bureau of Veterans Education.
Students may not use VA GI Bill® Education Benefits for GIA Online courses or Lab classes. Depending on the authorization from the student's VA counselor, GIA Online courses or Lab classes may qualify for use of Vet Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits.
GIA is authorized by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to offer online courses and lab classes to residents of Texas. GIA’s TWC assigned school number is S3437. GIA Applied Jewelry Professional™ (AJP®) program is exempt from regulation under Texas Education Code, section 132.002 (a) (3). Texas residents enrolling in online courses or lab classes should refer to GIA’s Texas Education Catalog found at https://www.gia.edu/student-consumer-information.
GIA does not operate in Washington, DC and does not accept applications for online courses from the district's residents.
In addition to the approvals described above, GIA is authorized to offer, and/or recruit for, its online courses in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. GIA is either exempt or not required to have an authorization to deliver online courses in other states. GIA has the exemption in Arizona and is authorized in Nevada and New York to deliver lab classes.
GIA’s campus in London is accredited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
GIA’s Bangkok office is registered with the Office of the Private Education Commission, Ministry of Education in Thailand.
The Graduate Gemologist program offered through GIA Hong Kong is registered with the Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) under Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap. 493).
GIA’s campus in Taiwan is registered with the Department of Education, Taipei City Government.
