Every ABET review ends in two things: a set of findings about the program and an accreditation action that follows from them. The vocabulary is precise, and it decides how long a program is accredited before its next review and what it must do in the meantime. ABET's Accreditation Policy and Procedure Manual for the 2026-27 review cycle defines both.

The four levels of finding

  • Deficiency. A criterion, policy or procedure is not satisfied. The program is not in compliance.
  • Weakness. The program meets the requirement, but without the strength of compliance needed to be sure its quality will not be compromised. Remedial action is required before the next review.
  • Concern. The program meets the requirement now, but the situation could change so that it no longer does.
  • Observation. A comment or suggestion offered to help the program improve. It is not tied to the action.

Only Deficiencies and Weaknesses shape the action. Concerns and Observations are recorded so a program can act before they grow.

The actions, from a full term to none

Next General Review (NGR). No Deficiencies or Weaknesses after a comprehensive review. The typical term is six years, the full cycle.

Interim Report (IR) or Interim Visit (IV). One or more Weaknesses. The program reports its progress in writing (IR) or is visited again (IV), typically within two years.

Show Cause Report (SCR) or Show Cause Visit (SCV). A currently accredited program has one or more Deficiencies. It must show its remedial action in writing or through a visit, typically within two years. A Show Cause action cannot follow an earlier Show Cause action for the same Deficiency.

Report Extended (RE), Visit Extended (VE) and Show Cause Extended (SE). The program fixed what the interim or show cause review checked, and accreditation is extended to the next general review, for two or four years.

Not to Accredit (NA). Deficiencies remain, so the program is not in compliance. It usually follows a Show Cause action or the review of a new program. There is no extension.

Terminate (T). For a program being phased out, coverage for the students still enrolled, for up to three years.

What a Not to Accredit action allows

A program that receives a Not to Accredit action may ask for an immediate revisit or reconsideration instead of appealing, or it may appeal. Appeals are limited to errors of fact or a failure to follow ABET's published criteria, policies or procedures, and the notice of appeal is due within 30 business days.

What students and employers can see

Findings are confidential between ABET and the institution; the public sees the result. ABET's Accredited Program Search lists each accredited program and the date its accreditation began, and the public status reflects the most recent final action. A student does not need to know whether a program is in an interim cycle: a program on the list is accredited, and a degree earned while it is listed is a degree from an accredited program.

For a program chair

Read the final statement with this ladder in mind. A Concern today is the most likely Weakness at the next review, and a Weakness left unfixed is the road to a Deficiency. The interim cycle is designed to stop that slide early, and the evidence a program gathers for it is the same evidence Criterion 4 asks for every year.

Sources