Misunderstandings about the role of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in engineering program accreditation have emerged. While some believe that IEEE is responsible for accrediting programs in the United States, this function actually lies with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET is a nonprofit organization that specifically accredits academic programs leading to degrees in various engineering disciplines, but does not assess the institutions, faculty, or individual courses.
IEEE is one of 34 professional organizations that assist ABET in its accreditation activities. These organizations, including IEEE, contribute to developing policies, strategies, and evaluation processes globally. The partnership between IEEE and ABET dates back to 1932, when the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE), a predecessor of IEEE, joined with six other engineering bodies to establish the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development, which eventually evolved into ABET.
Today, ABET accredits more than 4,770 programs across 930 colleges and universities in 42 countries. Among these, IEEE serves as the lead society for 877 programs. The organization plays a critical role in evaluating programs by providing volunteer program evaluators who visit educational institutions seeking accreditation. These evaluators assess programs according to criteria that are jointly developed with ABET and the corresponding professional societies.
The evaluation teams typically consist of individuals with substantial experience in industry, academia, or government. After serving for five or more years as a program evaluator, IEEE volunteers may be nominated to join either the IEEE Committee on Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities (CETAA) or the IEEE Committee on Engineering Accreditation Activities (CEAA). These committees are supported by IEEE Educational Activities, which oversees all of IEEE’s responsibilities related to ABET.
Each accreditation visit is led by a team chair, who serves as the main point of contact for the institution under evaluation. The typical term for a team chair is five years, with the option to serve an additional three years on the executive committee of ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) or Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). Currently, there are approximately 380 IEEE evaluators, with 26 serving as IEEE commissioners on ABET’s EAC and ETAC.
In the 2025-2026 academic year, IEEE received 126 applications for program evaluators from 24 countries. These applications included 105 from academia and 21 from industry or government.
Victor Nelson, an IEEE life senior member and professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at Auburn University, has been a program evaluator for over two decades. His contributions to ABET evaluation efforts were recognized with the 2024 IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Accreditation Activities. This award acknowledges significant contributions to enhancing educational quality through accreditation.
Reflecting on his experience, Nelson stated, “Years of developing and leading undergraduate electrical and computer engineering programs, including preparing for ABET accreditation reviews, led me to believe that becoming an ABET program evaluator would be a great way to learn new ways to improve the quality of our own programs while also assisting others.”
He continued, “My 23 years of conducting ABET reviews have more than confirmed that belief and have been incredibly rewarding. As a program evaluator, I have had the privilege of studying and visiting programs around the world, and I never fail to be impressed with and learn from the efforts and achievements of the many students and faculty in those programs.”
For those interested in understanding the importance of accreditation, IEEE published an article titled “How IEEE Ensures Quality in Engineering Education” in the previous year, outlining the organization’s commitment to maintaining high educational standards.
