The Licensing Authority for Teaching International English is a specialized authority  for the accreditation of English language programs, teachers and institutions  worldwide. The AUTHORITY, known as the LATIE, advances standards, promotes excellence in English Language teaching and learning for students, schools, and institutes.

Students planning to learn how to teach or wish to study English in any country  benefit greatly from the existence of an accrediting agency that can help choose an appropriate setting for their study.

Quality schools and institutes benefit from an accrediting authority that will confirm their credentials and distinguish them from many other organizations of lesser quality  and performance.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a means by which a profession sets standards and monitors itself. To be accredited, a program or school undertakes a vigorous process of self-study in which it shows that it meets a set of nationally accepted standards. It then  opens itself to a  review by trained professionals and evaluation by an independent body,  acknowledged and respected by the profession at large.

Across national borders, without an international, independent, and unbiased body there can be no standard methodology of international accreditation  for English programs and teachers. It is improbable and highly unacceptable that any one national standard be imposed across international borders.

Whereas any one country, government, or national body can implement educational standards, their authority will not be accepted outside their own territory. While several countries have bodies that claim to set national standards for ESL and TESOL accreditation, they only have influence in their own country.  An American or British organization that sets accreditation standards for their own country has no authority to impose these standards on others.

In many countries, standards of education are the responsibility of a central government bureau. In others, like the USA, accreditation has developed as a private, voluntary system of nongovernmental evaluation. Public universities and colleges as well as private educational institutions are accredited by large regional accrediting agencies. There are also specialized accrediting agencies for specific professions.

LATIE accrediting authority is given under the auspices of the Board of Govenors  and member schools, institutions, and teachers of the Licensing Authority for Teaching International English.

LATIE  members represent all participants in the ESL world and come from 73 different countries. The Board of Governors, consisting of 25 members plus a chairman, is selected from participating members worldwide and meets regularly by telephone and email as required.

The LATIE Board of Govenors meets formally once every two years in person to revise and re-establish the policies of the Authority.

The LATIE  operations are the responsibility of the Managing Director and his staff  under the director of the managing committee of the Board of Govenors.