The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) accepted a recommendation to recognize the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), confirming CHEA recognition after review by its Committee on Recognition. The NAAB is the specialized accreditor for professional architecture degree programs in the United States. CHEA said the Committee on Recognition reviewed NAAB’s application at its March 2026 meeting and recommended initial recognition, which the CHEA Board granted on May 4, 2026. CHEA recognition affirms NAAB’s commitment to academic quality, institutional improvement, and public accountability in architectural education, emphasizing peer review and accreditation oversight. For architecture departments and professional schools, recognition matters because it signals legitimacy to students, institutions, and regulators—and it can be a gating factor for federal and institutional decision-making around accreditation status.