The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) Earns Prestigious Cognia Accreditation

National recognition empowers NCOAE students to earn and transfer high school credit nationwide.

Wilmington, N.C. – April 22, 2025: The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) is proud to announce that it has been awarded full accreditation by Cognia®, a nonprofit organization recognized globally for its commitment to continuous improvement and
educational excellence.

The accreditation is conferred by the Cognia Global Commission and its regional bodies, which include the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). The endorsement represents a significant milestone for NCOAE, further validating its place as a leader in outdoor, experiential, and adventure-based education.

“Earning Cognia accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the quality and impact of our programs,” said Zac Adair, co-founder and executive director of NCOAE. “It tells our students, families, educational partners, and the communities in which we operate that what we offer is more than just outdoor adventure. It’s accredited, meaningful education that builds character, confidence, and transferable academic achievement. We’ve always held ourselves to the highest standards, and Cognia’s rigorous process has helped us raise the bar even higher.”

To achieve accreditation, NCOAE underwent an intensive multi-stage evaluation process, including a candidacy review and final site evaluation, during which Cognia assessed organizational effectiveness, instructional quality, and alignment with performance standards. The process, which began in April of 2024, confirmed NCOAE’s capacity to deliver accredited high school-level coursework, including its new High School Summer Semester. That 32-day transformative experience is designed for 10th- and 11th-grade students seeking a unique blend of academic rigor, leadership development, and adventure in the great outdoors.

Cognia accredits more than 36,000 institutions in over 90 countries, providing global recognition for organizations committed to excellence and continuous improvement. Schools accredited by Cognia meet demanding criteria that assess learning environments, resource allocation, and leadership effectiveness.

“Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire institution and its community on the goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “We commend The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education for meeting these high standards and for making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”

About The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE)
Since launching its first courses in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest in 2009, NCOAE has grown into a global leader in outdoor education and adventure-based programming. Based in Wilmington, N.C., NCOAE is committed to creating and facilitating wilderness-based experiences that foster personal growth, professional development, and the acquisition of technical outdoor and wilderness medicine skills. Accredited by Cognia, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE), and the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), NCOAE provides courses and training across the United States and internationally, including in Patagonia and other global destinations. Learn more at www.ncoae.org.

About Cognia
Cognia is a global nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation, certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Learn more at www.cognia.org.

Media Contacts:

North Carolina
Margee Herring, APR
Phone: (910) 233-2466
Email: margeeherring@gmail.com

National
Lora Osborne
Lora Osborne Public Relations
Phone: (612) 751-9744‬
Email: loramosborn@gmail.com