ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued a vital advisory urging students to verify the accreditation of Professional Degree Programs before enrolling in educational institutions.
According to official sources, professional degree programs or qualifications cannot be offered or continued without accreditation from the corresponding professional councils.
Despite this requirement, some universities still admit students to unaccredited and invalid programs, posing a serious threat to students’ future and resulting in the loss of time and financial resources.
To address this concern, the HEC advises students and their parents to confirm the accreditation status of the desired degree programs by consulting the concerned Professional Councils before taking admission. For non-professional programs, it is essential to ensure that the admitting university, sub-campus, or affiliated institution is recognized by the Higher Education Commission.
For ease of reference, the HEC has provided a web link (hec.gov.pk/site/HEIs) where students can check the accreditation status of degree programs and the recognition status of educational institutions.
To facilitate inquiries and verifications, the HEC has shared contact numbers for various Professional Councils, including:
Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC): 051-9219500-9206974
Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC): 051-9190000
Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC): 051-9108340
Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC): 051-9255813
Pakistan Council for Architects and Town Planners (PCATP): 051-2706668
Pakistan Pharmacy Council (PCP): 051-9204191
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC): 051-9206805
National Council for Homoeopathic (H): 051-5409003
National Council for Tibb (NCT): 051-9204378
Allied Health Professional Council (AHPC): 051-9216775
National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC): 051-90802681
National Business Education Accreditation Council (NBEAC): 051-90800206-7
National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC): 051-90802771-2
National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE): 051-90808155-6
National Technology Council (NTC): 051-90802786
This advisory aims to empower students to make informed decisions about their education and ensure that they enroll in accredited programs and recognized institutions.
