The Council on Occupational Education or (COE) is national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education. Originally founded in 1971 as a regional accrediting agency of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, COE became a national accrediting agency in 1995. The Council on Occupational Education focuses on accreditation of non-degree-granting and applied associate degree-granting postsecondary career and technical education institutions.