Founded in 1954, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) was a coalition of 33 specialty professional associations. "Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching and teacher preparation[.]"

Upon the recommendation of the NCATE/Teacher Education Accreditation Council Report, plans to create The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation were made. In 2016, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accreditation standards were implemented and continue to be the standards used today.