Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation process by which a credentialing or educational program is evaluated against defined criteria by a third party. When in compliance with these criteria, the program is awarded public recognition attesting to this compliance.

Striving to professionalize the tourism sector and ensure quality tourism-related programming is available, recognized and aspired to, Tourism HR Canada has led the development of a flexible and inclusive accreditation program that responds to identified needs of program providers, learners and industry alike. Through consultation with stakeholders and committee oversight, and based on years of research and practice, Tourism HR Canada has launched its SMART+ Accreditation Program.

Our aim is to provide a national recognition to tourism-related programs that meet or exceed industry standards, and to provide benchmarks that tourism program providers can use to assist them in continually improving their programs.

The SMART+ Accreditation Program is a flexible mechanism that translates best practices in program development, delivery and improvement, and outcomes measurement into a defined set of criteria which can be used as a benchmark for tourism-related programs. Through a simple self-evaluation process and formalized third party review, programs are assessed within a standardized framework based on the evidence provided. The programs that meet the criteria are accredited as SMART+ Programs.

To carry out your own evaluation using the SMART+ Accreditation Self-Evaluation Checklist, click here to access the SMART+ Accreditation Online Platform. If you can demonstrate that your program meets the minimum number of criteria, you are ready to complete the application. Download the full application guide to learn more.

Please note: You can submit and pay for a separate application for each additional program for which you would like to seek accreditation. The system is designed to allow you to work on multiple applications simultaneously, should you wish to do so.