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What is the Erasmus+ accreditation?

The Erasmus+ accreditation is a quality seal awarded by your country’s National Agency to schools and education organisations that want to participate in international mobility activities on a regular basis. It was introduced in the 2021–2027 Erasmus+ programme and is available in three fields: school education, vocational education and training (VET), and adult education.

Think of it as a multi-year “membership card” for Erasmus+ Key Action 1. Once accredited, your school doesn’t need to write a full project proposal every year — you simply submit a simplified funding request to your National Agency, and you receive a budget to implement mobility activities (training courses, job shadowing, teaching assignments abroad) according to your Erasmus Plan.

The accreditation is valid for the entire programme period (until 2027), so you only need to apply once.

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Two types of Erasmus+ accreditation

There are two forms of Erasmus+ accreditation. You can apply for one or the other, but not both in the same field:

Individual accreditation — for a single organisation that wants to organise mobility for its own staff and learners. This is the most common option for schools.

Consortium coordinator accreditation — for an organisation that wants to coordinate a group of organisations (a consortium) from the same country implementing mobility together under a joint Erasmus Plan. The coordinator organises activities for itself and provides mobility opportunities to consortium members. Consortium members do not need their own accreditation.

The Erasmus Learning Academy holds an Acreditarea Erasmus+ în calitate de coordonator al consorțiului de mobilitate, which means we can provide mobility opportunities to member organisations in our consortium. Learn more about our accreditations.

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Who can apply?

Any organisation based in an EU member state or a third country associated to the Erasmus+ programme can apply, provided it operates in one of the three eligible fields (school education, VET, adult education). This includes public and private schools at all levels — from preschool and primary to secondary — as well as regional education authorities, professional associations of teachers, and other organisations active in school education.

No previous Erasmus+ experience is required to apply. However, applicants must demonstrate at least two years of relevant experience in the field they’re applying for, and they must have the operational capacity to implement the proposed Erasmus Plan.

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Key benefits of the Erasmus+ accreditation

Stable, predictable funding. Once accredited, your school has guaranteed access to KA1 mobility funding for the entire programme period. You don’t need to compete for a new project every year — you simply request your annual budget through a simplified application form.

Simplified application process. The annual funding request (KA121) is much lighter than a full project proposal. You only need to provide basic information: the number of participants, the types of activities planned, and your budget. No detailed project descriptions, no lengthy evaluation criteria.

Long-term strategic planning. The Erasmus Plan you submit with your accreditation defines your school’s internationalisation goals for multiple years. This allows you to think strategically rather than project-by-project, aligning mobility with your school’s development priorities.

No limit on participants. Unlike short-term projects (KA122), which cap the number of participants, accredited organisations have no predefined limit on how many staff and learners can participate in mobility.

Flexibility. You don’t need to specify your destinations or training providers at the application stage. You can adapt your plans throughout the implementation period based on evolving needs.

Quality recognition. The accreditation is a public signal that your school meets the Standardele de calitate Erasmus and is committed to organising high-quality mobility activities.

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How to obtain the Erasmus+ accreditation

Step 1 — Register your organisation

If your school is not yet registered, create an account on the European Commission’s Organisation Registration System (ORS) to obtain your Organisation ID (OID). This is required for all Erasmus+ applications.

Step 2 — Develop your Erasmus Plan

The Erasmus Plan is the core of your accreditation application. It outlines your school’s internationalisation and development objectives, the types of mobility activities you plan to organise, and how you will track progress. The plan should be realistic, ambitious enough to make a genuine impact, and aligned with your school’s broader strategy. You don’t need to list specific destinations or training providers at this stage.

Step 3 — Submit the application

Complete the accreditation application form (KA120-SCH for school education, KA120-ADU for adult education, KA120-VET for vocational training) through the online webform. You’ll need to include your Erasmus Plan, information about your organisation’s experience, and a signed declaration on honour. The application deadline is typically in October each year — check the current Erasmus+ programme guide for exact dates.

Step 4 — Evaluation

Applications are evaluated by the National Agency in your country based on four criteria: relevance of the applicant’s profile and experience, quality of the Erasmus Plan objectives, quality of the proposed activities, and quality of the follow-up measures. Each criterion is scored, and your application must meet minimum thresholds in all four areas. There is no fixed limit on the number of accreditations awarded — all qualifying applications are accepted.

Step 5 — Annual funding requests

Once accredited, you submit a simplified annual funding request (KA121) — usually by the February deadline — specifying the number of participants and activities for the year. The National Agency then allocates your budget, and you typically have 15 months to implement the planned mobility.

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What if your school is not yet accredited?

If you missed the accreditation deadline or are not yet ready to commit to a multi-year Erasmus Plan, you still have options to participate in Erasmus+ KA1:

Short-term projects (KA122). These are standalone mobility projects for non-accredited organisations. They allow a smaller number of participants (up to 30) and have a shorter implementation period. The application process is more detailed than for accredited organisations, but it’s a good entry point if your school is new to Erasmus+. Some National Agencies offer two application deadlines per year.

Join a consortium. If a consortium coordinator in your country is already accredited, your school can join their consortium without needing its own accreditation. The coordinator manages the Erasmus Plan and funding, and your school participates in mobility activities as a consortium member.

Apply at the next round. The accreditation call reopens every year, typically with an October deadline. You can use the time to prepare your Erasmus Plan and gather experience through a short-term project.

For more details on how Erasmus+ KA1 works, see our guide on Erasmus+ funding for teacher training courses și current application forms.

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Important updates for 2026

The 2026 Erasmus+ programme guide introduces stricter rules for accredited organisations. Accreditation may be terminated if it is not used for three consecutive years, and National Agencies may conduct more frequent monitoring visits. Erasmus Plans must be regularly updated and aligned with current programme priorities, which in 2026 place strong emphasis on digital skills, green competences, inclusion and media literacy.

You can read the full details in the 2026 Erasmus+ programme guide.

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How ELA can help

Whether your school is already accredited or applying for the first time, the Erasmus Learning Academy supports you throughout the process. We are ourselves an Erasmus+ accredited organisation and consortium coordinator, with over a decade of experience in managing Erasmus+ mobility for thousands of teachers across Europe.

We can help you with choosing the right training courses for your Erasmus Plan, managing Erasmus+ documentation (learning agreements, quality commitments, Europass certificates), dissemination and final reporting, and finding the right course among our 46 training courses covering ICT, inclusion, wellbeing, innovative teaching methods, languages and more.

If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with our team — we speak over 10 languages and we’re happy to guide you through the process.