Accreditation designates I&R programs as credible and reputable services dedicated to ongoing and continuous compliance with the highest standard of quality throughout all aspects of its organization. 

It is the primary quality assurance mechanism for affirming I&R excellence which demonstrates competency and credibility.

There are more than 11 accredited services in Canada; 8* of them are in Ontario.

Among requirements:

• demonstration of full compliance with the AIRS Standards for Professional Information and Referral
• comprehensive review of the agency’s resource database
• a "secret shopper" monitoring of the agency’s I&R service delivery
• on-site visit by accreditation team

In Ontario, 2-1-1 call centres are required to obtain and maintain their credentials; accreditation is voluntary for other services.

The accreditation process is managed by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), based in the United States.

See also staff ceritification designation.

AIRS - accreditation information links

http://www.airs.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3376

http://www.airs.org/files/AIRS%20Accreditation%20info%20sheet.pdf

* statistics from AIRS, as of 2015.