On May 25, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 14074 on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. One goal of the Order is to increase public trust and enhance public safety and security by encouraging equitable and community-oriented policing. Pursuant to Section 19 of the EO, the Department of Justice was tasked with developing and publishing standards for determining whether an entity is an authorized, independent credentialing body.

The National Standards for Independent Credentialing Bodies were developed in consultation with professional accreditation organizations, law enforcement executive and labor leadership, civil rights and community-based organizations, civilian oversight and accountability groups, and other appropriate stakeholders. The COPS Office will recognize those law enforcement credentialing bodies that meet or exceed the National Standards as Authorized Independent Credentialing Bodies (AICB). More information on the process of AICB recognition will be added in this space as it becomes available.