Schools are inspected by inspectors appointed by the ACELS, Advisory Council of English Language Schools, on which the Departments of Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Foreign Affairs are represented.
All new schools are inspected in two consecutive years. If, after the second inspection, the school is found to be satisfactory, the ACELS will recommend its recognition to the Department of Education and Science.
Existing schools are inspected at the discretion of the council and at least once within a three year period. The Department of Education and Science grants recognition on an annual basis and a recognised school must therefore renew its application annually.