Accreditation of academic programs provided by private colleges and universities is overseen by the National Accreditation Board. The management and coordination of quality assurance in public universities is carried out by the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) under the oversight of the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The Quality Assurance Division was established in answer to global, regional and local forces, which lead to the establishment of Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (National Accreditation Board) (LAN) in 1997 for ensuring quality education provided by the Private Higher Education institutions (PHEIs). As required by Section 38, Private Higher Education Act 555, all PHEIs are not allowed to conduct any academic programme without the approval from the Minister of Higher Education. In 2002, public universities were also subjected to the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) within the Ministry of Higher Education.

Within the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has specific responsibility for the accreditation and auditing of all post-secondary and higher education providers in the country. The MQA also manages the implementation of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), a national set of criteria which apply to all qualifications awarded by recognised higher education providers. In addition, the MQA maintains the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR).

Although long self-accrediting, Malaysian public universities are now subject to independent audit through the MQA. The MQA administered the first national review of university teaching in 2008–2010. The Rating System for Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia involved 58 universities and university colleges. Each institution was independently assessed in terms of their performance in terms of undergraduate teaching and learning.

In addition to the MQA, a number of other bodies play a significant role in quality assurance. These include the Department of Public Service and the different statutory professional bodies which oversee standards in professional education.

The mechanism of accreditation and quality assurance for some providers of education and training in Malaysia is conducted by the following bodies:

• National Accreditation Board (LAN) for private sector institutions including branch campus and franchised programs
• Quality Assurance Division (QAD) of the Ministry of Education for public universities
• Public Services Department (JPA) for recognition of programs for the purpose of recruitment into public sector services
• Boards or Councils of the various professions such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture etc which recognize programs for the purpose of licensing or registering practitioners
• Standards and Industrial Research Institute (SIRIM) as the sole agent of the Standards department for assuring quality in the manufacturing and industrial sectors
• Securities Commission for regulating the associations that certify competence of professionals in the capital market
• Bank Negara Malaysia for regulating financial institutions that certify competence of professionals in the financial market

However, many providers are not subject to formal quality assurance procedures. Examples include public sector training institutions of the various ministries and industry-based skills providers.