Doc, you asked me what C.I.T.A was and I simply told you that it's the 'Consortium of International TESOL Accreditation' - but gave you no explanation.

After reading your previous post, now might be a good time to explain a little more.

CITA gives accreditation to both educational institutions as well as ESL teachers. Essentially, it sets a standard.

Schools etc, that wish to apply, have to go through a 3-stage process over a 3-year period.
During the first academic year, after initial assessment, they are given a 'Bronze Membership' and a strict set of guidelines. Subsequent assessments on teaching methods, student grades etc, will take them to the next level which is 'Silver Membership'.
Maintaining or increasing their standards throughout the second year will take them to the 'fully-fledged' Gold Membership by the beginning of the third year. Random spot-checks are then carried out by CITA personnel who have the power to revoke membership if necessary.

The cost of CITA membership is based on a nominal 'per-student' fee. In other words, if it's say RMB20 per student, there is no discrimination between a school with 5000 students, or 500 students. It's results-driven, not cash-driven.

Accredited schools can use the CITA logo on all their advertising etc, in order to attract students wishing to eventually study abroad.

Likewise with ESL teachers. They must undergo some rigorous training in order to become accredited. They are then periodically spot-checked (usually once a year), to make sure that their teaching standards are maintained.

Ideally, CITA accredited schools employ CITA accredited teachers.

Again, membership is not expensive but they don't issue accreditation to FD's or FT's unless they are worthy of it.

It is a UK based operation that is run by academics, professors, linguists, grammarians and other highly qualified people with an educational background.
One of them is the former head of Eton College.

It doesn't have a foot-hold in China yet, but they aspire to achieve one.

Setting a 'standard' inside what is essentially a 'rotten system' in China has to be beneficial to everyone.