Continuing Accreditation Process
Please check the last CAAHEP accreditation decision letter for your program to know when the next continuing accreditation evaluation will be scheduled. This can be found in your program listing on the CAAHEP website under Find an Accredited Program.
- In the summer prior to the review year listed in the award letter, the program will be contacted via email and will be given the following information:
- The current version of the ARC/STSA Self-Study Report, which also may be downloaded at any time (see link to the right)
- A site visit scheduling poll and due date for the poll
- In early fall, the program will be contacted again with the following information:
- Tentative site visit date
- Due date for Self-Study Report and evidence documentation
- 10-12 weeks prior to visit, program notified of the confirmed site visit dates
- Program is notified via email that the site visit date is confirmed. The program receives the link to upload the Self-Study Report and evidence documentation.
- Site evaluator names are released to the program, and if the site visit is on-ground, travel recommendations are requested at this time (travel and accommodations for the site visit team are scheduled and booked by ARC/STSA, but the program will recommend local accommodations).
- Invoice is sent for the Self-Study Application Fee, Site Evaluation Fee, and any other applicable fees, e.g., Satellite Application Fee or Separate Instructional Site Application Fee.
- Zoom links for meetings will be sent with the program notification (Zoom is used for the staff liaison to join the visit and for the Program Advisory Committee/clinical affiliate interviews).
- Approximately 8 weeks before the site visit, the Self-Study Report, evidence documentation, RAS, and fees are due
- The Self-Study Report and evidence documentation, including a site visit agenda (schedule) completed by the program, is due, along with the invoiced fees.
- The program completes the CAAHEP Request for Accreditation Services (RAS) Form.
- The program uploads the Self-Study Report and evidence documentation, including the completed RAS Form, via the provided link. ARC/STSA staff reviews he Self-Study Report and evidence documentation, and if necessary, sends a request for missing or incomplete documentation to the program director.
- All programs are required to participate in a technology check scheduled by ARC/STSA staff prior to the visit.
- Site visit occurs on ground, hybrid, or virtual
- Site visits are scheduled for 1.5 days (Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday).
- Findings letter sent to the program
- When the site visit is complete, the site visit team sends the site visit findings report to ARC/STSA, and a findings letter is developed to detail any areas of concern identified. The findings letter is sent to the program approximately 8 weeks after the visit.
- Program response due date
- The program is given time to respond to any concerns. The response due date and instructions on how to submit the response are included in the findings letter.
- ARC/STSA staff reviews the program’s response to the findings letter and forwards the program’s application file to the Board of Directors. The program’s application for Continuing Accreditation is comprised of the Self-Study Report, site visit findings report and findings letter, and the program’s response.
- Review by ARC/STSA Board of Directors
- The ARC/STSA Board of Directors (BoD) reviews the Continuing Accreditation application materials and either recommends accreditation or defers (tables) its recommendation pending submission of additional clarifying documentation.
- If the ARC/STSA BoD recommends accreditation, the recommendation is forwarded to the CAAHEP Board of Directors for review and accreditation action.
- If the ARC/STSA BoD tables the application, a letter is sent requesting clarifying information and steps 6-9 are repeated. The application is not forwarded to CAAHEP until clarifying information is received and accepted.
- Recommendation sent to CAAHEP Board of Directors for review and accreditation action.