Association for the Accreditation
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Resources: For Accreditation - Procedures

AAHRPP ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES

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Latest Update: October 16, 2024

Categories of Accreditation for New Applicants

 

The Council may place an organization seeking initial accreditation into one of four categories:

Full Accreditation:

An organization placed in this category meets all the Accreditation Standards. AAHRPP awards Full Accreditation to new applicants for three years, which commences on the date (month and year) AAHRPP makes the award.

Qualified Accreditation:

An organization placed in this category meets almost all the Accreditation Standards. Issues requiring corrective action are minor and non-regulatory in nature. AAHRPP awards Qualified Accreditation for three years, which commences on the date (month and year) AAHRPP makes the award. However, if the issues requiring corrective action are resolved before the next triennial site visit, the Council, upon acceptance of the corrective actions, may award Full Accreditation for the remainder of the accreditation period. Qualified Accreditation is only available to new applicants.

Accreditation-Pending:

The Council places an organization in the Accreditation-Pending category until it decides whether to award Full or Qualified Accreditation or to withhold accreditation. The Council may place an organization in the Accreditation-Pending category when the organization does not meet the criteria for Full or Qualified Accreditation, and the Council determines the organization is able and willing to commit to taking corrective actions to meet the criteria for accreditation within a reasonable time period.

An organization that is placed in the Accreditation-Pending category must submit an Improvement Plan within the timeframe specified by the Council. Based on the Improvement Plan and any requested progress reports (i.e., Status Reports), the Council may defer their decision and extend the length of time until the accreditation determination will be made. At its discretion, the Council also decides whether a Limited Site Visit or other actions are required before making a final accreditation determination.

Accreditation Withheld:

An organization placed in this category does not meet all Accreditation Standards and the Council believes the organization will not commit to undertake corrective action or is otherwise unable to meet the criteria for Qualified or Full Accreditation in a reasonable time. When accreditation is withheld, an organization may reapply at its own discretion; the application will be accepted only if the organization has made appropriate corrective actions and appears to be accreditable.