Initial Accreditation Process

Formal application to ACCET for initial review and consideration requires the submission of ACCET Document 4 – Application for Accreditation, supporting documentation, and an associated fee. Acceptance of the application is not an indication or assessment of the institution’s compliance with the Standards for Accreditation but simply an initial indicator of congruence with the eligibility requirements.

All applicants are required to send at least one representative to an ACCET Accreditation Workshop before submitting the Analytic Self-Evaluation Report (ASER). The workshop is designed to provide an in-depth study of the ACCET accreditation process to assist the institution in preparing for the ASER and on-site evaluation, and in understanding the Commission’s actions.

Following acceptance of the application and participation in the Accreditation Workshop, the institution will complete and submit to ACCET the Analytic Self-Evaluation Report (ASER). 

Following acceptance of an application for initial accreditation, an institution is scheduled for a Readiness Visit. At least one review cycle prior to the full on-site team evaluation, the Readiness Visit is conducted by an experienced ACCET representative to assist an institution in its preparation for the subsequent on-site team evaluation. Upon completion of the Readiness Visit, the institution will assess whether it should proceed as scheduled with the full on-site team visit or delay the team visit to allow additional time for the institution to more fully address the issues in the ASER relative to compliance with the standards.

After the ASER is received, arrangements are made for an examination team to conduct an on-site visit. Examination team members are selected based on the unique characteristics of the institution and the program(s) to be evaluated. Examination teams vary in size and constituency depending upon the focus and complexity of the applicant’s program(s). The team members are assigned various individual responsibilities depending upon their area(s) of expertise, with one team member serving as chairperson. The team typically includes a Commission Representative, a Management Specialist, and a Curriculum Specialist, as needed.

The on-site examination team visit is a fact-finding initiative on behalf of the Accrediting Commission. The primary responsibility of the team during the visit is to establish an objective, comparative analysis of the institution’s ASER and the operational characteristics relevant to each of the ACCET Document 2 – Standards for Accreditation, as demonstrated by actual practices. Team members will seek to verify the accuracy and validity of the information and data contained in the ASER through inquiry, observation, and documentation review. Both administrative and educational activities are reviewed in the context of the ACCET standards, policies, and procedures. 

The on-site examination team prepares a report of the visit and submits it to the ACCET office for processing. A copy of this report is sent to the applicant institution around 30 days after the end of the visit via AMS, to submit additional documentation pertinent to factors existing at the time of the visit, for consideration by the Accrediting Commission.

The Accrediting Commission meets periodically to review and evaluate institutions, and may accredit for a period up to five years (a maximum of three years for initial vocational school applicants), defer accreditation pending further evidence or required changes, deny accreditation, or withdraw accreditation from an institution that is currently accredited. A written report of the Commission’s decision is made to the applicant within 30 days from the conclusion of the Commission meeting. ACCET publishes Commission Reports summarizing actions taken at recent Commission Meetings.

While there is no fixed, definitive timeframe for completing the initial accreditation review process, 18 months is a reasonable estimate for an institution committed to a serious investment of the necessary resources. An initial application expires one year from the date of receipt at ACCET, unless officially accepted along with the subsequent receipt of an ASER, request for on-site visit and fees within that timeframe. Please review the Accreditation Review Schedule for additional information.