Health Education Certification and Accreditation

There are two basic types of health school accreditation:

• Institutional accreditation: Institutional accreditation is awarded to an institution by one of six regional accrediting agencies and many national accrediting agencies, such as the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
   
• Specialized accreditation: Specialized accreditation usually applies to a single department, program, or school that is part of a larger institution of higher education.

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are accreditors for postsecondary programs.
   
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP): CAAHEP is the largest specialized accreditation in the health sciences field.
   
• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES): ABHES accredits private postsecondary institutions and programs preparing individuals for entry into many health care profession.
   
• Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC): The DETC accredits online or distance learning programs that have been in existence for at least two years.

• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE): Accreditation Council for occupational therapy education programs throughout the U.S.
   
• American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADSCDA): ADSCDA accredits dental assistant programs throughout the U.S.
   
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): The AVMA accredits veterinary technician programs throughout the U.S.
   
• Joint Review Committee on Education for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCEDMS): The JRCEDMS accredits ultrasound training programs throughout the U.S.
   
• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA): ARC-PA accredits physician assistant programs throughout the U.S.
   
• Credentialing and Certification for Lab / Medical Techs:
  • American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
  • National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA)
  • National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
  • American Medical Technologists (AMT)

• An Assurance of High Quality Standards: Accreditation assures students, parents and the public that a school adheres to high quality standards based on the latest research and professional practice. An accredited school must continue to demonstrate during regular review cycles that it is developing and growing, not just maintaining existing standards.
   
• A Requirement for Financial Aid Programs: Health school accreditation creates a gateway for students to participate in federally funded and state financial aid programs. In order to receive federal funds, a school must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
   
• A Plus When Pursuing Graduate Studies: Schools will often only recognize credits earned at institutions holding the same level of accreditation. Graduates from programs at accredited institutions qualify to attend other accredited schools to pursue advanced studies, including master's and doctoral programs. Most accredited schools will only recognize undergraduate credits as satisfying first-year requirements if they are from a non-accredited institution.