Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, also known as CAAHEP, is an agency that accredits postsecondary education programs in 19 different allied health and related fields. Programmatic accreditation is granted after an education program is reviewed and it is determined that the program is in compliance with the profession’s accreditation Standards. The profession's accreditation Standards designate what an entry-level health care employee in a particular field needs to know in order to be successful in that field.

Accreditation in health-related fields is very important to the general public, as well as to potential students of health science education programs. Program accreditation is a measure to help assure the general public that entry-level health care service providers are educated with the minimum Standards set forth by the profession. An accredited program also tells potential students of that program that the education they will receive meets nationally-established quality standards.

A not-for-profit organization, CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAAHEP's members are organizations that represent the professions accredited by CAAHEP and/or the institutions that teach CAAHEP accredited programs. CAAHEP’s leadership is comprised of both a Commission and a Board of Directors.^[1] The individuals who serve as Commissioners are representatives from CAAHEP’s sponsoring organizations, along with a recent graduate of a CAAHEP accredited program and members of the general public. The Commissioners approve the organization’s mission, vision, and bylaws, and decide which health science professions qualify to take part in the CAAHEP accreditation system. CAAHEP is also lead by a Board of Directors, whose members are elected from among the Commissioners.

When an education program in a health science profession seeks CAAHEP accreditation, the program will work with that profession’s Committee on Accreditation (CoA).^[2] It is the CoA that leads the program through accreditation process, reviewing the self-study, organizing the site visit of the program, and formulating the accreditation recommendation of the program for approval by the CAAHEP Board of Directors.

CAAHEP accredits over 2,200 programs in the following 19 health science disciplines. The programs reside in more than 1,000 postsecondary educational institutions across the United States and Canada.^[3]

Anesthesiologist Assistant
Cardiovascular Technologist
Cytotechnologist
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
Emergency Medical Services Personnel
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Science
Kinesiotherapist
Lactation Consultant
Medical Assistant
Medical Illustrator
Orthotist and Prosthetist
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
Perfusionist
Personal Fitness Trainer
Polysomnographic Technologist
Specialist in Blood Banking Technology
Surgical Assistant
Surgical Technologist

History

In 1904, the American Medical Association established its Council on Medical Education (CME). The CME developed a rating system of medical schools in 1905, initiated inspections in 1906, and classified the institutions in 1907. The AMA then collaborated with the Carnegie Foundation to conduct a study of the quality of medical education that resulted in the Flexner Report in 1910. These early efforts subsequently led to the development of specialized accreditation for the education of health professionals. It was also the precursor of accreditation activities for most other professional associations.

Early in the 1930’s, several national bodies requested the collaboration of the AMA in establishing accreditation for education programs in their areas of interest. These early efforts established a basis and pattern for the role of the AMA in collaborating with other national associations for the accreditation of health sciences education programs. From 1935 through 1976, the recognized agency was the AMA Council on Medical Education. In 1976 the CME delegated to the newly formed Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) the responsibility and authority for health sciences education accreditation. In October, 1992 the AMA announced its intent to support the establishment of a new and independent agency to assume the accreditation responsibilities of CAHEA. That new agency, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) was incorporated in May, 1994. ^[4]

References

^ CAAHEP Commissioners and Board of Directors[1]
^ Committees on Accreditation Roster[2]
^ Search listing of CAAHEP accredited programs[3]
^ "CAAHEP Accreditation Manual," CAAHEP 2009, Clearwater, FL. [4]

External Links

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs Website[5]

[1] CAAHEP Commissioners and Board of Directors[1]

[2] Committees on Accreditation Roster[2]

[3] Search listing of CAAHEP accredited programs[3]

[4] "CAAHEP Accreditation Manual," CAAHEP 2009, Clearwater, FL. [4]

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