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Mission and Vision Statements of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Full Statement:
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science is committed to being the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care professions. NAACLS provides leadership in fostering innovative educational approaches and actively supports cooperative efforts with other agencies.
NAACLS, in collaboration with its professional organizations, provides comprehensive services including program accreditation, program approval, consultation, and continuing education. NAACLS provides these services for educational programs, students, employers, and health care consumers.
NAACLS is dedicated to peer review as the foundation of accreditation and approval. The agency strives to prepare volunteer reviewers and to assist them in providing exemplary program analysis, based upon principles of honesty, fairness, objectivity, and integrity.
NAACLS demonstrates commitment to public service by setting standards for education programs of high quality in clinical laboratory sciences and related health professions. NAACLS will continue to be responsive to the needs of the public and the health care community.
Abbreviated Statement:
NAACLS is committed to being the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health professions through the involvement of expert volunteers and its commitment to public service.
Vision Statement:
Medical laboratories will preferentially seek graduates of NAACLS accredited and approved programs to assure quality, value and innovation for healthcare consumers.
A process of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in clinical laboratory science disciplines of Medical Laboratory Scientist, Doctoral Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Cytogenetic Technologist, Diagnostic Molecular Scientist, Histotechnician, Histotechnologist, and Pathologists' Assistant. All accredited programs are required to submit a self-study and host a site visit in the cyclical review process. Accredited programs are eligible for a maximum award of ten years. These programs must either grant the associate degree or higher or a certificate of completion (if students already hold a degree) upon the successful culmination.
International Accreditation Policy
The NAACLS Board of Directors has voted to open the accreditation process to laboratory programs located outside the United States. Such programs are invited to have the chief executive officer submit letters of intent to seek NAACLS accreditation. All materials sent to NAACLS regarding accreditation must be submitted in English.
The steps of the accreditation process for international programs are identical to the steps for United States programs and are found in the Guide to Accreditation and Approval. These include an application for accreditation, attainment of serious applicant status, submission of a self study document, and an on-site evaluation.
The program is expected to meet the Standards as defined by NAACLS. The sponsoring academic institution must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency for higher education and must be authorized under applicable law to provide post secondary education and to grant the appropriate degree.
The program is expected to pay the application fee, all costs associated with the on-site visit (including business class air fare), plus an annual fee.
NAACLS Approval:
A process of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in the clinical laboratory science disciplines of Clinical Assistant and Phlebotomist. All approved programs are structured to assure that graduates will possess stated entry-level career competencies. Approved programs must submit a self-study in the cyclical review process with a maximum award length of 5 years. Approved programs must issue a certificate of completion upon the successful culmination of the program.