The Initial Accreditation Process

Development of Program/Initial Processes
 
Programs seeking Initial Accreditation must first comply with several requirements including a letter of intent, a completed initial application, payment of an initial application fee, and approval of a preliminary report.

All documents should be sumbitted in a single application application packet.

The Self-Study Process
 
The first step in the evaluation of a program is the program's own self-evaluation.  This is accomplished by the Program Director with the cooperation of the program faculty and administration.  NAACLS has made the forms that the reviewers will use available for download on the NAACLS web site (https://naacls.org/Other/Documents.aspx select Change Document in the dropdown) as an aide for program officials to evaluate their program.  While the program’s self-evaluation certainly should review the NAACLS Standards, other documents, such as the programmatic and institutional mission statements, supply additional information for the functions of the program.  The eventual result of this self-evaluation is the Self-Study, which is a document that demonstrates the program compliance with the Standards.  Recommendations for assembling the Self-Study are found in the Standards Compliance Guide.

 
The Self-Study reviewer is charged with the review of the Self-Study, ensuring that it adequately demonstrates the program's compliance with the Standards.  The reviewer is evaluating the Self-Study, rather than the program, thus assuring that good practice processes are documented.  In addition, the reviewer is the earliest outside source to review the adequacy of compliance.  The program receives the Self-Study Review and is directed to develop a Response to the Self-Study Review.  The Response attempts to clarify issues identified in the Self-Study Review, and perhaps to develop new policies and procedures to address the concerns noted.
 
The Site Visit Process
 
Site visits are fact-finding journeys.   The objective of a site visit is to verify and supplement information presented in the Self-Study and the Response to the Self-Study Review.  The Site Visit Report is the product of the Site Visit, and is a summary of information that the program has provided for the site visitors, keyed to the NAACLS Standards.  The program receives the Site Visit Report and is directed to develop a Site Visit Report Response.  The Response attempts to clarify issues identified in the Site Visit, and perhaps to develop new policies and procedures to address the concerns noted.
 
Review by a Program Review Committee
 
Based on the review of Self-Study Review, the Program’s Response to the Self-Study Review, the Site Visit Report, and the Program's Response to the Site Visit Report, the appropriate Program Review Committee makes determinations as to the compliance, partial compliance or non-compliance of a program with the Standards, and recommends accreditation actions to the NAACLS Board of Directors.
 
Quality Assurance Assessment
 
The Quality Assurance Committee reviews all accreditation recommendations before the sponsoring institution is notified of the Program Review Committee recommendations and before the recommendations are sent to the Board of Directors for final approval of accreditation awards.
 
The Review by the NAACLS Board of Directors
 
Based on the recommendations of the Program Review Committee, and with review of consistent application of the Standards to insure that decisions are not arbitrary, capricious, or inconsistent, the Board of Directors makes the final determination to award, withhold, or withdraw Accreditation.

 
The Initial Accreditation Process Chart
 

STEP		ACTION			RESPONSIBLE PARTY		TIME FRAME FOR THE PROGRAM
1. Download the Initial Accreditation Packet		Access the Initial Accreditation Packet on the NAACLS Website.			CEO/President or other high ranking administrator of Sponsoring Institution		Starting point
2. Provide all materials required by the Initial Accreditation Packet		Sponsoring Institution submits:   Interest Letter, signed by President or Dean.   Initial Application Form (included in packet)   Initial Application Fee (see website)   Preliminary Report (Requirements in packet)			Proposed Program Director/Department Chair		As soon as the program has completed all listed steps.
3. Initial Accreditation Packet Approved *		Program encouraged to proceed with the Self-Study process.  .			NAACLS		NAACLS Reviewers receive up to 2 months to review all submitted materials
*A Program will not be considered for accreditation unless the Initial Accreditation Packet has been accepted, stating that NAACLS is reasonably assured that the program will meet the standards.  If the program enrolls students too early in the initial application process and NAACLS does not approve the program’s Initial Accreditation Packet, the program may risk having students graduate from their program before the program is accredited.
7. Self Study submitted to NAACLS	Submit Self Study to NAACLS.			Program Director		Prior to graduation of first class
8. Program receives “Serious Applicant Status”		Once the Self-Study, Initial Application, payment of the Initial Application fee are received,  NAACLS grants “Serious Applicant Status”	NAACLS					Immediately after receipt of Self Study, Initial Application, and payment of the Initial Application fee
9. Self Study Review		Self-Study is evaluated.	NAACLS					Self-Study Review forwarded to program typically within 2-3 months
10. Response to Self-Study Review		Response to Self-Study Review is submitted with supporting documentation	Program Director					Within 1 month of receipt of Self-Study Review
Steps 11 & 12 below to be completed by Programs seeking initial accreditation through joint review with sponsor’s accredited program
11. Site Visit		Site Visit Team submits a written report following the site visit	NAACLS					Site Visit Report forwarded to program within 1.5 months following the site visit
12. Response to Site Visit Report		Response to Site Visit Report is submitted with supporting documentation	Program Director					Within 1 month of receipt of Site Visit Report

All documentation is reviewed by NAACLS.  Program Review Committee recommendations are reviewed by the QA Committee and sent to the NAACLS Board of Directors to determine accreditation awards.