Top Accrediting Agencies for Healthcare Programs

1. Doctors
   Medical schools are accredited by the American Medical Association's Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
   
   
2. Nurses
   Accrediting agencies for nursing programs include the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives Accreditation Commission.
   
   
3. Pharmacy
   The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education evaluates professional degree programs in pharmacy up to the doctorate level.
   
   
4. Medical Assistants and Allied Health
   The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools accredits allied health programs, including medical assistant and lab technician programs.
   
   
5. Many programs in professional healthcare (such as those for emergency medical technicians, anesthesiologist assistants, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists, to name just a few) are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
   
   
6. Physical Therapists
   The American Physical Therapy Association accredits physical therapist programs.
   
   
7. Healthcare Management
   The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management covers graduate programs in healthcare management.
   
   
8. Diet and Nutrition
   Dieticians and nutritionists come under the umbrella of the American Dietetic Association.
   
   

Accreditation should be a critical part of every student's decision about higher education. Unaccredited programs can leave students with degrees that are worthless for future careers, credits that will not transfer to other institutions, and no ability to obtain the proper state licensures in their fields. Furthermore, students who choose to attend unaccredited institutions are not eligible for federal financial aid.

In healthcare-related professions, accreditation is particularly crucial, since state licensure and additional training inevitably require that students complete accredited programs. Educational quality is an important consideration for students in any program of study, but this is particularly true in healthcare, where students may literally encounter life-or-death decision making as a regular part of their careers. Students should be sure that their program and school of choice carries the right accreditation for their career.

Since accreditation requirements can vary greatly by school, program, field of study, and state, every student should answer the following questions when it comes to determining their chosen program's accreditation status:

• What accrediting agency evaluates my program? My school?
• What does the U.S. Department of Education's database have to say about my school's accreditation status and accrediting agencies?
• Is the accrediting agency (and therefore the program or school) recognized as a standard of quality by the appropriate licensing bodies? (For example, state health departments.)
• Does my field require that my program be accredited by a specialized accrediting agency, such as a professional organization?

When in doubt, licensed professionals in your chosen field (who practice in the state where you wish to practice) may be good sources of information when it comes to navigating the thicket of choices in higher education. However, always crosscheck information as much as possible, since programs can lose their accreditation or professional standards may shift.

Generally speaking, if your institution is accredited by one of the six regional agencies (New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and Western Association of Schools and Colleges), it indicates certain standards of educational quality.

However, be warned that even if your school as a whole is accredited, your program may not be. In addition to the main regional accrediting bodies, there are specialty accrediting agencies for different branches of the healthcare field. Before committing to a program in your field, find out what kind of accreditation is required for professional programs, and make sure your program is accredited. Attending a program accredited by your profession's specialty organization is usually a requirement for building a thriving career.

The preceding agencies oversee accreditation for specific professional programs in healthcare. Note that the listing of organizations here is not a guarantee. Since licensure requirements vary by state and profession, always check to see which accrediting body should evaluate your program. It's also a good idea to crosscheck accreditation status, since it is possible that a program or school could claim accreditation falsely (this is typical behavior of diploma mills, some of which have even set up tandem false accreditation mills.) Always be sure you are dealing with the recognized accrediting bodies in your field before committing to a program.

For further information, check the U.S. Department of Education database and its list of specialized accrediting agencies, as well as information from the professional association affiliated with your area of interest.

Article References

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx
http://www.caahep.org/Content.aspx?ID=1

American Medical Association
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3585.html

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

Specialized Accrediting Agencies
http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg8.html

FAQ About Accreditation
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/FAQAccr.aspx

American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/difference.html