Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is an accreditation agency for postsecondary education programs in 30 health science 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.^[1] A not-for-profit organization, CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It is based in Clearwater, Florida.

Members and leadership

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 composed of both a commission and a board of directors.^[2]

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 led 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).^[3]

Brief 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 1930s, 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^[4]

Programs Accredited by CAAHEP

CAAHEP accredits over 2,200 programs in 28 health science disciplines. The programs reside in more than 1,300 postsecondary educational institutions across the United States and Canada.

Accredited Professions

by CAAHEP the professions are

Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography
Anesthesia Technician/Technologist
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Art Therapist
Assistive Technology
Cardiovascular Technologist
Clinical Research Professional
Cytotechnologist
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Emergency medical services
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Science
Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring
Kinesiotherapist
Lactation Consultant
Medical Assistant
Medical Illustrator
Orthoptic Fellowship Programs
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
Orthotic/Prosthetic Assistant
Orthotist and Prosthetist
Pedorthist
Perfusionist
Personal Fitness Trainer
Polysomnographic Technologist
Recreational Therapy
Inclusive Rehabilitation Sciences
Respiratory Care
Specialist in Blood Banking Technology
Surgical Assistant
Surgical Technologist

References

^ 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
^ "CAAHEP Commissioners and Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
^ 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
^ That new agency, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) was incorporated in May, 1994

External links

[1] 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

[2] "CAAHEP Commissioners and Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-09-14.

[3] 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

[4] That new agency, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) was incorporated in May, 1994

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