Accreditation is a process in which a school, business, or other organization submits to a third-party accrediting agency, also known as an accreditor, for evaluation. The accreditation process varies accreditor, but it usually starts with a self-evaluation process the institution seeking accreditation. The institution submits an application to the accreditor after completing the self-evaluation process, and the accreditor then begins its own evaluation. Following the completion of the evaluation, the applicant organization is notified whether it has been approved for accreditation or if it needs to make changes to its operations.
An organization will typically be given the accrediting agency’s criteria and asked to begin an internal review before beginning the accreditation process. The organization’s current processes and policies will be compared to the accreditor’s standards. Some accrediting agencies assist applicants in this process matching them with a volunteer from a previously accredited organization. The volunteer can help applicants with their internal reviews and provide insight into potential challenges that an organization might face during the accreditation process.
After completing a self-evaluation and believing that the organization can meet the accreditor’s standards, the organization may be allowed to submit a formal application for accreditation. This may entail both a fee and the submission of a written application. The accreditation process is usually overseen a staff member assigned the accrediting agency. Every aspect of an organization’s operations, including administration, facilities, and both long- and short-term outcomes for the population it serves, will be scrutinized during accreditation. The organization can also be compared to benchmark standards established other accredited organizations that are similar.
The applicant will be informed of the findings of the accrediting agency’s evaluation at the end of it. Accreditation is usually granted at that point if the organization meets the accreditor’s requirements. If the organization does not yet meet the criteria, the accreditor will provide guidance on what needs to be changed or improved in order for the organization to be accredited. Some accrediting agencies may impose a deadline for the organization to address its deficiencies in order to be approved under the terms of its original application. If the organization is still ineligible for accreditation at this point, the application will be denied, and any subsequent attempts at accreditation will have to be made under a separate application, with the organization having to go through the entire accreditation process again.