About

We accredit programs, institutions, healthcare, and training centers. We provide specialized accreditation for degree and non-degree granting institutions already recognized by states, national, regional, or international institutional accreditation agencies or national education authorities worldwide.

We accredit college and university programs at the certificate, diploma, and degree levels.

With ACIEI accreditation, students, employers, and the society we serve can be confident that a program meets the quality standards that produce graduates prepared to enter a global workforce.

Developed by educational and healthcare professionals from ACIEI’s member societies, our criteria focus on what students experience and learn. Sought worldwide, ACIEI’s voluntary peer review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the healthcare disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.

Our experts come from industry, academia, and organizations. They give their time and effort supporting quality assurance activities around the world by serving as evaluators, advisors, commissioners, and board members.

The Purpose/Goal of Accreditation

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation in the United States involves non-governmental entities (accrediting organizations) as well as federal and state government agencies (these three entities are formally known as the Triad).

Accreditation has two fundamental purposes: to assure the quality of the institution or program, and to assist in the improvement of the institution or program. Accreditation, which applies to institutions or programs, is to be distinguished from certification and licensure which apply to individuals.

Accreditation is an affirmation that a university/college provides a quality of education that the general public has the right to expect, and that the educational community recognizes.

Why ACIEI Accreditation Matters

The accreditation assures programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical fields that are leading the way in innovation, emerging and needs of the public.

Several studies showed that general accreditation programs significantly improve clinical outcomes and the quality of care of these clinical conditions and showed a significant positive impact of subspecialty accreditation programs in improving clinical outcomes in different subspecialties, including sleep medicine, and more.

Eligible for Accreditation

You are Eligible to become accredited or member with ACIEI if your institution identifies itself as one of the following institution types:

• Any Diploma, Certificate and Degree granting institutions.
• Any Vocational, Occupational, Professional institutions.

International

Any International Diploma, Certificate and Degree granting institution. The institution must provide a certified translation of an official document from an appropriate government organization in their respective countries stating approval, recognition, or accreditation.

Accreditation Benefits

Accreditation serves as a seal of quality while simultaneously encouraging programs to improve as they evolve. Accredited programs signal to the community that they meet or exceed established public expectations of quality, and the completion of an accredited program sets job-seeking students apart.

• The process of preparing an accreditation self-evaluation and self-study increases the focus on quality of learning and renews a commitment to the educational mission.
• The accredited institution reinforces a commitment to continuous improvement, development, and invention.
• An accredited status creates greater visibility and provides prestige and credibility for institutions and treeing centers.
• Accreditation provides a sense of pride within the institution.
• Accreditation may lead to more successful expression of medical and business credits.
• Accredited status may be printed on the institution website, catalog, business cards and advertising materials.

Membership

ACIEI Membership is a reputable membership to the accreditation for those institutions who are not completely ready for accreditation. The institution may be eligible to apply for membership and become ACIEI special member.

The ACIEI Membership Department has been designed to make an opportunity for institutions to contact and do business with other institutions and business globally.

Accreditation in the U.S. and other countries

For institutions located within the United States, regional accreditation of the institution is required for accreditation eligibility. Not all countries have the equivalent of regional accreditation, and the government may provide the authority to grant diplomas, certificates and/or degrees. When considering any degrees or programs, students are encouraged to contact institutions they may wish to attend in the future as well as the human resource department of specific employers. Diploma, certificate and/or degree acceptance policies will vary by institution and employer.

Step by Step for ACIEI Accreditation

Institutions or Programs new to accreditation have a required Preparation and Review before the onsite visit. A request for Self-Study Reports is on January, April and September of the year of on-site visit.

Before Valuation and Eligibility

Before an institution seeks ACIEI accreditation, your program should determine if it falls into the categories that we accredit, and that it meets our Minimum Requirements. Prior to seeking an accreditation review, each program must have a functioning valuation process in place that meets ACIEI criteria for accreditation in five areas: Institution Objectives, Program Educational Objectives, Student Outcomes, Feature Plans & Improvements and Continuous Improvements.

Requesting Initial ACIEI Accreditation

A Request for Preparations and Review is required from all institutions/programs seeking initial accreditation if the institution does not currently ACIEI accredited programs in the same commission. The deadline for Preparation and Review is January, April, and September.

ACIEI Renewing Accreditation

Institutions and/or Programs that are renewing an existing accreditation must submit a request for preparations and review. Your institute or/and program will need to submit an RPR for any general/comprehensive visits, interim visits, or interim reports.

You must mail to ACIEI office official transcripts for two graduates from the most recent graduating class for each program requesting review.

ACIEI Accreditation Outside the U.S.

While ACIEI accreditation process for programs outside the United States is identical to the process for institutions and programs within the U.S.A., there are different logistical requirements international programs should consider.

In addition to submitting an application and other materials, institutions and/or programs outside of the U.S. must have each appropriate education authority, recognition, or accreditation agency within their country complete a request for acknowledgement from to be submitted with the Application and formal request for evaluation.

Accreditation Types:

• Institutional Accreditation

ACIEI Evaluates overall schools/colleges/university quality but does not focus on specific academic or professional programs.

• Programmatic Accreditation

ACIEI evaluates academic or professional program of study, not an institution as a whole. A specific academic or professional program of study can be granted accreditation at a variety of certificates, diploma, and degree levels.

• Professional Accreditation

ACIEI may evaluate vocational, occupational, and professional institutions as well. 

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

The accreditation process is a comprehensive review of a school’s mission, faculty qualifications, and curricula, and the process includes self-evaluations, peer-reviews, committee reviews, and the development of in-depth strategic plans.

Mission Statement and Goals

Assessment planning begins with the institutional mission statement, which describes the communities that are served and the institutional purposes and other characteristics that define your institution. At the same time, your institution’s valuation leader should work with an appropriate mix of faculty and administrators to develop a plan of action and timeline to ensure departmental assessment goals and deadlines are met.

Objectives & Student Outcomes

Institution and Program educational objectives are based on the needs of the institution and/or program’s constituencies and are expressed in broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. Student outcomes relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program and describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. Defining educational objectives and student outcomes provides faculty with a common understanding of the expectations for student learning and supports consistency across the curriculum, as measured by performance indicators. Performance indicators represent the knowledge, skills, attitudes or behavior students should be able to demonstrate by the time of graduation that indicate competence related to the outcome.

Conduct Assessment

Assessment offers a framework through which you can identify, collect, and prepare data to evaluate the achievement of student outcomes and program educational objectives. Effective assessments use relevant direct, indirect, quantitative, and qualitative measures appropriate to the outcome or objective being measured. Appropriate sampling methods may be used as part of an assessment process.

Efficient and effective assessment strategies require an understanding of the arrangement between educational practices and strategies. This can be accomplished by mapping educational strategies to learning outcomes. Strategies for data collection and analysis need to be systematic and consistent and focus on valuation related to the performance indicators.

Appraise Assessment

Appraise processes interpret the data and evidence accumulated through the assessment process and determine the extent to which student outcomes and educational objectives are being earned. Considerate evaluation of findings is essential to ensure that decisions and actions taken as a result of the valuation process will lead to program improvement.

Decision Making

Valuation provides a framework for a meaningful feedback process, which is critical to strategic decision making. Creating and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance system helps to keep your institution and program relevant to the professions it serves, supports the highest quality student experience, and confirms that your graduates are well prepared for their careers.