Accreditation Process
- Self-Study. The Accreditation Board receives a self-study from the eligible training program(s). The Accreditation Board will issue the program an invoice for the application and site visitor fee(s) .
- Site Visit. The Accreditation Board works with the program to schedule a site visit. The self-study must be received at minimum 30 days prior to the onset of the site visit.
- The Accreditation Board identifies and invites at least two site visitors.
- The Accreditation Board submits the names of the proposed site visitors to the program coordinator .
- The Accreditation Board puts the program coordinator and site visitors in contact with one another to schedule the site visit.
- Site visitors review the Site Visitor Training Manual, identify points in the self-study requiring clarification, and formulate questions/tasks for addressing these points during the site visit.
- During the site visit, the site visitors verify the representations in the self-study; collect data by interviewing, observing, and reviewing documentation; and begin drafting the site visit report.
- Site Visit Report. After the site visit, the site visitors reach consensus and submit a site visit report to the Accreditation Board within 30 days. The report will confirm whether the program is in compliance with the standards and outline any recommendations for improvement.
- Response to Report. After receiving the site visit report, the program drafts a response and submits to the Accreditation Board within 30 days. The response should include the following:
- Any comments regarding the site visit report.
- A narrative description of its plan to address any concerns raised in the report about compliance with standards and policies.
- Documentation of corrective action where required.
- A response to any recommendations for improvement to the program.
- Board Decision. At the next meeting, ABAI Accreditation Board members make an accreditation decision based on the self-study, site visit report and the program coordinator's report.
- The Accreditation Board notifies the program coordinator and the site visitors of the Board's decision.
- If the program is approved for accreditation or re-accreditation, the Accreditation Board sends the program coordinator the accredited program annual report form in preparation for the following year, image files of all applicable accreditation seals, and the ABAI Accreditation Board's policy on public disclosure of accreditation status.
Example Timelines
|
Eligibility Request |
Self-study Submission* |
Site Visit Conclusion** |
Site Visit Report Due |
Program Response |
Board Decision |
| Overview |
As soon as you have a graduate. |
Must be submitted a minimum of one month prior to site visit. |
See example timelines below. |
30 days after conclusion of site visit. |
30 days after site visit report is submitted. |
1-2 months after program response is submitted. |
| Spring |
December 15, 2024 |
January 12, 2025 |
April 5-6, 2025 |
May 7, 2025 |
June 6, 2025 |
July or August board meeting |
| Summer |
May 31, 2024 |
April 15, 2025 |
July 22-23, 2025 |
August 23, 2025 |
September 22, 2025 |
October or November board meeting |
| Fall** |
May 31, 2024 |
August 1, 2025 |
November 12-13, 2025 |
December 14, 2025 |
January 13, 2026 |
February or March board meeting |
*Programs undergoing re-accreditation must submit their self-study application by April 1 of the final year in their accreditation cycle.
**Fall site visits that occur prior to October 1 of that year, will receive an accreditation decision that year. Fall site visits occurring after October 1, will receive an accreditation decision the following year. Programs undergoing reaccreditation must have their site visit occur before October 1 of the final year in their cycle to ensure there are no lapses in their accreditation status.