Information and Procedures

Site Visit Team

Site Visit Protocol

Site Visit Schedule

Required Documentation

Application and Forms

Continuing Accreditation

Special Note: Scheduling Site Visits (4.8.08)

Currently accredited programs are contacted by the ARC-PA approximately12-15 months before their next visit to select specific dates for a site visit. However, based on the program accreditation letter and when the next comprehensive evaluation is to occur, programs may contact the ARC-PA at anytime to request the scheduling of the site visit.

The ARC-PA agenda for the March 2009 meeting is closed and the ARC-PA is not scheduling of any more site visits during the period preceding that meeting. The next opportunity for a visit would be between March 30 – July 10, 2009, for the September, 2009 commission meeting.

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Continuing accreditation is the term used to describe accreditation that is granted when:

• an established program is in compliance with the Standards
• a program holding Probationary Accreditation has demonstrated that it is once again in compliance with the Standards
• a program holding Provisional Accreditation demonstrates compliance with the Standards after its follow-up provisional visit.

Continuing accreditation involves a comprehensive site visit, which includes the completion of an application and a self study report.

The time between comprehensive visits for established programs varies from 1 to 7 years.

Programs completing a period of probation will have a maximum length of 3 years before their next comprehensive site visit.

Programs completing the provisional accreditation process will have a maximum interval between comprehensive visits of 5 years.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.