Continuing Accreditation
Currently accredited programs are contacted by the ARC-PA approximately 12-15 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.
As a rule, the site visit component of the review process in advance of the March commission meeting must occur between August 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. For the September commission meeting the visit must occur between February 1 and June 30 of that year.
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 with a self study report appendix.
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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.