INSTRUCTIONAL LETTER FOR SCHOOLS APPLYING FOR INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION
Thank you for your interest in seeking institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). ABHES is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an accreditor of private, postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly allied health education programs leading to a certificate, diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Occupational Science, Academic Associate degree or Baccalaureate degree including those offered via distance education. Please see Section on Basic Eligibility from the ABHES Manual for Allied Health Education Schools and Programs. If, after review of these requirements, you feel that your institution meets the criteria and is ready to apply for accreditation, please complete the Institutional Application for Accreditation and submit it along with the following required documents:
1) A current school catalog;
2) Completed Ownership Disclosure Form;
3) Appropriate application fee payment (separate fee for each campus location). Payment must be in the form of a check made payable to ABHES (see Application Fee Schedule); and
APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICANTS should submit completed application packets electronically via e-mail to applications@abhes.org. This may require documents to be professionally scanned as a JPG, TIF, Microsoft-Compatible, or ADOBE PDF to ensure that all information is legible and organized for ease of an electronic review. If the documents are scanned in per page and consist of more than two pages, please combine them into one document. All documents must include the required signatures where applicable.
Application packets may also be submitted on CD Rom or USB drive(mailed to the address below). When saving required documents, a separate document should be made and appropriately labeled and formatted as described above.
The total number of attachments (if e-mailed) or files (if using a CD Rom or USB drive) is dependent on the application plus the number of exhibits accompanying it. Each attachment/file should be named according to its content (e.g., “Application”, “Ownership Disclosure Form”, “Catalog”, "Reviewed Financial Statements,"etc.).
It is imperative that the application submission is properly labeled with the (1) institution’s name, (2) city/state, (3) ABHES ID #, if applicable, (4) Entitled “APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION”, and (5) the Date of submission.
The only hardcopy document required is a cover letter of intent and the application payment in the form of a check made payable to ABHES and mailed to the address below. A separate fee applies to each non-main campus location for which you are seeking accreditation. (User Fee Schedule)
ABHES
7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314N
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
After the required information has been reviewed, your institution will be informed of its status and visitation requirements. Should your institution appear to meet the eligibility requirements of ABHES, a Self-evaluation Report (SER) will be provided via e-mail (unless otherwise requested) for completion.
The institution will be required to submit an audited financial statement with submission of its final SER. A grant of accreditation will be contingent upon receipt, review and approval of the audited statements. The audited financial statement must contain the elements included on the Audited Financial Review Sheet.
In addition, initial applicants are also required to attend an Accreditation Workshop. The individual(s) designated to attend the workshop should be directly involved in the accreditation and self-evaluation process (e.g., school director, director of education, etc.). See the Workshop Registration for dates and times of upcoming workshops and to register.
Institutional applicants are also required to undergo a staff-only preliminary visit (see Chapter II, Section A, Subsection 1 of the Manual), following attendance at the Accreditation Workshop, but prior to submitting the draft SER. This preliminary visit is conducted as a means of ensuring that the institution complies with all eligibility criteria and is in substantial compliance with ABHES standards. It is also a time for the institution to address any questions or concerns with staff in a consultative manner. There is no fee for this visit, although the costs for the visit will be borne by the institution. A staff member will contact you for scheduling such a visit.
For more details regarding the ABHES accreditation process, see the Accreditation Timeline, and Accreditation Process Outline. Refer to the ABHES Schedule of Events so that you may plan your time effectively.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact India Y. Tips, Assistant Executive Director at itips@abhes.org or (703) 917-9503.