Accrediting Agencies and Organizations

In the United States most accreditations are granted by government approved state agencies, or recognized organizations that rely on a variety of advisory groups in their continuous effort to improve the quality of education and training provided to the public. In addition, most states have some means of approving or certifying the operation of independent and other nonpublic schools.

The Accreditation Process

Accreditation is the process by which educational or post-secondary programs and schools are officially reviewed, approved, and authorized by an overseeing authority, or institution. Accrediting agencies are private educational associations of regional or national scope. They develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions that request an agency's evaluation and then, meet an agency's criteria become "accredited" by that agency. 

By voluntarily conforming to the standards of excellence set by one or several of the following agencies an educational institution will become eligible for inclusion in their accredited or approved list and bear their seal of approval.

• The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are accreditors for postsecondary programs.
• The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the largest specialized accreditation in the health sciences field.
• The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredits private postsecondary institutions and programs preparing individuals for entry into the medical assisting profession.
• Education Direct, which is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Non-Accredited Institutions

Accreditors undergo a periodic external review of their organizations known as “recognition.” Recognition is carried out either by another private organization, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA, a national coordinating body for national, regional and specialized accreditation), or the United States Department of Education (USDE). 

 People who understand the theory of medical assisting, health care, and medical theory are available by the dozen, but employers want those who can actually put their knowledge to practical use. 

Non-accredited doesn't always mean substandard! There are legitimate vocational programs and institutions that are not, or not yet, accredited, and offer the same, if not better educational and training programs as their accredited conterparts; but often, they are licensed by their local U.S. Department of Education. Many of them are planning, or are in the process of completing their accreditation status! However, the process takes time.

Can It Be Right For Me? Here are 8 important things you need to ask, and take into consideration when choosing a medical assisting program:

• What is the school's success rate (% graduates)?
• Is the school planning to pursue accreditation status?
• Is the institution licensed by regulatory entity in their state?
• Will I be eligible to sit for national certification exam once I have graduated?
• Will I be able to transfer educational credits earned to other schools?
• Does the program offer clinical training and an externship to solidify learned skills?
• If it is an online program will it help me to advance in my career?
• What are the attendance and early withdrawal rules?
• Will I get a refund should I need to withdraw early?
• Will the school assist me in job placement?

CERTIFICATION = VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION 

And remember! Online study program course certificate of completion should not be confused with professional certification and credential that come with passing a standardized national certification exam sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association, or American Medical Technologists, and other similar certification associations. Those are two completely different things, and not to be confused.

• Accreditation and Diploma Mills
  
  Don't miss this . . .What is national certification and accreditation? And what some schools don't want you to know.