Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Encyclopedia
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, (or CAAHEP), is an agency of accreditation
for the accredits postsecondary education programs in 19 different allied health and related fields.
Programmatic accreditation is granted after an education program is reviewed and it is determined that the program is in compliance with the profession’s accreditation Standards. A not-for-profit organization, CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA).
The individuals who serve as Commissioners are representatives from CAAHEP’s sponsoring organizations, along with a recent graduate of a CAAHEP accredited program and members of the general public. The Commissioners approve the organization’s mission, vision, and bylaws, and decide which health science professions qualify to take part in the CAAHEP accreditation system. CAAHEP is also led by a Board of Directors, whose members are elected from among the Commissioners.When an education program in a health science profession seeks CAAHEP accreditation, the program will work with that profession’s Committee on Accreditation (CoA) .
established its Council on Medical Education (CME). The CME developed a rating system of medical schools in 1905, initiated inspections in 1906, and classified the institutions in 1907. The AMA then collaborated with the Carnegie Foundation to conduct a study of the quality of medical education that resulted in the Flexner Report
in 1910. These early efforts subsequently led to the development of specialized accreditation for the education of health professionals. It was also the precursor of accreditation activities for most other professional associations.
Early in the 1930s, several national bodies requested the collaboration of the AMA in establishing accreditation for education programs in their areas of interest. These early efforts established a basis and pattern for the role of the AMA in collaborating with other national associations for the accreditation of health sciences education programs. From 1935 through 1976, the recognized agency was the AMA Council on Medical Education. In 1976 the CME delegated to the newly formed Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) the responsibility and authority for health sciences education accreditation. In October, 1992 the AMA announced its intent to support the establishment of a new and independent agency to assume the accreditation responsibilities of CAHEA
.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
for the accredits postsecondary education programs in 19 different allied health and related fields.
Programmatic accreditation is granted after an education program is reviewed and it is determined that the program is in compliance with the profession’s accreditation Standards. A not-for-profit organization, CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA).
Members and leadership
- CAAHEP's members are organizations that represent the professions accredited by CAAHEP and/or the institutions that teach CAAHEP accredited programs.
- CAAHEP’s leadership is composed of both a Commission and a Board of Directors.
The individuals who serve as Commissioners are representatives from CAAHEP’s sponsoring organizations, along with a recent graduate of a CAAHEP accredited program and members of the general public. The Commissioners approve the organization’s mission, vision, and bylaws, and decide which health science professions qualify to take part in the CAAHEP accreditation system. CAAHEP is also led by a Board of Directors, whose members are elected from among the Commissioners.When an education program in a health science profession seeks CAAHEP accreditation, the program will work with that profession’s Committee on Accreditation (CoA) .
Brief History
In 1904, the American Medical AssociationAmerican Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
established its Council on Medical Education (CME). The CME developed a rating system of medical schools in 1905, initiated inspections in 1906, and classified the institutions in 1907. The AMA then collaborated with the Carnegie Foundation to conduct a study of the quality of medical education that resulted in the Flexner Report
Flexner Report
The Flexner Report is a book-length study of medical education in the United States and Canada, written by the professional educator Abraham Flexner and published in 1910 under the aegis of the Carnegie Foundation...
in 1910. These early efforts subsequently led to the development of specialized accreditation for the education of health professionals. It was also the precursor of accreditation activities for most other professional associations.
Early in the 1930s, several national bodies requested the collaboration of the AMA in establishing accreditation for education programs in their areas of interest. These early efforts established a basis and pattern for the role of the AMA in collaborating with other national associations for the accreditation of health sciences education programs. From 1935 through 1976, the recognized agency was the AMA Council on Medical Education. In 1976 the CME delegated to the newly formed Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) the responsibility and authority for health sciences education accreditation. In October, 1992 the AMA announced its intent to support the establishment of a new and independent agency to assume the accreditation responsibilities of CAHEA
Programs Accredited by CAAHEP
CAAHEP accredits over 2,200 programs in 20 health science disciplines. The programs reside in more than 1,000 postsecondary educational institutions across the United States and CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Accredited Professions
by CAAHEP the professions are:- Anesthesia Technician/Technologist
- Anesthesiologist AssistantAnesthesiologistAn anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
- Cardiovascular TechnologistCardiovascular technologistCardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac and peripheral vascular ailments. Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, and vascular technology...
- Cytotechnologist
- Diagnostic Medical SonographerDiagnostic Medical SonographyDiagnostic Medical Sonography is the name for the profession practised by diagnostic medical sonographers . Diagnostic medical sonography, a branch of diagnostic medical imaging, uses non-ionizing ultrasound to produce 2D and 3D images of the body...
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
- Emergency Medical Services PersonnelEmergency medical servicesEmergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
- Exercise PhysiologyExercise physiologyExercise physiology is the study of the acute responses and chronic adaptations to a wide-range of physical exercise conditions. In addition, many exercise physiologists study the effect of exercise on pathology, and the mechanisms by which exercise can reduce or reverse disease progression...
- Exercise Science
- Kinesiotherapist
- Lactation ConsultantLactation consultantA lactation consultant is a healthcare provider recognized as an expert in the fields of human lactation and breastfeeding. The USLCA, United States Lactation Consultant Association, is the presiding organization in the United States of America and the International Lactation Consultant...
- Medical Assistant
- Medical IllustratorMedical illustratorA medical illustrator is a professional artist who interprets and creates visual material to help record and disseminate medical, biological and related knowledge. Medical illustrators not only produce such material but can also function as consultants and administrators within the field of...
- Orthotist and Prosthetist
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
- PerfusionistPerfusionistA perfusionist, also known as a clinical perfusionist or a cardiovascular perfusionist, is a specialized health professional who operates the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require cardiopulmonary bypass....
- Personal Fitness Trainer
- Polysomnographic Technologist
- Specialist in Blood Banking Technology
- Surgical Assistant
- Surgical TechnologistSurgical technologistA surgical technologist, also called "scrub tech," "surgical technician," or "operating room technician", is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical care in some countries. They possess knowledge and skills in sterile and aseptic techniques...
See also
- Allied Health Professions
- Educational AccreditationAccreditationAccreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
- List of Recognized Accreditation Associations of Higher LearningEducational accreditationEducational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...