The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
ABHES is recognized by the Secretary of Education as a national accrediting body determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered by the educational institutions and programs it accredits. It’s approved and recognized scope includes degree and non-degree granting private, postsecondary institutions offering educational programs predominantly in allied health; and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, medical laboratory technician, and surgical technology programs.
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
(ABHES) is an independent non-profit agency unrelated to any trade or membership
organization. The ABHES mission is:
A.
To serve as a nationally-recognized accrediting
agency of institutions and programs predominantly in allied health education.
B.
To establish criteria and standards for the
administration and operation of institutions and programs predominantly in
allied health education.
C.
To ensure that criteria and standards are relevant,
valid and reliable; and predictive of successful qualitative outcomes through a
comprehensive program of systematic review and follow-up.
D.
To enhance the profession through quality
improvement of institutions programs and their graduates.
E.
To promote sound business and ethical standards.
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
(ABHES) conducts both institutional and specialized, programmatic
accreditation. Formed in 1964 as the Accrediting Bureau of Medical Laboratory
Schools, its present name was assumed in 1974 in order to identify more properly
its activities and expanded scope.
Non-accredited institutions and programs may well
have high quality and standards. They cannot, however, provide a reliable,
third-party assurance that they meet or exceed standards. Accreditation
provides that assurance. The process requires a rigorous self-evaluation by the
institution or program, an appraisal by competent professionals who are
respected peers, and a subsequent review and decision by the central governing
group, the ABHES Commission. Periodic re-examinations are required in order to
ensure that standards are being maintained, areas in which improvement is needed
are identified, and plans are developed for addressing needed improvements. The
accrediting body annually publishes lists of institutions and programs that
continue to achieve an acceptable level of quality based on the established
standards included in this manual.
ABHES believes that the accrediting process is the
most significant means of raising the standards of institutions and that the
process not only provides significant benefits to the institutions, but to
individual practitioners in the occupational fields. Ultimately, the public,
the community, and the nation benefit from competently trained personnel.
The Eligibility Requirements for ABHES
The Commission will determine whether the
institution meets the requirements for accreditation. In order for an
institution to apply for accreditation by the Commission and to remain
accredited, it must meet the following minimum criteria:
a.
It is (1) an institution in the private sector at
the postsecondary level whose principal activity is education, (2) a hospital or
laboratory based training school, (3) a vocational institution (for-profit or
non-profit), or (4) a V.A. hospitals, rehabilitation institutions,
or a federally-sponsored Armed Forces program.
b.
It is an educational institution that
offers programs predominantly in the allied health
education field. An institution meets this requirement if (1) 70 percent or
greater (of its full-time equivalent students) is enrolled in allied health
programs, or (2) 70 percent (of its active programs) are in the allied health
education field, provided that a majority of the institution's full-time
equivalent students are enrolled in those programs. A program is active if it
has a current student enrollment and is seeking to enroll students.
c.
Its programs are vocational in nature and are
designed to lead to employment.
d.
It is located in the United States or its
territories.
e.
It is properly licensed, chartered, or approved
under the laws and regulations of the state or territories in which it is
located.
f.
It has been continuously providing instruction as
an institution for at least the prior two years.
g.
It has enrollment sufficient in the program(s) to
be included in the grant of accreditation to allow evaluation of student
outcomes (see Chapter IV, Section B) and at least one graduating class from the
program(s).
If
an institution believes it meets these eligibility criteria, and it desires to
be accredited, it may begin the process by completing the required application.
The chief executive officer of the institution must sign the application. The
applicant must describe any current or previous interim or final action of which
it is the subject, including probationary status, by a recognized institutional
accrediting agency or state agency potentially leading to the withdrawal,
suspension, revocation, or termination of accreditation or licensure. Action on
the application will be stayed until the action by the other accrediting agency
or state agency is final.
The Accreditation Process for ABHES
STEP 1:
CONTACT THE ABHES OFFICE TO RECEIVE THE APPLICATION PACKET
Contains instructions on how to apply, eligibility
criteria, and financial statement requirements
STEP 2:
SUBMIT APPLICATION
Return the completed application with appropriate
fee. A cover letter that outlines how the institution meets the initial
eligibility criteria must accompany the application with the signed Statement of
Ownership. Institutional applicants must also submit audited financial
statements while programmatic applicants are required to submit a program budget
and attestation statement of program support.
Upon receipt of the application and the eligibility
of an institution has been verified it is sent the SER for completion. There
are two SER deadlines each year in preparation for the two commission meetings
each year. Check the ABHES calendar for specific dates.
STEP 4:
ACCREDITATION WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE
Initial and recycle institutional applicants are
required to attend an ABHES Accreditation Workshop prior to submission of the
SER. Check the ABHES calendar for specific dates.
STEP 5: PRELIMINARY
VISIT
Initial applicants are required to undergo a
preliminary visit to confirm eligibility and determine whether the institution
is in substantial compliance with the standards. A negative preliminary visit
might delay the on-site team visit.
STEP 6: SER
SUBMISSION
Check the ABHES Calendar for the specific due
dates.
STEP 7: ON-SITE
TEAM VISIT
Usually institutional applicant visits are
scheduled for two days, while programmatic visits are scheduled for one day.
STEP 8: SCHOOL
RESPONSE
Institutions are required to document how it has
come into compliance with any noted areas of non-compliance by the visiting
team.
STEP 9:COMMISSION
REVIEW
Commissioners are provided an institution’s SER,
team reports, and its response to the team reports. Results are provided within
10 working days of the meeting. Check the ABHES Calendar for meeting dates.
Please call me at 818-666-1333 and I can explain the all the rules and
regulations involved or contact me and we can discuss getting your school
accredited.
