Accreditation is a process of peer review of educational institutions by independent, non-governmental, accrediting agencies to assure the quality of the institution and the programs that it offers. Understanding the accreditation status of educational institutions that offer allied health programs of study is a critical part of the school/program evaluation process for any prospective student.
For most schools offering allied health education programs there will typically be both an institutional and one or more specialized accreditations. Sometimes the specialized accrediting body can provide both institutional and program accreditation.
It is very important for a prospective student to obtain their education from an accredited institution/program that is recognized by the U.S Department of Education (USDE). It improves the availability of financial aid and acceptance of the education by potential employers (see "Checking Accreditation Status" later in this document).
The following regional, national, or specialized accrediting agencies may provide accreditation to schools that provide allied health programs of study:
The following accrediting bodies provide accreditation for the indicated areas of allied health study:
| Allied Health Profession | Accrediting Body | Recognition |
|---|
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Art Therapist | American Art Therapy Association | None |
| Athletic Trainer | Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education | None |
| Audiologist | Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Cardiovascular Technologist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Clinical Assistant | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Clinical laboratory technician/medical laboratory technician | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Community counselor | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs | CHEA |
| Cytogenetic Technologist | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Cytotechnologist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Dance Therapy | American Dance Therapy Association | None |
| Dental Assistant | Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association | USDE |
| Dental Hygienist | Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association | USDE |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association | USDE |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Diagnostic Molecular Scientist | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Dietetic Technician | Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Dietician/Nutritionist | Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Exercise Physiologist (Applied and Clinical) | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Exercise Science Professional | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Genetic Counselor | American Board of Genetic Counseling | None |
| Health Information Administrator | Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management | None |
| Health Information Technician | Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management | None |
| Histologic technician/technologist | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Kinesiotherapist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Low Vision Therapist | Association for Education and rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired | None |
| Marriage and family counselor/therapist | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs | CHEA |
| Medical Assistant | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Medical Illustrator | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Medical Librarian | Medical Library Association | None |
| Mental health counselor | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs | CHEA |
| Message Therapist | Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation | USDE |
| Music therapist | National Association of Schools of Music | CHEA, USDE |
| Nuclear medicine technologist | Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology | CHEA, USDE |
| Occupational Therapist | Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education American Occupational Therapy Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education American Occupational Therapy Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Ophthalmic Assistant | Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs | None |
| Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician | Commission on Opticianry Accreditation | None |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | Commission on Opticianry Accreditation | None |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician/Technologist | Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs | None |
| Orientation and Mobility Specialist | Association for Education and rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired | None |
| Orthoptist | American Orthoptic Council | None |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Pathologists' assistant | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Perfusionist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Pharmacy Technician | American Society of Health-System Pharmacists | None |
| Phlebotomist | National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences | CHEA |
| Physical Therapist | Commission on accreditation in Physical Therapy | CHEA, USDE |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | Commission on accreditation in Physical Therapy | CHEA, USDE |
| Physician Assistant | Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant | CHEA |
| Polysomnographic Technologist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Radiation therapist | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | CHEA, USDE |
| Radiographer | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | CHEA, USDE |
| Rehabilitation counselor | Council on Rehabilitation Education | CHEA |
| Rehabilitation Teacher | Association for Education and rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired | None |
| Respiratory Therapist (Advanced) | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Respiratory Therapist (Entry-Level) | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| School counselor | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs | CHEA |
| Specialist in Blood Bank Technology | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Speech-language pathologist | Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | CHEA, USDE |
| Student affairs practitioner | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs | CHEA |
| Surgical Assistant | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Surgical Technologist | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | CHEA |
| Teacher of the Visually Impaired | Association for Education and rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired | None |
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | National Recreation and Park Association /American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation Council on Accreditation | CHEA |
The U.S. Department of Education offers a database that allows individuals to check on the accreditation status of a specific institution and program of study. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation also has a similar database. Never simply take the word of the institution. It is important to check the most current status of an educational institution's accreditation. See:
