CAAHEP accreditation is programmatic accreditation of allied health education programs, granted by the CAAHEP Board on the recommendation of a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) for each profession. This page is for colleges, hospital education departments and training organizations running medical assisting, lactation consultant or medical illustration programs that are new to CAAHEP or preparing for continuing review. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) organizes the self-study and evidence for CAAHEP accreditation of your program; your faculty own the teaching.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
What is CAAHEP accreditation?
CAAHEP accredits programs against a Standards and Guidelines document written for each profession. CAAHEP states: "CAAHEP Standards have common elements with discipline-specific requirements for training entry level practitioners in that profession," and "The CAAHEP Board of Directors is responsible for the final approval of accreditation Standards, which are reviewed at least every ten years" (CAAHEP, Standards and Guidelines).
The governing text depends on the profession:
| Profession | Governing text and version | Committee on Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting | Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Medical Assisting, effective 4/4/2022, with technical updates 3/2026 | Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) |
| Lactation Consultant | Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Lactation Consultant Education Programs, initially adopted 2011, revised 2018 (file updated 1-27-25) | Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) |
| Medical Illustration | Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Medical Illustration, revised 1992, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2014 | Accreditation Review Committee for the Medical Illustrator (ARC-MI) |
Each standards document opens with a description of the profession. The Medical Assisting Standards: "Medical assistants are multiskilled health professionals specifically educated to work in a variety of healthcare settings performing clinical and administrative duties" (MA Standards). The Lactation Consultant Standards: "The lactation consultant is an allied health care professional who possesses the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to provide quality breastfeeding assistance to families" (LC Standards). The Medical Illustration Standards: "Medical illustrators specialize in the creation, interpretation, and communication of scientific information in a visual form" (MI Standards).
Who needs it and what triggers it
The buyers are sponsors of these programs. The sponsor has to qualify first. The template text in the Medical Assisting Standards reads: "A program sponsor must be at least one of the following 1. A post-secondary academic institution accredited by an institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education ... 2. A hospital, clinic or medical center accredited by a healthcare accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ... 3. A branch of the United States Armed Forces, or a federal or state governmental agency ... 4. A consortium" (MA Standards).
The work starts with one of these events:
- A new program seeking initial accreditation. CAAHEP states that "the process takes 12-24 months to complete, once a program has submitted a self-study to initiate the process," and "there is no guarantee of a timeline, and no guarantee that the accreditation will ultimately be awarded" (CAAHEP, Program Director FAQs).
- Continuing review of an accredited program. "CAAHEP accreditation does not expire," but "programs are required to undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including a site visit, at least every ten years" (CAAHEP, Program Director FAQs).
- Reporting duties. For medical assisting: "The sponsor must file all reports in a timely manner (self-study report, progress reports, annual reports, etc.) in accordance with MAERB policy" (MA Standards).
- Outcomes. The Medical Assisting Standards state: "The program must meet the established outcomes thresholds" (Standard IV.B, MA Standards).
How IHS helps
Your program obtains the current standards for its profession and decides to proceed. IHS then works through them with your team:
- A gap assessment of the program against the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for its profession.
- A self-study workplan and a standards-to-evidence index that maps each Standard to the record that shows the program meets it, using the CoA's self-study template.
- Drafting: student policies and supervised-experience (practicum) documentation, written for your faculty to review and approve. Teaching content and competency judgments come from your faculty.
- A review of the program's outcome reporting structure, and coordination of the inputs needed across the sponsoring institution.
- A mock review of the self-study before your program submits it, and readiness support for the site visit.
What you supply: the profession's standards, the curriculum, practicum sites, outcome data and qualified faculty.
The limit: teaching and competency judgments for each profession belong to your faculty. Each profession is its own standards document and its own scope. What IHS brings is its process: gap assessment, evidence mapping and mock review against the governing text. Your program submits its own Request for Accreditation Services (RAS) and self-study.
What to have ready
This is the list we would ask for first, each item tied to what CAAHEP publishes.
- The current Standards and Guidelines for your profession, with its version, from the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines index.
- Evidence that the sponsor meets one of the four sponsorship categories, including institutional or healthcare accreditation (MA Standards, effective 4/4/2022, updated 3/2026).
- Your CoA's self-study template. "Each CoA develops the self-study document template that must be completed by the program for the applicable discipline" (CAAHEP, Accreditation Process).
- A self-study plan that "documents how the program meets each of the Standards as outlined in the Standards and Guidelines document for the applicable profession" (CAAHEP, Accreditation Process).
- A RAS plan. "The program submits the RAS form electronically through the CAAHEP website within 30 days of submission of the self-study report" (CAAHEP, Accreditation Process).
- Authorization to offer the program, which CAAHEP checks through the RAS along with institutional accreditation (CAAHEP, Accreditation Process).
- For medical assisting, outcome data on "national credentialing examination(s) performance, programmatic retention, graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction, placement in full or part time employment in the profession or in a related profession, and programmatic summative measures" (Standard IV.B, MA Standards, effective 4/4/2022, updated 3/2026).
- A reporting calendar for self-study, progress and annual reports under your CoA's policy (MA Standards).
- A site visit plan. "Site visits may be on-site (in-person), virtual (synchronous video), or hybrid" (CAAHEP, Accreditation Process).
If most of this is in place, the introductory call is the place to start.
How it compares
| Route | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| CAAHEP programmatic accreditation | Profession-specific Standards and Guidelines; self-study, site visit and CoA recommendation; Board action at one of six meetings a year (CAAHEP). |
| ABHES programmatic accreditation | For medical assistant programs among others. ABHES is recognized for "the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs" (ABHES). |
| Institutional accreditation only | CAAHEP states: "For many professions, CAAHEP accreditation qualifies graduates to take certification/licensure exams and/or obtain employment" (CAAHEP). We have not reviewed which exams require it for each of these three professions. |
Each route has its own scope and requirements. This page does not recommend one over another.
What it costs
CAAHEP publishes a per-program accreditation fee, "invoiced annually in May with an August 1st due date" (CAAHEP, Governing Documents & Fees):
| Programs at a location | 2026-2028, per program | 2029-2031, per program |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $660 | $726 |
| 2 | $550 | $605 |
| 3 | $385 | $424 |
| 4 | $275 | $303 |
| 5 or more | $220 | $242 |
CAAHEP also states: "CAAHEP assesses a $150 fee per submitted Request for Accreditation Services (RAS) form due at the time of submission. The RAS verification fee will be assessed starting July 1, 2027." And: "Each of the Committees on Accreditation (CoAs) assesses a separate program fee" (CAAHEP, Governing Documents & Fees). MAERB, LEAARC and ARC-MI fees were not on the pages we reviewed. Verify current fees with CAAHEP and your CoA.
IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.
What this is not
- IHS is not an accrediting body and does not grant, influence or predict a CoA recommendation or CAAHEP Board decision.
- IHS does not submit the RAS or self-study, or correspond with CAAHEP or the CoA for the program. IHS drafts; the program submits.
- This page is not legal or academic advice. Teaching, practicum supervision and competency judgments belong to your faculty.
Frequently asked questions
Is CAAHEP accreditation required for a medical assisting program?
The CAAHEP pages we reviewed do not make it mandatory. CAAHEP states that for many professions its accreditation qualifies graduates to take certification or licensure exams or obtain employment. Which exams require it for medical assisting graduates is outside what this page covers.
Who can sponsor a CAAHEP-accredited program?
The Medical Assisting Standards list four sponsor types: an accredited post-secondary academic institution; a hospital, clinic or medical center accredited by a healthcare accrediting agency recognized by HHS; a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or a federal or state governmental agency; or a consortium. A hospital or clinic can qualify under the Medical Assisting Standards if it holds that recognized healthcare accreditation. The Lactation Consultant and Medical Illustration Standards were not reviewed for sponsor wording; confirm it in those documents.
What are the steps to CAAHEP accreditation?
The program completes a self-study on its CoA's template and submits it to the CoA. Within 30 days it submits the RAS form through the CAAHEP website, which CAAHEP uses to verify sponsorship requirements. A site visit follows, and the CAAHEP Board acts on the CoA's recommendation at one of its six meetings a year.
How long does CAAHEP accreditation take for a new program?
CAAHEP's data indicates the process takes 12-24 months once a program has submitted a self-study. CAAHEP also states that there is no guarantee of a timeline and no guarantee that accreditation will be awarded.
How much does CAAHEP accreditation cost, counting the CoA?
CAAHEP's per-program fee for 2026 through 2028 is $660 for one program at a location, falling to $220 each for five or more. A $150 RAS fee applies starting July 1, 2027. Each CoA charges a separate program fee, which this page does not state. Verify current fees with CAAHEP and your CoA.
What outcomes does a CAAHEP medical assisting program have to meet?
Standard IV.B states that the program must meet the established outcomes thresholds. Outcomes assessments must include credentialing exam performance, retention, graduate and employer satisfaction, placement in the profession or a related one, and programmatic summative measures.
CAAHEP or ABHES for a medical assisting program: what is the difference?
Both offer programmatic accreditation for medical assistant programs. ABHES is recognized for the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs. CAAHEP accredits under its profession-specific Standards and Guidelines; the choice belongs to your institution.
How does a lactation consultant education program get accredited?
It follows the same CAAHEP process under the Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Lactation Consultant Education Programs, revised in 2018. The Committee on Accreditation is LEAARC, which reviews the program and makes its recommendation to CAAHEP.
What does the self-study report have to show?
CAAHEP states that the self-study documents how the program meets each of the Standards in the Standards and Guidelines document for its profession. Each CoA develops the template the program must complete.
Does CAAHEP accreditation expire?
CAAHEP states that its accreditation does not expire. Programs must undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including a site visit, at least every ten years.