Accreditation Commission For Audiology Education

PROGRAM SERVICES: ACAE DEVELOPS PRINCIPLES WHICH HELP MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, PROVIDING PROGRAMS WITH AN INTEGRATED AND USER-FRIENDLY WEB-BASED ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT USES THE MOST SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ACAE ACCREDITATION IS TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND APPLY STANDARDS TO ENSURE THE ACADEMIC QUALITY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF AUDIOLOGY EDUCATION. THIS PROCESS WILL PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT AUD PROGRAMS HAVE PREPARED GRADUATES WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO BE DOCTORAL-LEVEL AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICING AUDIOLOGISTS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT HEARING AND BALANCE DISORDERS. THE ACCREDITATION WILL ENSURE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST THAT GRADUATES WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE, AS DEFINED BY THE PROFESSION. SINCE BEING FOUNDED, THE ACAE HAS DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED STANDARDS FOR THE DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY EDUCATION AND OPERATED UNDER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION (CHEA) GUIDELINES. THE ACAE ALSO INTRODUCED A WEB-BASED COMPUTERIZED ACCREDITATION SYSTEM THAT HAS BECOME A STANDARD FOR SPECIALIZED/PROGRAMMATIC ACCREDITATION. THE ACCREDITING PROCESS REQUIRES INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS TO EXAMINE THEIR GOALS AND ACTIVITIES, TO CONSIDER EXPERT CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS FROM A VISITING TEAM, AND TO DETERMINE INTERNAL PROCEDURES FOR ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCREDITING AGENCY. THE ACAE OFFERS FULL ACCREDITATION AND DEVELOPING STATUS FOR PROGRAMS THAT DEMONSTRATE PROGRESSION TOWARDS FULL ACCREDITATION. ACAE CURRENTLY AWARDS 5 PROGRAMS 10-YEAR ACCREDITATION.