What is Accreditation?

In the United States, accreditation is extended through nongovernmental, voluntary accreditation entities. Accreditation is a system for recognizing educational institutions and affiliated professional programs for a level of performance. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), like other accreditation entities, examines the self-study review provided by the program/institution, student achievements, and financial and support services. The self-study encourages an institution or program to look for improvements. The accreditation process includes a site visit (peer review), to verify the self-study, and includes a report for compliance and improvement. The accreditation process seeks to reassure the public that the program and/or institution is providing a quality higher education product.

Who is CCE?

The CCE is the recognized accreditation body for chiropractic education, a not-for-profit corporation, whose history began in 1935. After many organizational changes, the CCE was incorporated in 1971 and remains an autonomous organization. The United States Department of Education and the nongovernmental Council on Higher Education Accreditation recognize CCE.

What are the Purposes of CCE Accreditation?

  • To encourage continuous self-analysis and improvement of the Doctor of Chiropractic programs and institutions by representatives of the institutions administrative staff, faculty, students, governing body, and other appropriate constituencies.
  • To assure students of quality education in the profession and assure patients of appropriate chiropractic care.
  • To encourage faculty to anticipate and accomodate new trends and developments in the practice of chiropractic that should be incorporated into the educational process.
  • To assure the educational community, the general public, and other agencies or organizations that the program has both clearly defined and appropriate objectives, maintains conditions under which these objectives may be expected to be achieved, appears to be substantially accomplishing them, and can be expected to continue to do so.

What makes Accreditation unique?

In most other countries, the establishment and maintenance of educational standards is the responsibility of a central government bureau. In the United States, public authority in education is constitutionally reserved to the states; U.S. accreditation is a private, voluntary process.

If there are any questions regarding CCE, or to obtain copies of Standards and Policies, please visit www.cce-usa.org online, or contact the CCE Executive Director, Dr. Martha O’Connor at 480-443-8877.

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