Application Process

Guidelines

• At least one employee must be a current member of CAFCE; for decentralized programs, a current member of CAFCE is required for each area seeking accreditation
• A program must have graduates in order to be eligible for accreditation
• Ensure you are using the most current application for accreditation
• All applications are treated as confidential; one copy should be retained by the applicant. The CAFCE Office will retain a copy of the submittal page, an electronic version of the narrative (as outlined below) and associated correspondence
• A successful review will result in a program being accredited for a period of six years
  If your application includes programs that have been previously accredited, include a copy of the written recommendations provided to your institution through the previous review process. If you no longer have a copy, please contact the CAFCE National Office. As you complete Sections B-G, please address any progress made with regard to the written recommendations.

CAFCE Accreditation Guideline and Application document available on http://www.cafce.ca/en/accreditation-application.

Submission

• Complete Part A, listing programs (and options) for which you are seeking accreditation Multiple programs which are designed and operated in the same manner may be included within one application; programs which operate independently within a faculty or division require separate copies of Part A
• Select either “Co-op Internship”(one single work period) or alternating “Co-op” (more than one work period)
• Select “Mandatory” if co-op is required of all students in the academic program, “Optional” if students decide whether to participate in co-op or not and the program does not have selection criteria, or “Selective” if students are admitted according to selection criteria
• Specify the wording requested on the accreditation certificate by completing the sample.  Two copies of the certificate will be provided to successful applicants
• Respond to the questions outlined in Parts B to G, providing a concise rationale to help readers grasp the nature of your practice. Statements should be referenced with support documentation in an appendix. The appendix numbers should correspond with instructions provided in each question and where appropriate, provide specific page numbers and tabs noting the location of the required information
• In most cases your documentation will be your institution’s calendar, formally approved policies and procedures, and print materials such as student and employer handbooks, etc.
• For an application to be recommended for accreditation, the review committee must be satisfied that all required criteria are met; Part G provides you with an opportunity to also identify program enhancements
• The Accreditation Council accepts applications on February 1st and August 1st
• When you have completed your application (4 copies), please send an electronic copy of the Submittal Cover Pages (Part A) including the narrative without appendices (to be archived for future reference) to the CAFCE Office
• Mail the non-refundable Accreditation Fee payment of $100 to the CAFCE office
• Upon receiving confirmation from the Chair of Accreditation with the three review team members, please forward a copy of the complete application in a three-ring binder to each of them. Retain the fourth copy for your reference
• Once accreditation has expired, your subsequent application must include any written recommendations provided by the previous review team and it should address progress made on these recommendations. Contact the CAFCE office if you do not have a copy of this information

Assessment

• The chair of the council will appoint a committee of three to examine the application. The review team will be members of CAFCE and at least one will be a member of the council. Where possible, at least one member will be from the same geographic region as the institution seeking accreditation
• No employee of the institution seeking accreditation may be on the review committee
• The CAFCE office will confirm receipt of your application and the anticipated assessment completion date
• The chair of the review team initiates the review process with team members by establishing a timeline in order to meet the anticipated completion date. Review team members will normally review the application and consult by telephone and email. The chair of the review team will contact you if any clarification is necessary
• On-site visits are usually not required. If an on-site visit is deemed necessary, all arrangements and costs must be agreed to, in writing to Council, and borne by the applicant
• Recommendations will be made by the review committee and submitted in writing to the council for consideration and a decision at the next council meeting. Specific recommendations to institutions will be retained by the CAFCE office
• The council chair will advise the applicant of the council’s decision in writing. A decision not to grant accreditation will be confidential and may be appealed, in writing, within 30 days. The applicant will have access to the comments of the review committee
• Once an application is deemed accredited or closed, the CAFCE office will advise the committee chair to destroy the copies of the application. You are requested to retain one copy and make it available upon request during subsequent reviews

Appeal Procedure

• The chair of the council will appoint an appeal committee (with the same structure as a review committee) to reassess the application. Members of the original review committee may not sit on the appeal committee
• The appeal committee will consider all documentation submitted by the applicant and the initial review team. The committee may consult as they deem appropriate
• Recommendations will be made by the appeal committee and submitted in writing to the council for consideration and decision at the next council meeting. The council chair will advise the applicant of the council’s decision in writing, and the decision will be deemed final. The applicant will have access to all relevant documentation

Recognition of Accredited Programs

• The chair of the council will inform the senior official who signed the submittal cover page, and copy the applicant, concerning the results of the accreditation review. Once an initial program is accredited, the senior official is requested to appoint an institutional representative to become a member of the accreditation council. For subsequent accreditation of programs within an institution, the CAFCE office will request confirmation of the institution’s representative on council
• Once the institutional representative is identified, the chair sends a letter of welcome, including information about its operational guidelines and expectations of members
• Accreditation members are encouraged to attend accreditation council meetings  and to participate on review teams and in special events associated with the council
• An accreditation certificate is sent to the institution, with encouragement to frame and display it in a prominent location
• Program(s) that have been accredited will be listed among accredited institutions in the directory on CAFCE’s website and in any other pertinent publications of the organization in order to provide additional recognition
• The “Accredited by CAFCE” logo will be provided to the institution, with encouragement to include it in program promotional material in order to inform all stakeholders that national quality standards have been achieved

• Why Apply?
• Where to begin?
• How to apply?