ACPE Manuals

Program Feasibility/Self-Study Requirements

Policy

  1. ACPE requires a feasibility study for applying for provisional accreditation. If seeking Provisional Accreditation from a component site, update materials according to the feasibility study criteria.
  2. ACPE requires a self-study for:
    1. a program moving from provisional accreditation to fully accredited member;
    2. a six year accreditation review and site visit;
    3. a program moving from an accredited member to a system program.
  3. All written materials must be of professional publication quality

Feasibility Study

(seeking provisional accreditation)

  1. Familiarize key personnel, e.g., staff, administration, professional consultation group, with ACPE organization, ACPE Accreditation Manual.
  2. Discuss rationale and objectives for CPE program (or adding Certified Educator CPE) at the center.
  3. Determine administrative structure and support needed to meet ACPE standards and center’s capacity to meet them.
  4. Develop curriculum based on ACPE Objectives and Outcomes and Competencies for Certified Educator CPE.
  5. Survey and assess clinical and educational resources.
  6. Draft and discuss policies and procedures needed for the function of CPE programs.
  7. Assess overall potential for compliance with ACPE standards and specific CPE program objectives and outcomes (Level I/Level II) and/or competencies (Certified Educator CPE).
  8. Assess strengths and limitations of proposed center and each CPE program, identifying unique qualities of the center and the educational programs and including limitations.
  9. Draft student handbook for the program(s)
  10. Describe center’s future plans.

The following section was updated on January 1, 2023

Self Study

(Six Year Accreditation Review, a program moving from provisional accredited status to Accredited Member status, and a program moving from Accredited Member status to a System Program)

The self-study document is designed to be an in-depth reflection on and assessment of the educational quality of the institution’s program, along with identifying successes and challenges and how the program intends to address those challenges. The self-study document is to be uploaded to the program’s accreditation portfolio, into the Current Processes and Communications folder, no less than 60 calendar days prior to the site visit. The self-study should serve as an overview of the program’s previous six years (since the last site visit) along with a look towards the future. For programs moving to a system accreditation, the self-study should reflect how the newly formed system will function as a group of independently accredited programs.

The self-study document is about quality, not quantity, but as a guide, a typical self-study will be between 10-20 pages.

Key items that are to be included in the center’s narrative:

Part One

  1. Reflect on and document the mission, rationale, and objectives for CPE in the institution.
    1. What are the successes of the program in relation to the mission, rationale, and objectives?
    2. What are the challenges in meeting the mission, rationale, and objectives?
    3. What have you done in addressing the challenges and what remains to be done going forward? Be sure to reflect on continuous improvement processes (Be sure to utilize Standard 6 and other portfolio materials as needed)
  2. Using the action-reflection-action approach, document the strengths and limitations of your program, how you have addressed the limitations in the past and the impact of changes you made on the program. How will you address limitations going forward?
  3. Identify and analyze the data trends regarding admissions and student achievement. If your program has seen inconsistency with admissions/enrollment or in attaining the minimum level of student achievement, please explain and share your plan to address these issues.

Part Two

  1. What are the program’s goals for the next accreditation cycle?
  2. What significant changes or initiatives are being planned that are not identified/addressed in Part One?
  3. What specific areas of consultation are you seeking as part of the site visit and review of your portfolio?
  4. Additional information that will be helpful to your site team in understanding your program and context.