About the CAA

Accreditation Handbook—Chapter II: Mission and Principles of the CAA

The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers voluntary accreditation to graduate degree programs in audiology and in speech-language pathology housed within institutions of higher education. The CAA is the entity within ASHA that has the authority to establish and enforce a set of standards for the accreditation of graduate education programs in audiology and in speech-language pathology. The CAA has the authority to make accreditation decisions.

The CAA’s accreditation program is designed to:

• Promote excellence in preparing students to enter the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology
• Protect and inform the public by recognizing programs that meet or exceed accreditation standards
• Stimulate improvement of programs’ educational activities by means of self-study and evaluation

For more than 50 years, the accreditation of entry-level graduate programs in the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology has been an essential catalyst for quality education through programmatic self-study and peer review.

Vision

The CAA promotes excellence and assures quality in the education of audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

Purpose

The CAA assures quality in the preparation of students in audiology and speech-language pathology to serve the professions and the public.

Principles

The CAA is guided by a set of principles first developed in 1994 by the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Academic Accreditation Issues, which included representatives of ASHA, the Council on Academic Programs in Communications and Disorders, and representatives from the ASHA standards committees. The CAA reviews and refreshes these principles as part of its continuing development, strategic planning, and quality management of the accreditation program.

Charge to the CAA

• Formulate Standards for Accreditation of graduate education programs that provide entry-level professional preparation in audiology or speech-language pathology
• Evaluate programs that voluntarily apply for accreditation
• Grant certificates and recognize those programs deemed to have fulfilled requirements for accreditation
• Maintain a registry of holders of such certificates
• Prepare and furnish to appropriate persons and agencies lists of accredited programs [PDF]

Recognition as an Accrediting Agency

The CAA is recognized as an accrediting agency for audiology and speech-language pathology programs by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Recognition by these agencies is an external validation of the CAA’s adherence to best practices in accreditation.

The CAA is also a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors and follows its Code of Good Practice.