Recognized Accrediting Agency

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

The CAA is recognized as an accrediting agency for audiology and speech-language pathology graduate education programs by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Recognition by these agencies is an external validation of the CAA’s adherence to best practices in accreditation.

Benefits of National Recognition

• Opportunity for a comprehensive self-assessment by the CAA and external reviews of its accreditation process against specific standards, as both CHEA and ED require agencies to participate in scheduled reviews every 5–10 years to maintain recognition
• Affirmation for the public that the CAA has standards and processes that:
  • Advance academic quality in higher education
  • Ensure accountability through consistent, clear, and coherent communication to the public and the higher education community
  • Encourage institutions or programs to plan for purposeful change and needed improvement
• Eligibility for the CAA’s accredited programs for certain federal funding, such as grants

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

The CAA and its predecessors have been recognized continuously by CHEA and its predecessors since 1964. CAA’s recognized scope under CHEA, approved in March 2014, is for the accreditation and pre-accreditation (Accreditation Candidate) throughout the United States of education programs in audiology and speech-language pathology leading to the first professional or clinical degree at the master’s or doctoral level, and the accreditation of these programs offered via distance education.

On March 11, 2024, the CAA was reviewed during the CHEA Committee on Recognition hearings. In accordance with recognition policies and procedures, CHEA recognition review included an opportunity for parties independent of the accrediting organization under review to comment on whether the organization meets the CHEA recognition standards. At its meeting on May 13, 2024, the CHEA Board of Directors reviewed the recommendation of the CHEA Committee on Recognition and voted to recognize the CAA for scope of accreditation, as indicated above. This recognition is for a term of 7 years—through October 31, 2031—with an interim report due on October 1, 2027, the midpoint of the recognition term. Read the Public Statement of CHEA Recognition [PDF].

Secretary, U.S. Department of Education (ED)

The CAA and its predecessors have been recognized continuously by ED since 1967. The CAA’s scope of recognition under ED is for the accreditation and pre-accreditation (Accreditation Candidate) throughout the United States of education programs in audiology and speech-language pathology leading to the first professional or clinical degree at the master’s or doctoral level, and the accreditation of these programs offered via distance education.

The ED recognition also enables CAA-accredited programs to establish eligibility to participate in federal programs authorized under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools, Section III; and the U.S. Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Health Professions Education Partnership Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392, Sec. 739. 

The CAA submitted its petition for continued recognition with the Secretary in February 2020. Representatives of the CAA and Accreditation Staff defended the petition at the March 3–5, 2021 virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Intuitional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). On June 2, 2021, the department announced it had awarded CAA the maximum term of five years for continued recognition with the Secretary.

The CAA is currently undergoing its review for re-recognition.