A: Accreditation is a process of evaluation that determines the extent to which Standards are met. There is institutional accreditation, whichexamines the school/institution as a whole; and there is programmatic accreditation, which examines individual programs within the school/institution.
Q: Who is the AC-PE?
A: The Accreditation Committee-Perfusion Education (AC-PE) is involved in programmatic accreditation. The AC-PE reviews educational programs in perfusion to determine the extent to which the program meets the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation of Education programs in Perfusion. After evaluating a program, the AC-PE formulates a recommendation for accreditation, and forwards it to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP reviews the AC-PE recommendation, assures that due process took place during the evaluation process, and makes the final award of accreditation. Accreditation is awarded to a program when it is determined that the program is in substantial compliance with the Standards.
Q: How does accreditation benefit me?
A: Accreditation provides assurance that educational programs are following national Standards that have been developed by the profession. In addition, graduates of CAAHEP-accredited perfusion programs are eligible to take the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion credentialing exam.
Q: Where can I find a list of CAAHEP-accredited programs?
Q: Where can I find additional information on the accreditation and the perfusion profession?
A: Checkout out the STUDENTS section of the CAAHEP website. It contains information about the perfusion profession, things to consider before selecting a program, and frequently asked questions regarding accreditation.