CAAHEP Communiqué

February 2025

From the President

Barry S. Eckert, Ph.D., FASAHP

2023-2025 CAAHEP President

Greetings,

On January 17-18, CAAHEP held the annual Symposium in Orlando. The conference was excellent, presenting a range of topics that are important to CAAHEP stakeholders. The keynote presentation was given by Cheryl Love, Chief Clinical and Patient Safety Officer for the Florida Hospital Association. The presentation provided valuable insights into the challenges students face as they transition from students to healthcare professionals. Following an update on the Strategic Plan by Executive Director Gina Scarboro and myself, the Symposium continued with discussions and presentations that included relations between accreditation, certifying bodies, and the Standards, as well as incorporating registered apprenticeships into accredited programs. Attendees also learned more about the newest CAAHEP health science discipline, Clinical Ethics. Our attention turned to current topics that impact accreditation, with presentations focused on the rapidly changing atmosphere in Washington as well as guidance on communication, advocacy, and collaboration (see related article from Donald Balasa below). The feedback that I have gotten, both in conversation and in formal surveys has underscored the value of CAAHEP events and the high quality of speakers and programming. I want to offer my thanks to all who organized and participated in this CAAHEP Symposium.

In addition to the learning session, the Symposium was a venue for the first meeting of the Educational Resources Task Force. Guided by the CAAHEP strategic plan, this committee is assessing the current availability and need for materials to educate stakeholders in their accreditation activities. Under the guidance of this task force, CAAHEP will develop new online resources to support quality health professions education. Stay tuned.

Barry S. Eckert, Ph.D., FASAHP

President

(Questions about this article may be directed to Dr. Eckert at beckert@caahep.org)

Thank you to our Symposium Sponsors!

Nominations for CAAHEP Board of Directors

Four positions on the CAAHEP Board of Directors are available for candidate nominations in 2025. These positions are to be filled by:

Commissioner representatives of CAAHEP Sponsoring Organizations - two board positions will be elected.
Commissioner representatives of Committees on Accreditation - two board positions will be elected.

These positions will serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, and are eligible for re-election in 2028 to an additional three-year term. Elections will be held at the Annual Business Meeting of the Commission on April 25, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern.

Nominees must be a current CAAHEP Commissioner. You may nominate a Commissioner from these categories or self-nominate. For candidates to be considered by the Nominating and Elections Committee, all portions of the nomination form must be completed and submitted by the close of business on March 3, 2025.

Rienzo Receives William Goding Award

Catherine (Cathie) Rienzo, EdD, RT(R)(ARRT), RDMS, FSDMS, is the recipient of the 2025 William W. Goding Award for Exceptional Service. She was presented the award by President Eckert during the 2025 CAAHEP Symposium in Orlando, along with the award nominator, Dr. Kerry Weinberg.

Dr. Rienzo was a director of a CAAHEP-accredited sonography program for 15 years. It was during this time that she became involved in accreditation by becoming a site visitor for the Joint Review Committee for Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Her volunteering for the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and her passion for quality education led her to become a JRC-DMS Board member and then Chair. Cathie was elected to the CAAHEP Board of Directors and served two terms (6 years), including the position of Vice President in 2023 and 2024. She has served on numerous Board Committees and Task Forces during her tenure and continues to Chair the Recommendation Review Committee. Most recently, she volunteered to serve on CAAHEP’s new Education Resource Development Task Force.

Cathie's most notable contribution to the JRC-DMS is establishing a process for conducting virtual site visits that became a model within CAAHEP. Dr. Rienzo’s dissertation on 'The Impact of Virtual Site Visits on programmatic accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)' has helped other CoAs establish relevant criteria for performing virtual site visits.

Please join CAAHEP in congratulating and thanking Dr. Rienzo for her service to CAAHEP throughout the years.

Does President Trump's Executive Order Prohibit Licensing and Certifying Bodies from Testing on DEI?

Submitted by Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA

Immediate CAAHEP Past President

Executive Director and Legal Counsel

American Association of Medical Assistants

President Trump’s January 21, 2025, Executive Order Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (attached) “order[s] all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.” Does this Executive Order forbid testing bodies from including items about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Justice, etc. in their examinations?

Note the following excerpt from this Executive Order:

Sec. 7. Scope.

…… (b) This order does not prevent State or local governments, Federal contractors, or Federally-funded State and local educational agencies or institutions of higher education from engaging in First Amendment-protected speech.

(c) This order does not prohibit persons teaching at a Federally funded institution of higher education as part of a larger course of academic instruction from advocating for, endorsing, or promoting the unlawful employment or contracting practices prohibited by this order.

It is significant that this excerpt protects the First Amendment right of institutions of higher education and their instructors to “adocat[e] for, endors[e], or promot[e] the unlawful employment or contracting practices prohibited by this order.” Because of this explicit protection of teaching that is supportive of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, it is my legal opinion that—by logical extension—licensing and certifying entities are permitted to include items in their examinations that test knowledge about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, etc.

Questions about this article may be directed to the author at dbalasa@aama-ntl.org.

Retiring Board Members Recognized

During the awards ceremony at the 2025 CAAHEP Symposium, President Eckert took a few moments to recognize three long-standing members of the CAAHEP Board whose terms will end on June 30, 2025. While absent, Dr. Eckert thanked outgoing Sponsoring Organization Commissioner Catherine Carter for her tenure on the Board and for serving as CAAHEP Treasurer for the last four years. He went on to recognize Dr. Don Martin (left) and Keith Orloff (right) for their six years of service on the CAAHEP Board. Both serve on numerous CAAHEP Committees and Task Forces. CAAHEP thanks all three Commissioners for their service supporting CAAHEP’s mission to provide value to stakeholders by setting standards for quality assurance in health professions education.

2024 CAAHEP Annual Report

The 2024 CAAHEP Annual Report has been published electronically. Follow this link to view the Report.

MPHW Coalition Activities

The Medical and Public Health Workforce Coalition, of which CAAHEP is a member, shares the latest edition of the Critical Values. This issue includes an article called 'Key Findings from the Career Pathways Study: What's Needed Now and Next Steps' featuring highlights from a recent collaborative study by the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies (UW CHWS) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), which has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

To read the full article and explore these findings, click here:

Key Findings from the Career Pathways Study: What’s Needed Now and Next Steps

The core goals of the MPHW Coalition include:

Focusing on increasing the visibility of laboratory occupation.
Expanding and improving workforce recruitment, development, and retention.
Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the laboratory.

For additional information on the MPHW Coalition, visit the Coalition website.

Upcoming Events

Business Meeting of the Commission

The 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Commission will take place virtually on April 25, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern. Registration is required. The agenda, including election details, will be sent 30 days before the meeting. While open to all, only Commissioners can vote.

CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop

The 2025 Accreditation Workshop will be held July 18-19, at the Radisson Blu Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Program directors, deans, faculty, and others involved in allied health education are encouraged to attend. Watch your inboxes for registration and programming information. Early-bird registration begins March 1st.

Reminder: 2026 CAAHEP Fee Changes

In March 2024, the CAAHEP Board of Directors, after careful consideration and review, approved a draft revision of Policy 701. This draft included a ten percent increase in Program Accreditation Fees beginning in 2026. Comments were invited on the draft policy revision during April 2024 via the CAAHEP website, and the Audit and Finance Committee and Board of Directors diligently reviewed and considered all comments received, ensuring a transparent and inclusive decision-making process.

The final approved revision of the Program Accreditation fee policy supports CAAHEP’s role as an independent organization whose mission is to provide value to stakeholders by setting standards for quality assurance in health professions education. The fee increases are planned to keep pace with the average rate of US inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), thereby ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality accreditation services.

In response to the questions received from members of CAAHEP’s communities of interest during the open comment period, CAAHEP has provided the following background information about the fee policy changes.

1. Why was a rate of 10% chosen?

To ensure the continuity of our mission and operations, the board has decided on a three-year cyclical Program Accreditation Fee increase, aligning with the average rates of inflation in the United States. Over the past 20 years (2004-2024), the average CPI rate of inflation has been 2.4%, with a range of -0.3 % – 8% ( https://www.bls.gov/cpi/).

2. Why was a three-year period chosen for the fee changes?

The board recognizes that institutional budgets are complex and require careful planning. To facilitate this, the board has chosen to implement a longer cycle for changes, opting for a three-year 10% increase rather than a 3.3% increase in a single year.

3. Why did CAAHEP approve a fee change now?

Following the restructuring of CAAHEP fees in 2022, we received valuable feedback from our stakeholders. Many of the comments indicated that institutions needed a longer notification period when fee changes are made. In response, the board decided to implement this fee policy change in 2024, providing program sponsors with a two-year notice before the change takes effect.

4. What additional services and resources will CAAHEP provide for programs in consideration of these changes in Program Accreditation Fees?

New CAAHEP Academy, a learning management system, with live webinars and on-demand content designed to meet educator needs, scheduled for 2025.
Expanded content and learning opportunities at the CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop.
Improved annual reporting center for programs that use the CAAHEP Annual report.
Enhancements to the program listings and search capabilities in the Find an Accredited Program feature on the CAAHEP website.

5. What are the Program Accreditation Fees for 2026 and beyond based on the fee change?

Per Program Accreditation Fee: Assessed annually in July

Number of CAAHEP Accredited Programs at a Sponsoring location	2024 & 2025	2026-2028	2029-2031
1	$600	$660	$726
2	$500	$550	$605
3	$350	$385	$424
4	$250	$275	$303
5 or more	$200	$220	$242

For more information, please visit our website or contact us at mail@caahep.org

CAAHEP Accreditation Actions

Each profession in the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system has a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) that consists of experts in the profession that are responsible for reviewing programs and making appropriate recommendations for accreditation to CAAHEP. CAAHEP reviews recommendations received from its CoAs in each profession, assures due process was followed and takes final action on an accreditation status.

CAAHEP took the following actions at its January 16, 2025, meeting. Actions are identified by profession, action taken, date of the next comprehensive evaluation, and whether a progress report to improve program compliance is required. In some cases, the concentration and/or degree are also specified. Where available, links to each program’s website are provided. To view a copy of the most recent accreditation award letter for a program, which includes information about the accreditation decision, visit the program’s listing on the Find an Accredited Program section of the CAAHEP Website.

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2028. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Cytology

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2029. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Assistive Technology

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Medical Assisting

Edison State Community College-Edison State Campus at Troy, Troy, OH (Certificate)

Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA (Diploma)

Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, MI (Certificate)

Loma Linda University Health San Manuel Gateway College, San Bernardino, CA (Certificate)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2030. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ (Abdominal-Extended)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO (Adult Cardiac)

The College of Health Care Professions, Fort Worth, TX (Abdominal-Extended)

The College of Health Care Professions, Fort Worth, TX (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ

Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services, Riverdale, GA

Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, AZ

Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA

Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD

New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Community College, Las Cruces, NM

Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL

Lane Community College, Eugene, OR

Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH

Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, MO

Rappahannock Community College, Glenns, VA

Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI

SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

The Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, Lemont Furnace, PA

Vermont State University-Williston Campus, Williston, VT

Weatherford College, Weatherford, TX

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2032. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Cardiovascular Technology

Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA (Adult Echocardiography, Associate)

Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA (Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, Associate)

Howard Community College, Columbia, MD (Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, Associate)

Cytology

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR

Medical Illustration

University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2034. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Anesthesia Technology

Wayne County Community College District-Northwest Campus, Detroit, MI

Exercise Physiology

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA (Applied)

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC (Clinical)

University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL (Applied)

Exercise Sciences

Eastern University, St. Davids, PA

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

University of New England, Biddeford, ME

University of Scranton, Scranton, PA

Lactation Consultant

Portland State University, Portland, OR (Certificate)

Polysomnographic Technology

Northern Essex Community College-Lawrence Campus, Lawrence, MA (Certificate)

Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA (Associate)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2035. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Maricopa Community Colleges-GateWay Community College, Phoenix, AZ (Abdominal-Extended)

Maricopa Community Colleges-GateWay Community College, Phoenix, AZ (Vascular)

Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK (Abdominal-Extended)

Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

St. Cloud Technical and Community College, St Cloud, MN (Abdominal-Extended)

St. Cloud Technical and Community College, St Cloud, MN (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR (Abdominal-Extended)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR (Adult Cardiac)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR (Vascular)

University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (Abdominal-Extended)

University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (Adult Cardiac)

University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (Vascular)

Surgical Technology

Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville, NC (Associate)

Concord Hospital, Concord, NH (Diploma)

Fortis College, Richmond, VA (Associate)

San Juan College, Farmington, NM (Associate)

South Arkansas College, El Dorado, AR (Associate)

Stark State College, North Canton, OH (Associate)

The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2030.

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Davidson-Davie Community College, Thomasville, NC

Grant Medical Center, Columbus, OH

Neurodiagnostic Technology

Concorde Career College, San Bernardino, CA

The following program was found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The program was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2032.

Medical Assisting

Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, WA (Certificate)

Anesthesia Technology

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, WI

Exercise Sciences

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA

University of Southern Maine-Gorham Campus, Gorham, ME

Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

Surgical Technology

College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (Associate)

Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK (Diploma)

Northeast State Community College, Blountville, TN (Associate)

Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL (Associate)

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2028. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Medical Assisting

Central Arizona College-Superstition Mountain Campus, Apachee Junction, AZ (Associate)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2029. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Polysomnographic Technology

Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA (Certificate)

Temple College, Temple, TX (Associate)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2030. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Anesthesiologist Assistant

Nova Southeastern University-Orlando Regional Campus, Orlando, FL

Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX

Cardiovascular Technology

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, NY (Adult Echocardiography, Certificate)

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Robeson Community College, Lumberton, NC (Abdominal-Extended)

Robeson Community College, Lumberton, NC (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

South College-Orlando Learning Site, Orlando, FL (Abdominal-Extended)

South College-Orlando Learning Site, Orlando, FL (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cape Girardeau, MO (Abdominal-Extended)

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cape Girardeau, MO (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cape Girardeau, MO (Vascular)

Saint Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO (Vascular)

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Emergency Education Institute, Coral Springs, FL

First Response Training Group, Orlando, FL

Medical Career Academy, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

The Axon Education Consortium, Abilene, TX

The University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT

Exercise Physiology

West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV (Clinical)

Exercise Sciences

Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD

Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ (Strength and Conditioning Add-on)

West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV

Surgical Assisting

College of Western Idaho, Boise, ID

Surgical Technology

Dyersburg State Community College, Dyersburg, TN (Associate)

Gaston College, Dallas, NC (Associate)

Jackson College, Jackson, MI (Associate)

Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI (Associate)

South College-Indianapolis Learning Site, Indianapolis, IN (Associate)

The following program was found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The program was granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2029.

Medical Assisting

Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL (Certificate)

The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2030.

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, IL

York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC

Exercise Sciences

Lehman College of the City University of New York, Bronx, NY (Strength and Conditioning Add-on)

Ohio University, Athens, OH (Strength and Conditioning Add-on)

The following program had a transfer of sponsorship approved with a status of continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2025. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Kansas City Fire Department, Kansas City, MO

New York Institute of Technology-College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas, State University, AR

The following programs were placed on probationary accreditation, with one or more Standards requiring critical attention and timely resolution to bring the program into compliance with the Standards and Guidelines, and a progress report required to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA).

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Lifework Education, Peoria, AZ

Surgical Technology

Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY (Associate)

CAAHEP voted to withdraw accreditation from the following program, due to non-compliance with one or more Standards. Programs are given the opportunity to appeal actions to withdraw accreditation, so this action is not yet final. This list will be updated with the final action, once determined.

Surgical Technology

Berkeley College, Woodland Park, NJ (Associate)

CAAHEP took the following action at its February 13, 2025, meeting. The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2033. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Exercise Sciences

Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH (Baccalaureate)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709

W: www.caahep.org P: 727-210-2350 E: mail@caahep.org

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